Discover how to master the wing chun wooden dummy

I am a sucker for anything related to Kung Fu. Especially when it comes to discovering the various art forms of real fighting. I started watching these awesome kungfu videos months ago and I got really passionate about fighting. My skills have dramatically improved. The thing is, I was starting to feel a bit bored after a while. There is only so much you can do with punching and kicking nothing but air.

But check this out. I got into something pretty awesome. It is called the Wing Chun Dummy and this thing is the real deal. This is how it all works. The Wing Chun Dummy is a wooden training dummy designed to be used by martial artists to increase power, strength and overall ability in any fighting arena. If you think fighting a wooden dummy is silly, think again. If you think your hands and shins are tough, brother are you in trouble!

Basically, you just whack the heck out of this thing and act like it is an opponent. Pretty fun, if you ask me. One solid word of advice though: make sure you know how to hit this thing because, if you don’t know what you are doing, it will hurt! Trust me, I learned real fast how much damage you can do to yourself if you don’t learn the right way to hit a wooden dummy. It is not like it can hit back, but still, it is a hard, compact piece of wood we are talking about here. Be careful. Expect to bruise and even bleed your first few sparring sessions. I'm not joking.

So I start beating on this thing for a while and watching the dummy training DVD at the same time and within days, I start feeling stronger. My muscles felt harder, denser and better able to take punishment. I felt like I could take on anything! My endurance was amazing after only a few weeks. It was incredible. I had plenty of war wounds, namely bruises on my shins and elbows, but the increase in ability was worth it. The first time you kick this thing full power, you're gonna squeal like a little karate girl. The shin bone has no meat on it. But it gets tough, quick. You can strike much harder than you can a human in practice. Just imagine how much power you can generate in your back, shoulders and triceps...fearsome stuff.

It was also a nice change of pace from the same old kung fu training DVDs I have been watching before. Don’t get me wrong, those things are great and got me to where I am today. But, after a while, it is good to step it up a notch and try new things. It worked for me. I started looking forward to training more and more each day, even with some of the self-inflicted beatings I was taking.

Another technique used on the dummy is the act of finger striking. This has always been one of my favorites. I remember watching a movie when I was a kid and this guy practiced poking this wooden board over and over and eventually was able to really smash someone with them and crush their windpipe. Now, I am not advocating hurting anyone, but I always wanted to be able to have that kind of power in my fingertips. Thanks to the Wing Chun Dummy, I have it and more.

Power, speed, technique, even toughness...all is possible by training with a wing chun dummy. The ancient kung fu masters have sworn by it for 5 centuries, who was I to argue?

The video game companies battle xbox vs. playstation

The companies that create the video game decks like Xbox and Playstation are locked into what seems to be a bitter rivalry for the top spot in the hearts of gamers the world over. While both systems offer similar concepts, games and graphics, there are still those that have their favorites. Favorites mean more sales for one company or another. Then one must take into consideration the new advancements that are made and when the new decks hit the market. All of this is highly important to the consumers that make the purchases and the companies that produce them.

This past year was a good and bad year for Xbox. The release of their Xbox 360 model, which is thought to be the most advanced of all video game systems on the market hit the shelves just in time for the Christmas rush. The shortage of systems that followed was good for the company as new orders went through the roof and many people were told they would be waiting at least six months to see their new system. The secondary market exploded and some of the machines were selling for three or four times the retail price before the final day of Christmas shopping.

The only downfall for the company seems to have been a mistake made in their rush to hit the market with the system. The new Xbox 360 worked on the same premise as a computer, with a hard drive and processor. The system was released though before all the bugs were worked out and the games were locking up during play. The manufacturer rushed to release a patch but the damage was done.

The same can be said for Playstation on the good and bad front. While their Playstation 2 was a highly advanced and functional system with hundreds of games, they needed to release something new and high tech. They announced the Playstation 3 game system to the market but gave no certain release date for the machine. Anticipation built in the months leading up to Christmas and still no word from Sony. Low and behold Christmas came without a new release from Sony on the Playstation front, setting the company back millions in the market and allowing Xbox 360 to take the lead.

Finally in the spring of 2006 Sony announced that the release date of the Playstation 3 would be even further off as they were facing similar problems to that of Xbox. This announcement actually helped the company in many ways because people saw it as a sign that the new machine would not have the glitches that came with the Xbox 360 which made all involved very happy. There is still no definite date for the release from Sony but one can be assured that when the day arrives it will be a mad house for people to pick up the new machine.

Mis-6

A SHORT MEMORY COURSE!

HOW TO REMEMBER NAMES

You just called the TV repair shop and the voice on the other

end of the line tells you "this is Don Smith". About 5 minutes

later you tell your wife that "this guy" will be out to fix the

TV in the morning. You can't think of his name although you

know he mentioned it on the phone.

This happens all the time to just about any of us unless we have

learned to concentrate and implant the name in our memory right

at the time we hear it. To do this you first must make a habit

of repeating the name back to the person. This action will

remind you to store the name in your "Memory banks" each time

you hear someone's name, and, within a matter of a short time

the "repeating" process can be discontinued.

When you meet someone in person use the same procedure, and in

addition, visualize something different, unusual from the

ordinary, or "ridiculous" about their appearance, position, or

actions that "ties in" with their name. You may have to put the

descriptive information on one side of a card or piece of paper

and the name on the other side for a while until it is imbedded

in your memory permanently. Look at it repeatedly, see the

"picture" in your mind's eye as you look at the name, or when

you see the name visualize the "picture" you have assigned to

the name.

Getting this system to work will require certain changes in your

thinking and it may take several days or several weeks to become

proficient. After all, you have developed a "bad Habit" over a

period of many years and it is difficult to turn it around

overnight.

This method also works with anything else work remembering, not

just names. When you have occasion to remember something, jot

it down and incorporate it into your list . . . No complicated

formula . . . Just a system that works with a little

concentration.

HOW TO REMEMBER ANYTHING!

As mentioned above a person may train their memory by

associating names with specific illustrations. This works just

as well with written information.

There are several key words or a key thought in each paragraph

of printed matter that can be associated with an illogical or

ridiculous illustration. It is much easier to remember and

recall ridiculous associations than it is to recall normal and

uneventful relationships.

As you proceed through any text choose one or several Key words

or key thoughts from each subject and relate the same to a

ridiculous cartoon or illustration. Actually "see" it in your

minds eye as it relates to the key word or key thought.

When you have occasion to remember a particular matter, the

"picture" should automatically appear to you and the entire

thought should be recalled. Be sure to SEE the ridiculous

picture associated with the printed matter you wish to recall.

As you proceed through a book, practice seeing a picture and

relate it to the key words or the main thought of the written

material. This method of learning should improve your ability

to retain what you read. With sufficient "practice" using this

method, many individuals will be able to develop a "photo-Type"

memory.

The Key to this memory system is to "see" the "picture" in your

"mind's eye". After you have practiced and mastered the system

and are able to get instant flashback recall you should be able

to read most any text material and visualize ridiculous pictures

to associate with the thoughts expressed in the printed

materials.

We suggest you prove this system to yourself. As you read the

first several pages of information, "see" a picture related to

the words or thought. It may be rather difficult to "see" at

first but by constant effort and concentration amazing progress

can be made. When you have seen the picture, just go on

reading the following subject matter and repeat the process.

Don't be concerned that you will forget the prior subjects!

They should remain imprinted on your mind and recalled later,

instantaneously and clearly.

After you have read several pages, recall the first few

"mind-pictures". If you originally "saw" the picture as related

to the key thought of the printed material, you should remember

the basic information.

Try it! It's interesting! After you have mastered this

learning system, it should be easy to file various programs away

in your memory and recall them as needed to progress in your

search for success.

MEMORY AND PUBLIC SPEAKING TIPS!

The same system mentioned on the previous page may be used to

memorize a speech by linking a series of thoughts to a series of

ridiculous pictures in sequence.

Proper preparation of your speech is half the battle. Know you

subject thoroughly then make an outline for the introduction,

main body and conclusion. Start your speech with something to

startle your audience into complete attention such as a weird

statement or funny happening.

In presenting the main body of your speech get the confidence of

your audience by letting them know you know your subject very

well. Get your points across without argument.

In making your conclusion you can briefly sum up what you have

just stated then end with a big bang; recommending action your

audience should take or suggesting they change their viewpoint

on the subject etc.; finalize with a joke that fits the

circumstances, or powerful word pictures they will remember

after they leave the meeting.

Make your outline in large print with plenty of space between

lines so you will be able to look up without losing your place

on the sheets. Rely on your memory for the most important

points, including the opening and closing lines.

Practice your speech with a tape recorder and in front of a

mirror before the meeting. Work out any apparent speaking

problems or things that don't sound just right. Know what you

are going to do with your hands and determine the better body

movements to go with your personality. Continually make eye

contact back and forth across the room.

Take time to think before answering questions. If you don't

have the answer, ask another question, refer it to someone else

better qualified to answer, answer in general terms, or change

the subject (like politicians do) complimenting the person

asking the "impossible" question, or by telling a "clean" joke.

Green tea

:

Green Tea has long been valued in China for its contribution to
good health. Popularity of Green tea in the United States continues
to grow, showing that green tea is a natural source of
antioxidants. These antioxidants help protect the body from
accelerated aging and increased risk of diseases. Decades of
research show that green tea inhibits the development of
undesirable cell colonies, thus making it the healthiest tea
available.

Green tea has higher contribution to health than other teas,
because of the way it is dried. Green Tea is organically grown and
the traditional drying technique used with Green Tea prevents the
tea from the negative effects of fermentation.
Green tea products come in potency levels. Some supplements
contain low potencies of the active polyphenols, while others go as
far as using un-standardized green tea leaf powder.

It has been proven that green tea is bursting with health benefits.
It acts as a powerful antioxidant, which has been known to help
prevent cancer, recover from the harmful cholesterol, and protect
against damage caused by free radicals.

Medical Benefits:

Green tea has many medical benefits, and is known for prevention
of the following diseases: Cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, High
Cholesterol, Cardiovascular Disease, Infection, and Impaired
Immune Function.

Other Benefits:

Promotes weight loss - the leaves of green tea plants help raise
metabolism in the body. By increasing the amount of calories
burned in a 24-hour period, green tea promotes weight loss.

Prevent bad breath - an element found in green tea decreases the
growth of odor-causing bacteria. It is said that drinking a cup or
two of green tea may help maintain fresh breath.

Reduce smoking risks - cigarette smokers who drink up to six cups
of green tea daily reduces their susceptibility to risks caused by
the toxins emitted in cigarette smoke.

Beauty remedy - green tea may be used to freshen up the face and
sooth tired or strained eyes. It can be applied to spots and
blemishes to lessen their visibility.

Antiseptic properties - Green tea is also known to treat minor cuts
and rashes, and is an effective treatment for sunburn.

Green teas inhibit the expression of antigens made by the body,
substances that can trigger an immune response.

National Cancer Institute reports that Green Tea has Cancer
preventing abilities and Cancer fighting components add new life
to the market. People who have relied on expensive anti-oxidant
products are finding that Green Tea is very economical and all
natural. Tea is one of the top selling consumable drinks, only toped
by water.

Beginning in photography choosing the right lens

There is a dizzying array of choices when it comes to choosing lenses for SLR cameras. From wide angle to telephoto, zoom to prime lenses, fish eye, fast lenses, wide aperture lenses, the choice seems to be impossible. It’s not really. What it comes down to is asking yourself a simple question: What do I want to shoot?

Different Lenses for Different Subjects

If you are just beginning in photography, chances are you are still experimenting and finding out what you like to shoot. You might shoot a few family portraits one day and landscapes from your holidays the next. On the other hand, you may have decided right from the start that you love taking photos of wild animals and this is all you want to do. Either way, the lenses required to get the best out of these subjects differ greatly. To fit an expansive landscape image into your viewfinder, you would need a wide angle lens. However, trying to take a portrait with the same lens would result in a tiny little person and not much else in the frame unless you are right in that person’s face and smelling their breath. While trying to take a picture of a wild bear from 100 or more meters away is just impossible (and you really don’t want to get any closer to a wild bear). In a perfect world you would have 3 different lenses for each of these subjects. But in a perfect world you’d also be a millionaire and be able to afford them all. So the thing to do is to decide what type of photography interests you and choose your lenses accordingly.

Length: Zoom versus Prime

There are benefits to using both zoom lenses and prime (fixed or non zoom) lenses. On one hand, zoom lenses are versatile, and reduce the need for a whole bag full of lenses that you need to change and change again while you are out shooting. On the other hand, a good quality prime lens can be gold. Prime lenses, if they are well built, generally produce a crisper, better quality image. This is because they have fewer pieces of glass and moveable parts. Therefore the light coming in doesn’t need to pass through as many objects and so is less diffused. The other great advantage of prime lenses is that because of this, they tend to be “faster” than zoom lenses. Practically, this means that you can use slower shutter speeds as the lens needs less light to create a correct exposure. This is especially useful if you want to take portraits with available light.

Aperture

Another important factor to consider when choosing your lens is its maximum aperture. This is indicated in the description by an f symbol. Eg. f/2.8. The lower this number, the wider your aperture choices. For example, if you want to take a portrait with only your subject’s facial features in focus, you would use a wide aperture. If you want to take a sweeping landscape where everything needs to be in focus you would use a narrow (high number) aperture. Selecting a lens with a wider aperture gives you more options when out shooting.

It is well known that lenses can cost as much, or more, than cameras themselves. It is also worth noting that with lenses you get what you pay for. While no piece of equipment can singularly make the difference between a good photo and a bad one, a well built lens using quality glass, can lead to sharper pictures. Therefore it is worth considering the lenses you buy carefully and investing in the best quality you can afford. Knowing what sort of photography you want to pursue can make this process a whole lot less daunting and more cost effective.

About fremont

The way that visitors are drawn to this funky, colorful neighborhood, Fremont may just deserve the title of "Center Of The Universe".

Fremont is a colorful, artistic community in Seattle, Washington. It's located along the ship canal, just north of the Queen Anne Hill. You'll enjoy browsing for vintage clothing, collectibles, antiques, and more, in the many shops and stores throughout this neighborhood. In the summer, you'll want to check out the outdoor cinema, where you'll see mainstream favorites, indie films, and cult classics.

One stop that you'll certainly want to make, is under the Aurora Bridge. Lurking under the bridge, you'll find the Fremont Troll, about to devour a Volkswagen. You'll have plenty of opportunities to have your picture taken with the troll while you're there. Don't worry, he eats cars, not people. If you're in town on October 31st, you can participate in "Trollaween", a party and parade that starts under the bridge, and then moves on to other funky art sites and events in the neighborhood.

A statue of Lenin stands in the Fremont neighborhood, brought back to the United States by a teacher, Lewis Carpenter, who was living in Slovakia at the time of the 1989 revolution. The statue was originally installed in Slovakia in 1988. After the revolution, Carpenter brought the statue back to his home in Issaquah, before it was moved to Fremont.

The Solstice Parade is an event that takes place every year, on the Saturday closest to the Summer Solstice. Anyone who wishes to participate in the parade is welcome to do so. You'll find many examples of art and creativity in the parade... floats, dancers, bodypainting, and more. The parade is a demonstration of creativity, art, and community, and is an event that shouldn't be missed.

"Waiting For The Interurban" is an interactive sculpture in Fremont. It depicts five people and a dog under a shelter, waiting for a bus that never comes. This sculpture was created in 1979, by sculptor Richard Beyer, and has been subject to many "art attacks" since then. People come to dress the statues up to celebrate birthdays, weddings, and other events, or to make a political statement.

If you're visiting the Seattle area, Fremont is one place you won't want to miss. You'll find surprises around every corner, and if you're not careful, you'll find yourself drawn back, again and again, to the "Center Of The Universe".

Flexible plan of group term life insurance

Many small companies cannot afford to set up a group term life insurance benefit program for their employees. If you work for a small company that has a minimum of five employees and your employer does not currently have a basic group term life insurance plan or a voluntary supplemental term life program, you can sign up for Flexible Plan of Group Term Life Insurance policy.

How It Works

Flexible plan of group term life insurance is a plan that is set up by and paid for by employees. It was created to provide low-cost group term life insurance to employees where NO employer paid group program is in place. It is also for groups that are NOT covered by a Beneficial Life Basic Group Term Life Insurance plan. Flexible plans are voluntary programs that do not require the employer to contribute financially.

Options that Affect the Group Policy Premiums

Flexible plan term life insurance rates are determined by how the group chooses their coverage: fully underwritten or guaranteed-issue. The group as a whole must choose one or the other. If the group chooses to be covered by the fully underwritten option, then a one page health form/questionnaire must be completed at the time of application. The one page health form covers the whole group. If the group chooses the guaranteed-issue option, no health questionnaires or medical exams will be necessary, however, the group term life insurance rates will be more expensive since the carrier will be insuring the group unconditionally.

Another option that will affect the flexible plan term life insurance rates is whether or not the group chooses to apply “tobacco-free” or “tobacco-users.” The option to blend the two is also available.

While the premiums will fluctuate depending on ages and coverage reduction schedules (these schedules allow for coverage to continue after the age of 65 for active employees), you can purchase your flexible plan group term life insurance policy with a one year rate guarantee. Additionally, if an employee chooses to retire or quit their job, they may also convert their policy to some kind of permanent coverage. Waivers of premium for disability are not included.

Restrictions

As with all plans, there are some restrictions that apply to flexible plan group term life insurance policies:

1. Premiums must be paid through payroll deductions.

2. Coverage terminates when the employee turns age 70.

3. Spouses are eligible for coverage but the face value may not exceed that of the employee or $250,000 (depending on your state’s maximum based on regulations).

4. If you work in an industry that is considered a hazardous occupation, you are ineligible to apply. Your spouse’s coverage is also subject to occupational approval.

5. Dependent children may be insured for either $2,500 or $5,000 until the age of 26. Proof of insurability is required.

The flexible plan group term life insurance is not available in all states so it is best to consult with a knowledgeable business financial advisor.