What does a 28 year-old Marine officer serving active duty in the War In Iraq do when he receives word that his father has terminal cancer?  He combines a life goal of riding his bicycle across the United States, coast to coast, with a fundraising effort to benefit cancer research and raise awareness.  He unites with four others – three of whom are in their 60’s and one in his early 40’s and sets out to cover 3,400 miles of challenging terrain in 31 days. 

 

This is a story about 5 men who pursue a mission with good will, faith, and high hopes.  Along the way, they experience intense physical pain, a mental challenge unlike anything they’ve ever experienced, and more adversity than they bargained for.  These pages will take you on the ride with this diverse group and you’ll share in their experiences as they come to better understand who they are as individuals, their personal limits, and what really matters in life.  Come share in their journey as they set out to inspire people, but end up being inspired by the many kind people they met along the way.

Tai Ji Quan or Tai Chi Chuan is practiced by many people for health and fitness.  However, imbedded with the moves, there are also self defense principles and applications.  Most people may be practicing the moves and acquiring some skills that they never know anything about.  The fundamental principles and applications of Tai Ji Quan are explained in an easy and fun to read format in this book.  Whether you are interested in knowing how and why you have to do the move in a certain way, or you are interested in knowing how to practice and apply the defense skills you may already have, this book is a good guide to start.  The 13 postures (Shi) are Peng. Lu, Ji, An, Cai, Lie, Zhou, Kao (8 Jin methods); Jin, Tui, Gu, Pan, and Zhong Ding (5 steps, Wu Bu) are explained with techniques.  How to use 13 Shi to study Tai Ji Quan are illustrated with techniques.  How to contact, stick (Zhan Nian) and neutralize the opponent’s Jin (Hua Jin); and, in turn, release your own Jin (Fa Jin) are explained with examples. Whether you are a beginner, an intermediate learner or an advanced student, this book is an essential tool for study and review.  Hundreds of techniques are explained in details.  The first 16 postures of Chen Tai Ji old frame first routine are explained as well.  How you maneuver to be in your front side, so that you may exert your Jin smoothly (Uo Sun).  How you make the opponent to be on his back side, so that he may not reverse his Jin (Ren Bei).  This is the whole story of theory and practice of Tai Ji Quan.

The most frequent questions I was asked of Ba Gua Zhang  are that how many styles there are and what characterizes the differences.  I laughed and sighed.  I laughed because I am happy that people are interested.  I sighed because it will be a long answer.  The answers are in this book.  The students of Dong Hai Chuan  made the styles different by incorporating different styles into the system.  There were Luo Han Shou, Tan Tui, Shuai Jiao, Xing Yi etc.  However, all styles share the common theme of change and fluidity.  I started my martial arts training with Tan Tui and Shuai Jiao.  I also studied some northern styles: Mantis, Ba Ji, Tong Bei etc before I studied Ba Gua Zhang.  It was quite a rewarding learning experience, since I knew the other styles first.  However, I was told to study Cheng Ting Hua style since this is more close to original Dong style without influences of other styles except Shuai Jiao.  Whether you are interested in what Ba Gua Zhang is about or what styles there are, this is an essential book to read.  The contents are written in a note format for easy reference.  Every move is illustrated with a picture.  At least one application for each move is discussed.  Further discussions are in the Synopsis.  Definitions of palm forms are in the Palm Terms.  The basic 5 stances, 8 basic palm methods, and 8 single Palm Change sets from 8 styles are discussed and illustrated.  This book will help you greatly at all levels of study and practice in Ba Gua Zhang.

Ba Ji boxing methods were used by the special service units both in Taiwan and China. The key tactics and strategy are by getting close to the opponent first. There are 6 ways of opening the door or gaining access to the vital area of an opponent. They are Ding (push), Bao (enclose), Ti (rise), Dan (single), Kua (hip) and Chan (entanglement). In the previous book “Ba Zi Jie Xi: A Talk on Rake Fist”, the hand methods are briefly discussed. In the current book, the small frame routine is introduced. In the beginning of the 20th century, there were only 16 postures in the routine. Wu Xiu Feng added some more postures to make the routine into 24 postures. Later, Wu compiled 12 versions/routines of the small frame. Xiao Jia or small frame consists of foundational structures for Ba Ji fighting methods. All postures may be practiced as standing in posture or breathing exercise. The moves also carry symbolism for the nature. We start with Wu Ji stance. We then open Tai Ji by assuming Liang Yi stance. And then we have 4 directions or Si Xiang by assuming the Lion Opening its Mouth and Cross Fist postures. When we reverse the side of our fist or palm, we have Ba Gua. The 6 ways of opening the door are also represented by the postures in the routine. In short, people may practice this set of moves for health and fitness, in addition to original martial applications. The original name for each posture is used. Each posture may consist of several moves. All the moves are illustrated with pictures. There are many variations of this routine. Only the common ones are examined in this book. This book provides the reader a valid and universal base to study and practice.

Originally there were only 3 old palms. Over several generations of practitioners, 8 palm methods were compiled. From these 8 palm methods, 64 palm methods were derived. Thus we call the original 8 palm methods "old 8 palms" or "8 large palms". These palm methods are the foundation of Ba Gua Zhang fighting methods. Due to diversified schools and lineages, there are many variations of the 8 palm methods. In this book, the 8 palm methods from Cheng Ting Hua style are introduced. For anyone that is interested in Ba Gua Zhang fighting methods, the contents of this book are essential to know. The 8 palm methods may derive into more fighting methods. They are like the 8 diagrams in the book of change or Yi Jing. Thus they gained the name of Ba Gua Zhang(Eight Diagrams Palm).

The Essence of Karate-Do is written for the serious martial artist who wants to improve their understanding of their forms and sparring. This book is a non-style specific approach to martial arts. It talks about the universal principles behind all martial arts forms and sparring. The principles written about in this book are easy to understand and apply to your training. They are demonstrated with photos, which clearly show what is being talked about.

It shows how certain moves in forms are used and encourages the reader to develop their own use for these movements. It has a section in which Mr. Herb Johnson an 8^th black belt demonstrates knock-out points from forms and shows how to do them. It ends this section with charts to record the location of the vital points that you learn about and a place for your own notes about your forms.

In the sparring section it defines different aspects of sparring and shows you ways to use them. It has a section in which Mr. Glenn Keeney a 9^th degree black belt, and President of the PKC, demonstrates how to use feints and setups to invite certain attacks so you can execute preplanned counters. Mr. Keeney also tells how to mentally prepare for competition, which can be applied to anything you want to do well at. Mr. Eddie Bethea Jr. a 8^th degree black belt shows you how to keep rhythm and timing as well as talking about the "The Three Strategic Barriers of Kumite: Distance, Rhythm, and Timing." It ends this section with a place for your own notes about your sparring.

It shows you drills to reduce your reaction time and demonstrates them with easy to understand pictures. In the final two chapters it explains how to set up a proper training system to gradually get into the best shape you can and how to train. This book will help the reader become a better martial artist and deepen and enrich their understanding of what they are doing and why.

& n b s p ; & n b s p ; & nbsp;          The book is a mixture of fantasy and reality, it is meant to be a book that is fun to read although the subjects are of a serious nature. 

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          The author has nothing but high praise for the various martial arts and considers them worth attention and study.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          The martial arts encompass the mastering of body, mind, and spirit.  They also gather physical action and philosophical thought into a body of knowledge that can be used throughout life, and can be applied to many other activities such as business.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          It is the author’s hope that the book will be a pleasure to read, and will spark further interest in the subjects of business and martial arts.  

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          The high standards of the martial arts can be used as a guide to physical, mental, and moral goals.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          It might also get you through the day despite what the markets may or may not do.

The Ten Deadly Realms is an action packed adventure, sci-fi, and fantasy martial arts story about specially chosen warriors whose mission is to save their heavenly city and the Earth from evil warlords, vampires, and electrifying horrible creatures by fighting their way through ten deadly realms.

Today, more and more law-abiding citizens are carrying knives as part of their daily complement of gear.  Knowing whether the knife you carry is legal to carry or even possess is both difficult and critically important, because carrying a prohibited knife can result in hefty fines, jail time, or both, along with a misdemeanor or felony criminal record that may haunt (and hinder) you for the rest of your life.

 

Knife Laws of the Fifty States was written to help the law-abiding traveler and knife owner better understand the differing restrictions on knife carry that each state imposes on those within its borders.  The carry restrictions for different types of knives under each state’s law, off-limits areas for knife carry, blade length restrictions, and carry mode restrictions are discussed, with excerpts of relevant state laws and selected case law citations also provided.  Perhaps just as important, an analysis and discussion of knife restrictions for selected cities and towns in each state is included.  Major cities covered include New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta and Las Vegas, to name a few.

 

Written in a concise and easy to read format, this informative and extensively researched book will help you, the law-abiding traveler and knife owner, gain a greater understanding of the complexities of knife regulation in our great Nation.  If you carry a knife, Knife Laws of the Fifty States belongs on your bookshelf!

If you have followed the program detailed in my first three manuals, you can take pride in how you have been ‘Moving Forward’ with your horse’s training. You’ve gotten the front end aligned, started the engine, and have begun to harness all the power possessed by your equine partner. Now it’s time to adjust the carburetor and experience the joy of riding in… Cruise Control!

This is the fourth and final edition in a series of Training Manuals which allow you to train your horse from start to finish using Kenny Harlow’s proven techniques. Now it is time to raise your expectations. With this book, you will fine tune your horse’s performance and move on to the final stages of connecting his body parts to create balance and unity. Are you ready for the optimum ride? Okay then, let’s shift into…Cruise Control!

Two friends, both facing the wrath of the high school bully, decide to take charge of their destinies and enroll in the martial arts.

Unfortunately, they go separate ways.

Read about some of the training techniques that are actually used by martial artists.

Read about how the Christian, Fil, joins the Korean style of karate and maintains his witness while starting to fulfil his talent and ability as a weapon of the arts.

Follow his growing trials , enjoy his victories... and defeats.

The Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Strikers Guide for Trainers and Fighters is an essential tool in the learning and development of striking skills for the beginning stand up or MMA fighter. If you already have good hands and experience, this guidebook will assist in improving positioning for vicious strikes without getting beat-up in the process. This book, though written for strikers, is also very useful to the grappler.  It will aid the grappler in obtaining positions for takedowns through the utilization of the various defenses and defensive strategies.

From Secretary to CEO: A Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Losing Your Identity is a book that speaks to how individuals can maximize their impact in any job, career, or life circumstance without compromising their identity, and still preserving their most precious human resource: integrity. By leading its readers through a series of illustrative anecdotes and ending each chapter with a summarizing "lesson learned," this book studies human behavior to unfold the not-so-secret secrets of understanding how the actions of others can help you understand and master your own. From Secretary to CEO: A Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Losing Your Identity contains stories and insights that will be helpful, entertaining, and encouraging to individuals at every stage and circumstance of life.  Readers will also be introduced to an innovative concept coined by the author and learn how to become a "Black Belt" of their own identity.

 

Written by business and academic advisor Natalya I. Sabga, From Secretary to CEO: A Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder Without Losing Your Identity makes liberal use of inspiring personal examples and achievements that every reader can relate to in overcoming and reaching any personal or professional challenge or milestone while still maintaining a self of self and self-preservation.