American Kenpo Senior Council

Great athletes achieve great things.  Except when they don’t.  The great ones make it all seem so utterly effortless, we sometimes fail to appreciate the true level of their achievement.  From our comfortable seats in the arena, we munch on popcorn and relax.  And then it happens — our souls are stirred by a peak performance by a great champion.  As their greatness entertains us, some of their magic flows onto us through a special athlete -to-normal-human transference of energy.  In our dreams, we all want to be like them… except when they fail.  Their failure diminishes us and makes us common folks again.  Why do some of the greatest athletes sometimes fail?

Steve Prefontaine brought incredible energy to the running movement in the early 70s with his breathtaking speed and endurance.  He’s considered one of the greatest American distance runners of all time, yet after setting long distance running records in events from the 2,000 to 10,000 meters, he failed to win a medal in the 1972 Olympics in Munich.  In the 5000-meter event, he was overcome in the last gasp of the race, the last 150 meters—narrowly losing out on a medal.  Yet even with this loss Prefontaine remains a legend in long-distance running.

Mary Decker, like Steve Prefontaine, is a world-class long-distance runner who started running in her teens in the early 70s.  She holds an unprecedented 17 world records and 36 National records.  Yet her hard charging career was often marred by illness and heartbreaking losses due to injury.  Coming in at the top of her game, she was expected to take the Gold medal in the 3000-meter event at the 1984 Summer Olympics, yet she lost in a heartbreaking-to-watch accident when she collided with runner Zola Budd.  Decker came back from this bitter loss, however, by setting more records in the 80s, including a new record for the women’s mile.

Both these legends prove that failure is all part of the game of winning, and is not necessarily an ending but just part of the process of achieving greatness.

There are sports legends in every generation, household names that trip off the tongue like Mark Spitz, Roger Bannister, Muhammad Ali, Roger Federer, Bjorn Borg, Eric Heiden, Tiger Woods.  In their respective fields they have scaled the heights, achieving victories at levels other athletes, and common humans, can only dream of.  How does an athlete achieve this level of achievement?  And how does he do it after recovering from cancer?  Is it even possible?  In the case of one sports legend, the answer is yes.

Lance Armstrong’s unprecedented victories as a cyclist in the Tour de France competitions have brought him legendary status as one of the greatest athletes in world history.  He won the top prize in the tour for an unparalleled seven years in a row, from 1999 through 2005. His achievement in this unforgiving race, which calls on cyclists to use every inch of muscle and determination their bodies can muster on a course approximately 2175 miles through the hills and valleys of Europe — and then asks to them to push on and give even more — is an awe-inspiring achievement.  Then add to all that Armstrong’s role as a cancer survivor, and his story is jaw dropping on every level.  It is utterly insane, and completely inspiring

In 1996 Armstrong was one of the top rated cyclists competing anywhere when he was diagnosed with advanced stage testicular cancer, a disease that is generally fatal within a year for 1/3 of those diagnosed with the disease. With a combination of therapies, and a return to cycling in between rounds of chemotherapy, Armstrong recovered and began to compete again, going on, of course, to his incredible 7-year domination of the Tour de France.  Armstrong says as difficult as it was, the fight against cancer gave him perspective and in some ways was the best thing that every happened to him. In acknowledgement, he created the Lance Armstrong Foundation to raise money and awareness for others suffering from cancer.  His heroism on the cycling track seems matched only by his courage in the face of a shattering illness.

Some of the most endearing figures in sports and the culture at large have come from the world of boxing.  Who can forget Sylvester Stallone, in the crowd-pleasing, heart-tugging film classic, “Rocky.”  And for real heroics, plus world-class charm in the ring, no one comes close to boxing legend Muhammed Ali. Ali floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, even as he inspired us with his athletic power and original poems, all written in praise of his own beauty.  He mercilessly egged on his opponents, danced the rope and dope, dazzled and endured.  And most likely he stayed far too long in the ring.

Years after his days as the heavyweight boxing world champion, the world was stunned to see the great Ali lighting the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics, his hands shaking with the effects of Parkinson’s disease.  It was unforgettable moment, as the champ stepped forward, his once great power so obviously diminished by illness.  How much damage did a life in boxing cost the great champ?

Boxing is revered for its power, excitement, and yes, its brutality.
But the reality of serious injury has always made the sport controversial.
Generally amateur boxers sustain fewer, less serious injuries, as they spend less time in the ring.  The danger for professional boxers is high, however, and there have been many calls for safety reviews, and for banning the sport altogether.

Pro boxers experience repeated violent blows to the head, which can cause fractures to the bones of the head and face.  The resulting damage to brain tissue directly effects brain function.  Boxers also sustain injury to bones in the arms and chest, but head injury remains the most obvious and vulnerable area for the professional fighter.  Beyond the glamour and excitement of life in the ring is the sad reality of the “punch drunk” fighter, leveled by brain damage and other associated diseases like Parkinson’s.  Many in the sports world feel fighters are made to pay far too high a price for their moments of glory in the ring.

This year provides a whole slew of new sports games coming out for every system. Playstation 3 games tend to be the fastest and most graphically gorgeous out there, so those are the ones this articles is going to focus on. The following games might not all be classics, but they will get your adrenaline pumping… until something better comes along.

Madden NFL 11 comes out of a very long pedigree, and it might be hard to imagine that they could go any further than they already have with it. While the graphics have been beautiful for years (in a completely manly way, of course), this year they’ve kicked up the gameplay with the GameFlow system. You can call plays like you never could before – drop the playbook, scream the audibles, and just send ‘em up the middle!

Little League World Series Baseball 2010 brings the young franchise back for its third year in the batter’s box. You can take your little league team from being nobodies to winning the World Series in either Season or Career modes. And if that wasn’t good enough, now you can show the world your accomplishments by uploading it to the Web. Victory is great, but bragging rights are the win that keeps on winning.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 lets you play in the Ryder Cup, which is about prestige instead of money. You can compete with up to three other people in a match, and even take your team (American or European) online to throw down against anybody else with a PS3 and the net. Yes, you can put together a team of up to 24 people, who can then go on to challenge pretty much anybody.

Superstars V8 racing comes out of Milestone, a game company that tends to focus on motorbikes. With 4 wheels, they’ve gone all out, combining spectacular aesthetics with performance.

No matter how careful you are as a recreational sports player there is always the risk of injury. The severity of the injury can depend upon factors such as age, where the injury occurs, and your diligence in seeking medical attention and following the doctor’s orders. One of the worst decisions a sports player can make is to power through. Being an athlete is also about being in tune with your body and giving it the respect and rest it deserves.

Common Sports Injuries

Although there are numerous injuries that can occur when participating in sporting activities, there are some common ones that occur more often than others. For example ACL injuries result when there is a sudden and forceful twisting of the knee joint either by impact or twisting with feet improperly planted. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is another common sports injury that most often presents in individuals that play racquet based sports.

Groin pulls are basically sprained or torn inner thigh muscles. However this injury can be very painful and is easily re-injured. Groin injuries are often brought about when making quick changes in direction or quick starts and stops while running. Muscle cramps are another common sports ailment. When athletes go all out without proper hydration, with fatigued muscles or with insufficient training, these painful spasms can occur.

Common Sports Injury Treatments

The nature of the treatment will be directly related to the type of injury. One common treatment method is the rest, ice, compression and elevation. This is most common for injuries that involved muscle pulls, tears, and/or strains. Individuals that play sports can avoid a number of injuries by engaging in proper stretching before and after an activity, by making sure that their bodies have been properly hydrated, and by purchasing the correct shoes for the particular sport they are involved in.

If you have never been to one of your local sportsbooks, you should certainly try and go as it is one of the most fun times you can have. Wagering on sports is one of the most time honored traditions the games have and it’s a great way to increase the personal level of excitement for you, the fan, and a great way to win a few extra dollars if you place the right bet. Gambling, however, always comes with the worry that you are going to bite off more than you can chew, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun placing a wager. You just want to follow a few simple rules.

Bet Assuming You Will Lose

This doesn’t seem like much fun but it will make you a more responsible gambler. You can’t walk in thinking you will win because you will end up spending a fortune and watching it go right down the drain. Bring in just enough that you can afford to lose and you will end up walking out feeling great either way.

Stick to Sports You Know

Occasionally it’s nice to be able to place a wager on some sport that is completely foreign to you but the fact is it’s the best way to lose money. Betting on a sport you understand means you will be doing more than taking a lucky guess. This gives you the best chance of winning in most cases or at least gives you the best chance in knowing why you might win.

Have Fun

The moment betting becomes a lifestyle is the moment it gets out of hand. If you can’t have fun doing it, then it isn’t worth doing. Go in to have a good time and heighten the stakes of the game. Don’t go in for anything else.

Growing up in the United States, children have access to a plethora of sports. Some take place on a field, court, or track, while others take place on a boat or mountain. Some sports use balls, pucks and gloves, while others use arrows, helmets and goggles.
Regardless of their differences, there are various similarities between sports that offer its participants both immediate and long-term benefits.
Take basketball and kenpo for example. At their most basic elements, basketball is a game where a ball is thrown through a hoop and kenpo is simply regulated kicking and punching.
If you’re not familiar with athletics, you’re probably wondering how activities like these can benefit a child.
For starters, both activities require patience. On one hand, being able to consistently make a three pointer or hook shot takes time. There will undoubtedly be days when the shots aren’t falling, yet with a little patience, practice and perseverance the skills will come. Even stars like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, both of whom are around 6’6’’ with near 40 inch vertical leaps, had to employ a great deal of patience with their basketball skills to make it to the NBA.
Similarly, being able to successfully learn and execute the 700 distinct self-defense techniques of kenpo karate, as taught in by institutions like the American Kenpo Senior Council, makes patience a necessity.
Another, lesser known, benefit of these activities are their worldliness. As many children mature into young adults, they begin to travel, usually outside of the United States. In most regions of Asia, kenpo or a similar form of martial arts is generally a part of the local culture. Thus knowing kenpo adds to the American child’s worldliness.
Furthermore, if an 18 year old American boy, one who hasn’t received any kenpo training, travels with his classmates to Shanghai for two weeks, he probably won’t be having fluid conversations in Mandarin. However, if he sees some Chinese students shooting hoops, all he has to do is step on the court, take a shot, and let basketball be the translator.

Research has been done on the effect of kids who are involved in sports and it’s been found that benefits are endless. One thing that playing sports does is reduce anxiety as well as depression in kids. It also increases a child’s self esteem. When kids are involved in sports, they learn social skills and they learn cooperation and friendship. Those who play sports are able to learn about strategy and critical thinking as well as hard work and discipline.

Another important aspect of playing sports is to get kids up and moving. Many kids in the United States are overweight and sit around playing video games. Getting children into sports will give them a reason to get some exercise. It will help them learn about staying active and keeping their bodies healthy.

Why Parents Don’t Put Kids in Sports

Despite everything that is good about kids being in sports, many parents choose not to enroll their children on a community team. There are many reasons for this. One is that they didn’t play sports as a kid and don’t feel comfortable trying to teach their children how to play. Another is time and expense. You have to pay the enrollment fee for your child to play, pay for the uniform they’ll wear at games, and pay for sports equipment that can be used to practice outside of regularly scheduled practices. Time is also an issue because of the time it takes to take your child to practice and games and help them practice at home, which is essential for your child to improve in the sport and gain confidence in their abilities to play.

If your reason for not signing your child up for sports is money, then try and find a way to fit it into your budget. Even if that means getting an auto refinance loan to cover the costs of the sport, it’s worth it for your child’s future.

Not all exercise regimes are suited for everyone. Boxing might be too physically demanding for some, while others might find yoga too mellow to fit in with their on-the-go lifestyle. However, there is at least one sport that can fit the needs of many different walks of life. For those looking to blend the aspects of active physical sports with spiritual enhancement, they should look no further than American Kenpo.

American Kenpo is a system of martial arts developed in the twentieth century by Ed Parker. Although Kenpo has its roots in ancient China, Parker worked to both modernize and Americanize the sport to be a viable source of self-defense and exercise for Americans today. The result is a blend of the circular movements used in Chinese Kung Fu with the linear movements used in Japanese martial arts. It has been established as an art as well as a system for self-defense, known for incorporating logic and the disciplines of mathematics, physics, physiology and kinesiology in its movements.

As a system that teaches self-control and self-respect, there are a plethora of benefits to becoming involved in American Kenpo; individuals practicing the sport will become physically fit, increase their stamina and reduce stress and tension.

It’s a sport that almost anyone could pick up—most people already use movements associated with Kenpo in their everyday lives without even realizing it. The sport has been known to attract all walks of life—from firefighters and professional athletes to homemakers and accountants. Even children can pick it up as a way to learn self-discipline and confidence.

For those looking to rise through the ranks and become a pro, there will be a few hoops they’ll have to jump through first. American Kenpo uses a basic belt system consisting of White, Yellow, Orange, Purple, Blue, Green, Third Brown, Second Brown, First Brown, and First through Tenth Black.

There are teaching centers across the country helping individuals master the art of American Kenpo; just search online for a site near you.

The summer of 2010 marks a renewed interest for the United States in soccer. Known as football to the rest of the world, America has demonstrated a strong showing at the sport’s most prolific event. Its claim to superiority to other sporting events can only be thwarted by that of the Olympics.
Historically the American team has not had many good showings at the World Cup. It placed third in the inaugural 1930 World Cup. Recently the U.S. reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.
In the 2010 World Cup, the Americans managed to reach the knockout stage in the round of sixteen. However, in a heartbreaking loss to Ghana in extra time, they were unable to progress as far as they would have liked.
The reception of fans in the United States has been noticeable. As soccer as progressed, albeit at a rather slow rate, in the previous decades, Americans can be seen in the event and in the sport. Coverage has been extended in sports reporting, and coverage of the games has been provided for free on the Internet. Also, Major League Soccer (MLS) has continued to reach out to the country in providing further interest in the sport.
It remains to be seen how soccer will be received in the coming years. In a country dominated by basketball, baseball, American football, and other notable sports, it may never reach the prominence as seen in other countries. It is reasonable to suspect that the current and generally positive trend will continue.
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa has certainly attested to this positive trend for the sport. Perhaps further success for the United States in international soccer and in the MLS will mean good things for the sport. Just maybe it can attract some of the nation’s top athletes, which could make claims to a more successful national program, and spark further interest.