Save on Calligraphy (expires 12-15-05)

Between now and Dec 15th, get 25% off any purchase of Chinese Calligraphy or Korean Calligraphy. All pieces are one of a kind collector's items - the perfect gift or the perfect time to treat yourself to something special. The discount will automatically be calculated when you place an item in your shopping cart.

Preorder and Save: Martial arts of Korea DVD

The new Martial Arts of Korea DVD is scheduled for release in approximately 10 days. Preorder your DVD now and save $5.00 off the regular price of $19.95. Martial Arts of Korea introduces a dozen Korean arts through interviews, visits to dojangs and gyms, competition footage, demonstrations and historical background. Each segment features top ranking masters in Korea who present a revealing look at the arts of Kuk Kung, Ssireum, Kumdo, Haedong Kumdo, Kyukpa, Taekkyon, Hapkido, Yudo, Kuk Sool, Taekwondo and Muye Eship Saban (armed and empty hand). Filmed on location in Korea.

Fighting Tactic: Drawing

Excerpted from Combat Strategy:

Drawing is similar to baiting a hook in fishing. The fish sees only his lunch, not the hook that lies inside. To bait your opponent, intentionally expose a target for him to attack. This can be done by three methods:

1. Assume a vulnerable stance that leaves an open target on your body. Try this in the early stages of a fight, before your opponent has seen your true fighting stance, or when you can realistically give the appearance of being tired or hurt.

2. Expose a vital point on your head and wait for the opponent come in to attack it. When he commits to a high attack, evade and respond with a counterattack. Use this formula for high-low, right-left or front-back attacks.

3. Step back and let your opponent step forward. As soon as he begins to step in, attack suddenly and overwhelm him.

Last day for free shipping before holidays

Today is the last day to take advantage of Turtle Press's free shipping offer and still receive your order in time for the holidays. After today, you can still choose the free shipping option, but we cannot guarantee that orders shipped via our standard free shipping method will arrive before December 24th.

Today is also the last day for air mail and global priority shipping to arrive in time for Christmas. After today, customers outside of the United States should choose EMS shipping for orders that must arrive by December 24th.

Bargain Basement Books available

A small shipment of Bargain Basement Books has arrived in our warehouse. Most of the titles have only one or two quantities and will most likely be gone by the end of the day.

Using the Centerline in Fighting

Martina Sprague talks extensively about using the centerline in her book, The Science of Takedowns, Throws & Grappling for Self-defense. She identifies the centerline as "an imaginary line approximately five inches wide, running vertically on the front or back of your body. Striking the targets found on the centerline (nose, jaw, throat, heart, solar plexus, groin, base of neck, spine, and tailbone) is likely to cause serious injury or death. The centerline is also where your strength is focused. Any time a technique is not lined up with your centerline, power loss occurs. The closer you can keep your techniques to your centerline, the more powerful and effortless they will be."