Zen Man Movie Website

The official Zen Man movie website is live at www.zenmanmovie.com

Check out the site today for trailers, production stills, movie themed wallpaper and more details about Sang H. Kim's first feature film.

Video to DVD conversion complete

Turtle Press has completed transferring video titles to DVD format and will soon be discontinuing VHS sales. Some titles will not be transferred to DVD and will instead be discontinued, so order soon if there are VHS titles on your wish list.

Turtle Press video previews on Google

Turtle Press vidoe previews can now be seen on Google Video in broadband windows media format. If you're having difficultly previewing titles on our site in RealPlayer or just prefer to watch the previews in your browser, go to video.google.com and search on the DVD title or key words.

Feinting for Street Fighting

Loren Christensen and Wim Demeere, authors of Timing in the Fighting Arts, offer this simple partner drill to practice using feinting in a self-defense situation:

Square off with your partner and run trough your entire arsenal of feints using your head, arm, kicks, grabs, footwork, and even shouts. Your partner should give you honest feedback. If he feels your feint isn’t convincing enough, he tells you so. Now, don’t take it personally and come back at him with, “Yeah, but your mama’s a thief.” Learn from the critique and strive to correct the problem.

Here are a few tricks for you to try. They are simple because our fighting philosophy is simple. It’s already hard enough on the streets without getting complex in your self-defense.

Switch levels of attack Fake an attack to your opponent’s legs and when he moves to block, hit him in the face. The bigger the difference in the levels, the harder it is for him to defend against your follow-up attack. If you can’t hit at extreme levels, do less. Fake a head punch, and when he dodges, slam a hard punch into his liver.

Practice 1 or 2 sets of 10 reps of each combination on both sides.

Last Day to Save on Advanced Joongbong DVD

The Advanced Joongbong DVD will ship on Dec 15th. Today is the last to preorder and save $5.00 off the regular price.

Dec 15th final day for ground shipping

Order before Thursday Dec 15th to take advantage of lower cost priority mail or UPS ground shipping on Christmas orders. This is also the final day for all international orders to arrive in time for Christmas. After Dec. 15th, choose UPS second day air or UPS next day air for guaranteed Christmas arrival.

2 Turtle Press titles in Black Belt Top 10

According to Black Belt Magazine Turtle Press had two of the top ten selling martial arts books in 2005:

Ultimate Flexibility by Sang H. Kim ranked number 2 for the year, edging out martial arts classics A Book of Five Rings and Tao of Jeet Kune Do. Solo Training by Loren W. Christensen, a consistent top seller on Amazon.com for the past few years came in at number 8.

Martial Arts Drill for Kids: Obstacle Course

The following drill is excerpted from the Martial Arts Instructors Desk Reference:

Making an obstacle course in the training hall is a great class starter for kids' classes. Don't let anyone stand around waiting in line - assign a time killing exercise like jumping jacks or running place between turns at a station. Some ideas for stations to keep everyone moving:

• Jump over a pile of kicking shields
• Crawl through a tunnel of kicking shields without touching them
• Jump over a series of heavy bags laid about two feet apart
• Kick or strike a hanging target, hanging bag or stand up heavy bag
• Weave around a line of hand targets
• Duck walk under a hanging heavy bag
• Look in the mirror and kihap loudly five times
• Roll between two kicking shields without touching them
• Block an " attack " by a blocker or foam wand
• Kick a paper cup off of the top of a standing bag
• Crawl under a stick balanced on two chairs
• Walk on a line on the floor (masking tape works well and removes easily after use)
• Hop over a belt laid on the floor to form a zig-zag course

Some stations may require an adult to reset or facilitate.

Free Gift with your Order

When you place an order of $10 or more before Dec. 31, 2005, Turtle Press will include one free mystery gift with your order.

Free video with your order of $10-49.99

Free DVD with your order of $50 or more

Brief History of Taekkyon

Taekkyon is a traditional bare-hand martial arts developed by the Korean people and is recognized as the original form of bare-hand martial arts in Korea. Before the 6th century, Taekkyon was practiced by the ruling classes and from the 9th to 12th century, became very popular, even among the common people. According to the Koryusa, a Korean history book written in the 15th century, Taekkyon was widely encouraged and practiced by everyone from the king himself to farmers.

But as the society moved toward a system that encouraged education and literary pursuits and discouraged military pursuits, the practice of Taekkyon declined. By the 13 century, Taekkyon was considered a folk custom rather than an actively practiced martial art.

During the Japanese colonial period, Taekkyon was banned and nearly vanished. Fortunately Song Duk-ki (1893-1987) preserved the art and handed it down to modern day Koreans. After the independence of Korea, the practice of Taekkyon became considerably less popular than the practice of Japanese based arts. The establishment of Taekwondo after the Korean War and its subsequent popularity served to further overshadow the practice of Taekkyon.

Taekkyon began to rise in popularity again in the early 1980s. It was designated by the government as Important Intangible Cultural Asset No. 76 on June 1, 1983 owing to the extensive efforts by Shin Han-seung (1928-1987), who learned Taekkyon from Song Duk-ki. After the death of both masters, Lee Yong-bok, who learned Taekkyon from these two masters in 1984, established the Korea Traditional Taekkyon Institute to revive Taekkyon. Through his efforts, a resurgence in Taekkyon practice resulted and on June 30, 1985, the first Taekkyon game in 80 years took place in Kooduk stadium located in Pusan.

Preorder and Save: Taekkyon DVD

Save $5.00 when you preorder the new Taekkyon DVD. Taekkyon is a native Korean martial art that was nearly lost forever during the early 1900's. Preserved by Grandmaster Song Duk-ki until his death, it is considered a Cultural Asset by the Korean government. In this DVD, filmed on location at the historical Korean Folk Village in Yongin, Grandmaster Lee Yong-bok, head of the Korea Taekkyon Association, and his National Demonstration Team present dynamic performances of Taekkyon at its best.

Warming up for Competition

"One of the most common questions I get from students is how to prepare for a tournament," says Sang H. Kim, author of Taekwondo Kyorugi. While training is a lengthy process, he offers some tips for a successful tournament day. "After you have passed through the weigh-in or registration process, go over your plan and review your most important techniques. Spend some time to familiarize yourself with the competition site and get used to the temperature, lighting, and layout. If you know when you will compete, plan to start warming up about thirty minutes before the start of your match. If you do not know when you will compete, as is often the case in smaller competitions, try to stay loose and focused but do not overexert yourself early in the day."

"If you win your first match, you will most likely have to compete again soon. Take a few minutes to relax and cool down after your first match, then ask your coach for feedback. Focus on what you did well and what you need to improve for your next outing. Attend to any injuries you might have gotten with ice or tape. About fifteen to twenty minutes before your next match, begin to physically and mentally prepare yourself. Follow this pattern until you have completed your competition for the day."

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."

Effective Visualization

Visualization techniques are powerful because the mind does not distinguish between what is vividly visualized and what is done in physical reality. According to Dr. Jacob H. Jordan, author of Total MindBody Training, "When actions are clearly visualized, neuro-physiologic pathways are formed just as though you were physically performing the action. The same neurotransmitters travel to the same muscles, often at sub threshold levels, resulting in muscle contractions only detectable by EMG monitoring. This process effectively tattoos the physical action into your physiology with subsequent improvement in your abilities. The results are comparable to physical training in experienced athletes."

As a firm believer in the power of visualization to improve martial arts training, Dr. Jordan shares the following seven steps to effective visualization:

1. Relax
2. Start simple, with a single element
3. Build in/combine individual elements to create a bigger picture
4. Create a "moving hologram" from the third person point of view
5. Move from third person to first person viewpoint
6. Experience all five senses in your visualization
7. Incorporate emotions for added realism

Preorder and Save: Advanced Joongbong on DVD

The Junsado DVD series is finally complete with the addition of Advanced Joongbong (short stick) on DVD. This new DVD contains both the advanced combat and forms video material as well as the Close Combat video material. It is scheduled for release in early December. Preorder now to reserve your copy and save $5.00 off the regular price of $29.95.

Grappling Strength Drill: Hug and lunge

Author Loren Christensen devotes a chapter of his new book Solo Training 2 to building core strength, which is especially important for grapplers. An especially tough set of drills uses a heavy bag (he suggests 25, 50, 75 or 100 pounds depending on your fitness level) for lifting. Try the Hug and Lunge drill out for yourself and see just how effective this set of drills is:

• Begin by cradling the bag in the crook of your arms and hugging it to your chest, your feet hip-width apart.

• Step forward with your right leg and lower your body until your thigh is parallel with the floor. Keep your upper body straight and tall, and keep hugging that bag.

• Push back with your right foot until your leg is mostly straight, then step forward with your left foot and place it next to your right so that you’re once again in the beginning position. This advances you forward a step.

• Now step forward with your left leg and repeat the above procedure (with opposite legs), again advancing forward a step.

Do 1 set of 10 reps with each leg, progressing over the weeks to 3 sets of 10 reps. When you feel you’re ready to add weight, move up to the next heavier bag.

Preorder and Save: Korean Sword and Weapon Arts DVD

Preorder the Korean Sword and Weapon Arts DVD (scheduled release: Nov. 30) now and save $5.00 of the regular price of $24.95. Korean Sword and Weapon Arts is a rare look at some of the oldest documented martial arts of Korea. In this fascinating DVD, the National DemonstrationTeam of Kyung Dang, led by Grandmaster Im Dong-kyu, reenacts the sword, stick, spear and empty hand arts of ancient Korea.

10 Principles of Defending Against a Knife Attack

Sang H. Kim, instructor of the Knife Defense Fundamentals and Advanced Knife Defense DVDs, shares these simple principles for defending against a knife wielding attacker:

1. Stay as close to your opponent as possible after you close.
2. Focus on taking control of the knife first.
3. Grabbing the knife wielding hand is always preferable to parrying/blocking.
4. Cut off your attacker's view of the knife.
5. Close the distance quickly and smoothly.
6. Never take unnecessary chances or use complicated techniques.
7. Detach yourself from the fear you feel when faced with a weapon.
8. Stay alert but unemotional.
9. Keep a natural demeanor and deceive your opponent.
10. Move suddenly and without warning.

Korean Kickboxing DVD available 11/21

The newly released Korean Kickboxing DVD is scheduled to ship out on November 21st. There is still time to save $5.00 off the regular price of $24.95 by preordering today.

Shipment of Bargain Basement Books Just In

We have just received a shipment of bargain basement books - slightly damaged books sold at a deep discount. Bargain basement titles typically sell out in a day or two of arriving so don't delay in ordering.

Kwon Bup: Ancient Korean Martial Art

Kwon Bup means fist fighting method. The earliest surviving written reference to kwon bup is found in the Muye Dobo Tongji, which has extensive documentation on the techniques and history of kwon bup. According to this text, kwon bup was impractical for large scale combat on the battlefield, but was taught as an introduction to the martial arts. Soldiers learned kwon bup prior to learning more complex weapons arts to master footwork and body control. It was also taught as a method of personal self-defense for Chosun warriors.

Kwon bup was developed based on the methods of the Shaolin Temple and the techniques of Jang Song-kye. The Shaolin methods emphasized external style (waega) techniques including joint locks, jumping attacks and elaborate footwork. Advanced techniques of the Shaolin style were very elaborate and difficult to master.

Jang Song-kye favored internal techniques (naega) with an emphasis on self-defense. His philosophy dictated that skills only be used when one encountered an unavoidable enemy or hopeless situation. According to the historical text Naega Kwon Bup, the internal style also included three classifications of vital death point attacks which were handed down in secret. It was widely believed, because of these secret techniques, that the internal style was superior to the external style in self-defense.

An early master of naega style kwon bup, Wang Jung-nam devised thirty-five training methods and eighteen types of footwork. He classified them into yukro (six paths) and ship dankum (ten levels). The yuk ro methods were used to develop bone strength and inflict immediate damage while the ship dankum methods were intended to induce a delayed reaction. Many of his methods have been preserved in the Muye Dobo Tongji.

Does strength training limit flexibility?

According to Sang H. Kim, author of Ultimate Flexiblity, the idea that strength training makes you less flexibile is a myth. "Just the opposite is true," he says, "thanks to the stretch-shortening cycle. A very simple description of the stretch-shortening cycle likens it to an elastic band. When you stretch the elastic, it becomes taut and ready to snap back with force when released. The more pliable the elastic and the farther you can stretch it, the more force it will generate when released." A detailed explanation of the reasoning behind coordinating your strength training with a good stretching program can be found in chapter 2 of Ultimate Flexibility.

Attendance Records Available for 2006

2006 Attendance Records are in and ready to ship. The use of student attendance records has been proven to improve student retention in martial arts classes at all age levels. When your students track their attendance daily, you can easily identify whose participation is lagging and contact them before it's too late. Each card is made of heavy card stock to withstand a full year's use and prepunched to fit conveniently in a 3 ring binder.

Martial Arts Injury Care: Ice or Heat?

According to Trish Bare Grounds, author of the Martial Arts Injury Care and Prevention book and DVD, this is one of the most common questions martial artists have about treating injuries at home. Her answer? Simple:


Use ice:

• If an injury is less than 7 days old the only thing you want to use is ice.
• If an injury still has quite a bit of swelling and/or pain, even if more than 7 days old, you want to use ice following any workout, even if you are going to workout or fight later on in the day.
• For any injury less than 3 weeks old, while the tissue is still healing, use ice to treat pain and prevent inflammation after a workout.
• Prior to entering the ring to fight or in the ring between rounds ice will slow the swelling of a minor injury received during a competition.
• Immediately upon being injured, apply ice even before you see bruising or swelling.
• To treat a cut or other external bleeding. Ice will slow the blood flow and stop bleeding more quickly.
  

Use moist heat:

• If the injury is no longer swollen and simply sore or stiff, after 7 days you can either use a moist heat pack or heat rub prior to a workout to help increase the blood flow to the area.
• If you are simply tight or sore from a previous workout a moist heat pack or heat rub can soothe aching muscles and help to loosen them prior to working out.

Trish has recently completed her Ph.D. at the University of Florida’s Sports Medicine/Athletic Training Program as well as a revised and expanded second edition of The Bare Essentials Guide to Martial Arts Injury Care and Prevention, scheduled to be released by Turtle Press in early 2006.

Boxing: How to Clinch

Michael Onello, author of Boxing: A 12 Week Course, gives these simple tips for learning to use the clinch, "Place your arms around your opponent’s shoulders with your biceps touching him as you pull them into you (not using your hands). Have your arms slide down to his elbows, keeping your head up over his shoulder, not on it. If you’re on the ropes or in the corner, spin him fast and hard. Keep your hands up on the break."

Clinching drill: Practice with a partner, in the center of the ring, on the ropes and in the corner. Take turns being the clincher. Mix and match partners if possible so that you can work with different body types.

Last day to save on Martial Arts Drills DVD

The 77 Fun and Exciting Classroom Drills DVD will ship on November 11th. Today is the last day to preorder and save $5.00 off the regular price of $24.95.

Break bad habits with the "one less" technique

There is no point in quitting, or trying to quit something that you don’t really have the desire or willpower to quit, according Aaron Hoopes, author of Perfecting Ourselves: Coordinating Body, Mind & Spirit. "Dependency is a tough adversary. Instead of trying to quit entirely, try a minor shift in attitude from indulging in excess to practicing moderation. Let it put you in motion on a path in the right direction rather than be a process by which failure is almost assured."

Have a bad habit you want to break? Try his "One Less" techinque:

One Less: Regardless of what negative lifestyle pattern is affecting your body, tomorrow see if you can do one less than usual. For example, if you smoke twenty cigarettes a day, tomorrow smoke nineteen. If you have three martinis with dinner, tomorrow have two. If you eat ten cookies at a time, tomorrow eat nine. Whatever it is, tomorrow do one less than today (or if you need to, one less this week or month than last week or month). Whatever the behavior, don’t think of it as “wrong” but simply as an excess with harmful effects.

Moderation is the key, and moderate behavior is soon rewarded by a healthier feeling in the body. As the body feels healthier, your behavior will naturally evolve. But the initial step is moderation. Don’t try to quit something you have no ability to quit. That will just stir more resistance. If you enjoy it, do it. Eventually, if you are genuinely sincere, you will reach a point where it doesn’t have a hold on you anymore and you can leave it behind. Until that time don’t stress about it.

Full or half sit-up: Which is more effective?

According to Martina Sprague, author of Strength and Power Training for Martial Arts, full sit-ups don't work the abs any more than partal sit-ups. "The abs are used primarily during the first 30 degrees of the situp. Then the hip flexors take over, which are strong muscles with the function of bringing the legs toward the upper body, or the upper body toward the legs. So full situps don’t work the abs more than partial situps. However, there is no harm in doing them." Martina also notes that a stability ball is preferable to the hard floor: "The rectus abdominis muscle also works through about 15 degrees of spinal extension, which means that in order to get full benefit from your ab workout, you should avoid lying on a hard floor that prevents you from extending your spine. This is one reason the stability ball is a good ab training device."

New Tai Chi DVD released

The Tai Chi for Life DVDs were released today. Instructed by Master Guangzhi Xing, this series covers the 38 Form and Broadsword Form of Chen style Tai Chi, the Simplified 24 Form and Tai Chi Sword Form of Yang Style Tai Chi and the Chinese National Wushu Competition Form of Sun Style Tai Chi. While not as long as or in depth as our Chinese martial arts DVD imports, these DVDs are an excellent method of learning or refining these shorter, popular tai chi forms. Master Xing's emphasis is on tai chi as a way of maintaining health and reducing stress. His teaching is straightforward and easy to follow, an ideal introduction to tai chi for the novice or intermediate practitioner.

Injury Care and Prevention DVD shipping today

All of the preorders for Trish Bare Grounds' DVD Martial Arts Injury Care and Prevention shipped out today. Presented in a seminar format, this is a great dvd for martial arts instructors and coaches as well as students who want a better understanding of how to care for minor injuries and how to administer first aid in emergencies. Trish is one of the foremost experts on martial arts injury care in the US and brings years of experience to her seminar presentations for athletes and coaches.

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