Zen Man reviewed in Taekwondo People

Zen Man, the debut martial arts movie from Sang H. Kim, is reviewed in the November/December issue of Taekwondo People, the official magazine of the Kukkiwon.

Book Preview Pages

We've begun posting interior pages from our books so you can see the quality and size of photos, amount of information and layout of titles you're interested in. Check out these titles and click on the "LOOK INSIDE" button to see this new feature:

Ultimate Flexibility
Complete Taekwondo Poomsae
Science of Grappling Throws & Takedowns for Self-defense

More coming soon!

New Chinese DVD Previews

The following DVD previews were recently added to our site:

Shaolin Kung Fu Spear DVD
Shaolin Arhat Boxing Form DVD
Chen Tai Chi Old Frame DVD set
Wing Chun Footwork DVD
Wing Chun Seeking Bridge DVD
Wing Chun Biao Zhi DVD
Muay Thai Fights # 1 DVD (improved version of this coming soon)
Bagua Fundamentals DVD
Xing Yi 12 Animal Fists DVD
Choy Li Fut Chi Kung Ball

New DVD: Tai Chi Fan Form

We've just received our newest DVD import from China: Tai Chi 18-form Fan DVD, which combines elements of Yang style Taiji and wushu fan techniques to create a graceful, circular form. Your instructor is Yang Li, creator of the form and a tai chi instructor at China's Beijing College of Physical Education. This is a rare opportunity to learn a form from its originator.

This DVD has English, French, Spanish and Chinese audio tracks as well as a printed booklet (inside the DVD case) with a description of the form in all four languages.

New DVD Previews Posted

We're continuing to add previews for our Chinese martial arts DVDs. The latest additions:

Bagua 8 Door Conditioning DVD Preview
Chinese Wrestling DVD Preview
Southern Style Kung Fu DVD Preview
Bagua Old 8 Palms DVD Preview
Wing Chun Elbow & Kicking DVD Preview
Xing Yi 5 Elements DVD Preview
Tai Chi Fan Form DVD Preview
Bagua Single 8 Forms DVD Preview
Choy Li Fut Chi Kung DVD Preview
Xing Yi 8 Fists DVD Preview

Shaolin Kung Fu Forms DVDs

The Shaolin Kung Fu Forms DVD has been discontinued by the producers, however we have replaced it with the new Shaolin Kung Fu Foundation Form DVD. On this DVD, imported from China,31st generation Shaolin disciple Shi Dejun teaches the Shaolin Kung Fu 13-Form Foundation Quan, one of the essential Shaolin forms. We are expecting the first shipment of these to arrive from China later this week. Order now to reserve your copy.

Just released: Isshinryu Kata DVD

The Isshinryu Kata DVD is shipping today. If you placed a preorder, look for a shipment confirmation email with in the next 24 hours. This completes the Mike Reeves series of Isshinryu Karate DVDs. Look for more Japanese Karate DVDs after the first of the year.

Sang H. Kim Article in January Taekwondo Times

Sang H. Kim is interviewed in the January Taekwondo Times issue, on newstands in early December. In the article he talks about flexibility and the proper way to stretch. In addition to the interview, there are excerpts from Ultimate Flexibility and Martial Arts After 40.

Just released: Beginner Karate DVD

The Beginner Karate DVD was released today. Sensei Mike Reeves teaches you the basics of Isshinryu Karate in an easy to follow format. At $19.95 this hour+ DVD is a great introduction to Karate.

New Book: Complete Taekwondo Poomsae

Complete Taekwondo Poomsae is the most complete reference book availabe on the Taegeuk, Palgwae and Black Belt Poomsae of WTF style Taekwondo. Grandmasters Kyu Hung Lee and Sang H. Kim have combined their extensive taekwondo knowledge to teach you not only the 25 official taekwondo poomsae, but the meaning of the forms, the principles of Poomsae performance and the philosophy that underlies the techniques.

This book will be released in January 2007. Preorder your copy today to save $10 off the regular cover price.

New Chinese Martial Arts DVD Previews added

We're continuing to add previews for our Chinese martial arts DVDs. The latest additions:

Wing Chun Palm Techniques DVD
Bagua Zhang 8 Door Conditioning Exercises DVD
Shuai Jiao: Chinese Wrestling DVD Set
Southern Boxing: Nan Quan Kung Fu DVD

Now available: On Combat

On Combat, the critically acclaimed book from celebrated writers Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and Loren W. Christensen is now available from Turtle Press. Written by two warriors who have been there and done that, On Combat looks at what happens to the human body under the stresses of deadly battle — the impact on the nervous system, heart, breathing, visual and auditory perception, memory - then discusses new research findings as to what measures warriors can take to prevent such debilitations so they can stay in the fight, survive, and win.

Preorder & Save: Championship TKD Drills DVD

Save $5.00 when you preorder Olympic gold medalist Lynnette Love's Championship Taekwondo Drills DVD. Created from her popular taekwondo sparring video series, this one action packed DVD covers all of the best beginner and intermediate level skills and drills from her video series. Whether you are new to sparring or you are looking for a good fundamental sparring workout, this is an excellent addition to your pre-competition workout.

Chinese Martial Arts DVD Previews Added

We are in the process of adding previews for all of our Chinese martial arts DVDs. Previews for the following DVDs were added today:

Choy Li Fut Dragon 18 Form DVD
Choy Li Fut Sparring and Little Arhat Boxing DVD
Muay Thai From Northern Thailand DVD
Wing Chun Little Fist DVD
Bagua Zhang Footwork DVD

More to come next week.

Great news: In just 3 weeks we've had over 30,000 views of our DVD preview clips!

Preorder & Save: Beginner Karate DVD

Save $5.00 when you preorder the new Beginner Karate DVD by Sensei Mike Reeves. Learn the basic blocks, strikes, kicks and sparring techniques of karate from a world champion instructor. At only $14.95 this a great bargain.

Preorder & Save: Isshinryu Kata DVD

Save $5.00 when you preorder Mike Reeves's new Isshinryu Kata DVD. Learn the eight empty hand Isshinryu karate kata on one DVD:

• Seisan Kata
• Seiuchin Kata
• Naihanchi Kata
• Wansu Kata
• Chinto Kata
• Sanchin Kata
• Kusanku Kata
• Sunsu Kata

Weight Training: How often is enough for MMA training?

Here's a question we recently received from a reader and author Loren Christensen's reply:

Question: I train in MA 3 days workouts lasting about 1 1/2 hours since I utilize the jump rope as my warmup, these sessions are also my ONLY cardio work. How many days weekly should I weight train for size and strength without worrying about overtraining? Thanks for your input.

Loren's Answer: First, know that it's a little difficult to put on a lot of size when you're doing a lot of cardio. In bodybuilding, it's recommended that the trainee eliminate cardio during the period in which he is specifically trying to pack on size. The thought is that all energy and calories should go into rebuilding the muscles after a strenuous resistance workout.

But I'm assuming you're not trying to be Mr. Olympia; you want to add some strength and size to give extra authority to your punches, kicks and grappling. That you can do, but you must do it wisely.

• Keep your weight training basic: benches, rowing, curls, triceps and squats.
• Go heavy so that you have to really grunt on your last repetitions, make it the 6th, 7th, and 8th ones.
• Do 3 or 4 sets per exercise, just one exercise per body part.
• Do these twice a week so that each body part is hit two times a week. If one week you can work each body part only once, no problem. You won't lose anything and you’re likely to even gain a little. During one six-month period I lifted only once a week and made nice gains. I've even heard of lifters making gains in their squats lifting once every 10 to 14 days.
• If you want to put on some extra weight, increase your calories by 300 to 500 per day. In a week to 10 days you should be packing around an extra pound.

The nice thing about lifting heavy is that not only will it give you some added size, but it will increase your speed, too. Light weights and high reps stimulate your slow-twitch muscles fibers. But heavy weights and low reps stimulate your fast-twitch fibers, the ones that give you power, strength, explosiveness and speed. So stay away from those pink dumbbells and instead pull those heavy ones off the rack. Oh, be sure to eat healthily and get some extra shuteye.

And don't blame me if you have to buy bigger shirts in three months and you start bursting open heavy bags at their seams. At the risk of sounding commercial, all these tips and a lot more can be found in The Fighter's Body by Wim Demeere and me, available right here at Turtle Press.

Train hard!

Loren

www.lwcbooks.com

New Improved Video Preview

TurtlePress.com has partnered with YouTube.com to create new improved DVD previews for our
most popular titles. Now you can preview dvds right on the product page, with no pop-up windows or special software required. Simply click on the "Preview Now" button right under the DVD cover image and then press the Play button.

Try it out for yourself, by previewing Mike Reeve's upcoming Isshinryu Kata DVD. Just press the play button below.



You can also share DVD previews with your friends by clicking the share button or add them to your favorites or playlists at YouTube.com

Conserve Energy when you Kick

Martina Sprague, author of Fighting Science, offers these tips to conserve energy when kicking:

Kicking takes more energy than striking. This is because the legs are heavier than the arms. Energy, when kicking, is conserved by relying on principles of physics that allow you to use as little effort as possible. Energy is also conserved by kicking when your opponent is moving into the kick’s path of power. This allows you to use less of your own momentum to achieve an overall stronger momentum.

Body mechanics for energy conservation:

1. The side kick takes less effort to land when your opponent is slightly toward your back rather than your front. This is because the kick is usually thrown with your lead leg, with your opponent lined up with your hips.

2. The spinning back kick should be thrown when your opponent is moving into its path of power. Energy is conserved by spinning less than 180 degrees. If you spin more than 180 degrees, you will be chasing your opponent with the kick.

3. If your opponent moves toward your front, it would be economical to throw a round house kick.

4. Energy can be conserved by dropping an axe kick on your opponent’s guard and bringing his upper body forward and into your follow-up strike.

Zen Man Reviewed in Black Belt

Zen Man is reviewed in the October issue of Black Belt magazine. The full page review begins: "Even though Zen Man is a new movie, its plot is an old one. That's not to say the straight-to-DVD action flick is outdated or some sort of remake. Rather, it's a new film that contains some classic Eastern mythology, as well as some enduring contemporary folklore."

The reviewer goes on to give a detailed breakdown of the film's strong and weak points, wrapping up with: "[Sang H.] Kim is the best thing about Zen Man. From his acting to his directing, the martail arts master shows us the potential of what a little money and a lot of passion can breed on-screen. With a bigger budget, better supporting players and help with the writing, Kim should be able to produce a movie to match his versatile skills."