I know this is Prokarateshop.com, and we market Karate Gi , but even us dedicated Martial Artist take some time to chill-out with our family and friends. We have other passions besides Martial Arts.
I wanted to take some time and share with you guys my opinions on the Best and the worse commercials of Super Bowl XLV. I am an football fan, not the type that will fight in a parking lot, but the type that enjoys hanging out with my friends and watching a great game. Super Bowl XLV was definitely a great game. That being said, the highlight of my Super Bowl ( no, it was not the Black Eyed Peas) was definitely watching the commercial.
I will start off by saying a few things. I did like to see where my taxes dollars were being spent. General Motors did put on a show. I am glad someone was able to put the bailout money to good use. I am also glad to see that companies that are losing money quarter after quarter and laying off thousands of people can still scrounge up the money to but a 30 second commercial.
Now, onto the commercials. Not to be a negative person, I will start out on a possible note. I liked the VW Darth Vader commercial, the kid was cute( that’s right, I called him cute). The thing I liked the most was the fact that it depicted a father fulfilling a dream(idea) of a child. Things like that are hard to find these days and personally, I thought it was cool that the Germans were able to capture the essence of a healthy family.
Now onto the worse, I am very positive person. That being said, I should have changed the name of the post to 2011 Super Bowl XLV Best and (Needed improvement) Commercials. The one commercial I thought really needed some work was any involving the new E-trade baby. Don’t get me wrong, who does not like a baby? I just think that last years kid set the bar for Day Trading 4 month olds. He possessed everything I had as a 4 month old. A great sense of humor, a bit brash, and a diaper full of crap. Those are qualities that you have to appreciate in a kid. I was really looking forward to seeing the kid. This years baby just did not seem like he possessed the young Gordon Gecko spirit like the last kid.
All in all, I had a fun night and I enjoyed all the commercials.
Btw, I did not notice(see) Christina Aguilera screw up the National Anthem. I still have to commend her, I have a hard singing in the shower.. She did it in front of Millions..
Tell us what were your fovorites and post them.. I would love to hear your opinions.
It’s that time of the year. You have worn a hole into your favorite Karate Gi. Your instructor giggles at his best student in the class. You Have worked hard..
It is for this reason that Prokarateshop.com wis giving away a free Adidas Grand Master Martial Arts Uniform. Just enter your information below and on February 23rd we will select a winner.
Now until December 20th, If you subscribe to Prokarateshoptalk or become a FB Fan of Prokarateshop.com, you will register for a chance to win $250 in free Martial Arts Equipment from Prokarateshop.com.
In the recent years, Martial Arts have changed significantly and so students need better and more efficient equipment and training facilities. New and better techniques are now discovered and so it is essential to get sufficient training to enhance the skills of the students. Through sparring sessions and competitions, students can learn better defensive and offensive tactics in martial arts. To enhance the learning experience of these students, focus targets and shields are very important.
Punch shields can be used for combinations of punch and kicks. The materials used for the punch shields can vary but among the most durable is the vinyl coated nylon. This will allow students to practice combinations of shin kicks and other related techniques.
Kick shields can handle the kicks of heavy hitters. The holder will be protected by the kick shields and like the punch shields, the ones made of vinyl coated nylon is ideal. The shield has six handles and so the holder will not find it hard to use it.
Focus mitts are usually made from durable leather and it can be used for lightweight sparring that involves the joints and shoulders.
Re-breakable boards are also being sold in the market today. The boards come in different resistance. You can get 3” boards, 5”, 7”, 9”, 1.25”, 1.75”, and 2.25” re-breakable boards. There are also padded boards that come in light, medium, and heavy sizes. The rubber padding is included in the durable plastic that follows the style of the re-breakable boards but with the extra padding, there is added comfort.
The clapper focus targets are also another great investment as well as the forearm shields. The pads and he targets are necessary for the training so that you can train yourself efficiently. Other targets include hard or soft focus targets, free standing wave-masters, hanging bags, plastic sheets, wooden boards, and body shields. Hitting a target can give student satisfaction so you will definitely need targets and shields.
The products mentioned earlier are just some of the products sold both in the online and local markets. Hanging bags can come in different sizes as well and you can get the one that is appropriate for you needs. Some kids are already into martial arts and so you can get them the small to medium sized hanging bags so that they can practice their new techniques and kicks with ease.
During sparring, the other person will hit the one wearing the pads, body shields, and focus targets. The student will not find it hard to hit these targets and you won’t get hurt. Most of the targets and shields are padded so it only means that you’re protected. Get your very own shields or targets now so that you can learn more effective techniques.
Most classes will also require you to get your own shields and targets. This will also be an advantage on your part because you can practice at home. Get the quality ones so that you can be sure of their durability and serviceability.
Martial Arts Shoes are not so easy to find especially since every dojo or school has its special requirements for their student’s footwear. Martial Arts Shoes are very important for training, however, you must ensure that you buy genuinely comfortable and legitimate shoes which conform to the requirement of your discipline. Choosing a shoe simply because it looks just the same as the required shoe is just not enough. However, nowadays, it is much easier to buy martial arts shoes since they are very much available online or at most of the martial arts stores near you.
Martial arts shoes are specifically designed for your feet protection while training or sparring in any martial art discipline. These shoes have pads to be able to protect the sides and tops of your feet while you are kicking or sparring. This is because; the feet have delicate bones and skin that are very susceptible to breakage or bruising. Furthermore, martial arts shoes are also excellent for protecting your feet from the infections such as athlete’s foot and staph that are usually found on gyms or sparring arenas.
Most martial arts shoes should be fairly soft at the bottom and then padded to the top. In this way, both your feet and the flooring mats of the sparring area are protected well. Martial arts shoes are now specifically suggested because they are definitely more hygienic than practicing barefooted. So, make sure that you get your martial arts shoes from an established martial arts equipment supplier so that you will get a high quality and durable one.
You can identify the martial arts equipment supplier or dealer by the kinds of goods that they actually carry. You can also find martial arts shoes in some athletic stores but is a good idea to purchase them directly from the dealer of martial arts equipment. Those martial arts equipment dealers will carry shoes for certain discipline like Karate. Furthermore, they will also have certain types of shoes for outdoor and indoor footwear.
As mentioned earlier, martial arts shoes can protect both the training facilities (flooring and mats especially) and your feet. They can prevent the sparring floor from getting scratches by the street shoes and also keeps it free from dirt and bacteria that can cause athlete’s foot or staph infections. Also, they will keep your feet from breaking. You can ask the owner of the school or your actual teacher for suggestions where to buy good martial arts shoes. Be sure that you express well to them, what you are really looking for a shoe so that they can refer you to a really good dealer of shoes.
Training in any martial arts discipline or any sport with low quality or worst improper gears and equipment is very dangerous. For example, if you do not buy a martial arts shoe that is properly padded, you just risk yourself to broken bones as well as major bruising. Always ensure that your bought shoes fit and also fit to your training habits
For centuries, Martial Arts has been recognized and practiced but the Martial Arts gi or the uniform is a new creation. The most recognized uniform was the one worn by Kigoro Kano way back in the 1900s. Kano was the founder of Judo, particularly Kodo-kan. The standard gear is made of cotton material and is colored white. The thickness of the uniform usually varies but the recommended material is 10 to 14 oz cotton. Since Martial Arts sparring can be strenuous and rigorous, heavier material is ideal so that it can easily absorb perspiration. Regardless of the length of the sparring session, the individual can keep a cooler temperature.
The Martial Arts sparring gear usually comes in three pieces which includes the belt, pants, and the jacket. With the different kinds of movement carried out during sparring sessions, the pants and jacket should be loose fitting and comfortable. The pants are also called Zubon while the jacket is called Uwa-gi. To ensure that the jacket is closed, you will need the Obi or the belt but it is also used to symbolize the rank of the person wearing it.
The Martial Arts gear is of two types – tournament and traditional cut. As the word suggests, the tournament cut is used for karate tournaments o the sleeves as well as the length of the pants expose the arms and your legs. For your sparring sessions, you can use the uniform with traditional cut. This particular cut is specially designed and the length reaches the ends of your legs and arms.
With regards to the belt, there are many myths about it. The ranking system involves mythical philosophy but you see, in reality, it’s more on the practical side. The colors of the Obi signify the abilities of students but such practice was used in Judo. Later on, karate adopted the color ranking system. The lighter the color, the lower the ability of the students; this means that the ones wearing dark colored belts have higher ranks.
The karate sparring gear is very important because of its functions and form. When shopping for the right sparring gear, you will need to go for the traditional cut. There are many stores on the web that sells karate gear but you can also purchase the uniform locally. Some of the karate schools tend to purchase or order the uniform from one manufacturer so that the gear will be the same. In some places, karate students are free to get their uniforms and have them sewn from their choice of seamstress or tailor.
Getting the commercially produced uniforms can be a bit costly whereas if you have the uniform personally made, it can fit you perfectly. Both options have pros and cons so make sure that you weigh it. By doing so, you will be able to get the right type of karate sparring gear. If you’re determined to learn karate, you will need to get your own uniform because you can’t possibly borrow your friend’s karate gear all the time.
Those karate uniforms are usually bought in sets of ready-made, karate pants and karate jacket which are traditionally help up by draw strings. Keep in mind that the size and the fit is very essential since you would be required to do fast and bib movements. Ensure that the karate pants are appropriate and exact for your size because if it’s too long, you might slip on its hemline or if it’s too big, your opponent might grab you through the extra cloth easily. If you can’t find the set that is appropriate for you, you can consider purchasing different sizes for your top and bottom. Or you may choose to have your set custom made. It is very critical that you try on the karate uniform to make sure that it will fit you well. Some karate uniform stores have alteration services for free if you need one.
So, aside from the size and fit of your karate uniform, another one to be considered when buying one is the weight of the fabric. Uniforms in karate are categorized from lightweight (least expensive), medium weight, and the heavy weight (which is the most expensive). The weight of the uniform that you would buy will depend on the level of seriousness and workout. The lightweight ones are good for beginners and for children while the heavyweight ones are good for grappling and furthermore, absorb well lots of sweat. So, the medium weight stands between the two.
Last but not the least, you should also consider what are they made of. There are many karate uniforms that are made of mixed cotton and polyester that provides resistance or prevent the uniform from wrinkles. However, the best ones would be those made of pure 100 percent cotton because they absorb sweat the best and you will definitely sweat a lot while practicing karate. So, hopefully, this article may help you in buying and choosing your karate uniform to keep you in excellent fighting form.
Learning Karate at a Martial Arts school or Dojo is fun and one of most enjoyable part is choosing your Martial Arts uniform to buy. Well, surely, wearing that traditional uniform in Karate would bring you excitement in learning those Karate cool moves. Aside from the excitement of learning those cool moves, proper Karate learning includes tremendous persistence and discipline.
Before buying your first Karate uniform or the Martial Arts Gi, make sure that you first ask the Dojo management if they have certain rules and regulation about the Karate uniform (color, patches, insignias, etc). There are some Karate schools that would require their students to only wear white color while other dojos allow colors like black, red, or blue. To be sure that you will choose the right one and conform to the Karate school’s standards, you can consider purchasing a set of your Karate uniform from the supply store of the Dojo or just ask them the names of the stores or suppliers where most of their students buy uniforms.
We started this group of sites because we felt that they was a shortage in martial arts sites that truly respected the principal we all adhere to as martial artist. Our goal was to provide useful information to individuals that shared our love for martial arts.
Our site begun out of necessity! We found that sites that provided martial artists with equipment and information for so filled with marketing and fluff that it was difficult to get the gear and the products you truly needed. For example, early in my studies, it took me a month to find and purchase a pair of shoes I felt were truly suitable for my training. Then came the birth of Prokarateshop.com. We are for martial artist, because we are martial artists…
Some things you can expect to find on this site are informative postings on all things related to Martial arts. Whether it be information on movies, fights, or gear, you can depend on ONE thing, it will be truthful, beneficial, and you actual gain value.
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