Sticks and Stones
A long time ago, but not as long ago as the Stone Age (some two and a half million years ago), Martial Arts was known as The Arts of Mars, derived from Latin and referring to the Roman God of War. It referenced a system of combat, where the word ART was used to describe a method of moves vs. the art of movement we modern-day humans practice today.
As in the development of Kata’s, Hyungs, or Forms, there are essential stages of human evolution as they relate to how we practice martial arts today. It’s a stretch for our forward-thinking brains to reflect on concepts like “millions of years ago.” But, we have the keen ability as modern-day sapiens to be able to reflect and self-reflect, and so we must for the sake of our species and all others.
Being Human-Tool Kit
To put things in perspective for our remarkable neuroplastic brains, Black Belt Magazine
was birthed in 1961. The first female action hero, Ms.Cheng Pei Pei,1966. The first
laptop came out in 1989. The first iPhone was in 2007. All of these are still within the
20th and 21st Centuries AD. So there are 40 centuries before the common era. The first
modern human appeared approximately 100,000-200,000 years ago BC, or between
the 10th and 20th century BC, the same approximate timeline when we have records of
the first martial arts.
The Partner Within
As Martial Artists, we know what it is to practice with SELF. Even in a group setting, we know that we are ultimately practicing with the partner within us. Who and what is that partner? In my experience, sometimes the partner shows up as an angry young child, sometimes as a graceful, wise woman, and sometimes as just organs and spinal column. The partner within is all aspects of us moving towards a state of essence, which I believe the practice of martial arts enhances and helps to achieve efficiently and effectively: the very practice of martial arts provides an effective framework to fill in any developmental holes we may have been carrying since birth. So does the practice of “reaching” which is another article altogether.
Women Hold Up Half the Sky
When I first saw the quote “Women hold up half the sky” being used as a social media Instagram handle, I thought how strange! This is a quote from 1949 proclaimed by Chai
rman Mao Zedong, who helped to rally women to join the labor force, saying, “Whatever men comrades can accomplish, women comrades can too.” It’s a good start, but this article is about celebrating women warriors all ov
er the world where I believe we can say, at least for March, that women hold up all of the Sky. We know…
Mental Health, A Call to Action
I have been stalling on getting this piece out as I originally was going to reflect on Martial Arts- the year of 2022 in Winter Warrior Land.
But then this happened. And I would not be a martial artist if I did not speak the truth about what is occurring around us.
Footnote: I began my martial arts practice when I was 10 years old. I grew up in a very loving but chaotic family home, coupled with the 70s in San Francisco and my parents finding themselves and, sometimes, forgetting they had kids. Martial
Read full text…
Human-Fully Expressed
“We are the secret ingredient that makes the void live through us.”- Bruce Lee
There are some individuals who can cross space and time in consciousness. Bruce Lee was one of these time-travelers who understood ancient traditions, embodied the best of them, and turned the experience into a philosophy. Namely, the philosophy outlined in his book, Tao of Jeet Kune Do.
Read full text…
Appreciating Modern Female Martial Artists
I invite you to stop a moment and ask yourself to remember your grandmother’s, great-grandmother’s, great-great-grandmother’s lineage. Recall their stories. Where did you come from? What is your history? This knowledge is critical not only to how we move through the world today, but also how we support our sisters, mothers, aunts, wives, grandmothers, daughters. How we were taught the ancestral understanding of expectation and duty determines the fate of womankind today. And, the fate of womankind ultimately determines the fate of mankind. Wouldn’t you agree?
Read full text…
Martial Arts Supports Emotional Intelligence
As humans we have been measuring things for eons.
From the early days of tracking the sunrise and sunset, to the rise of the industrial revolution, and now into the age of wisdom, we track how long we work, sit, meditate, and breathe. This human characteristic of tracking and measuring has given rise to the intelligence quotient (IQ) tests and standards designed to assess human intelligence. In fact, you can take a test to see where you fall on this spectrum, keeping in mind that it is a measurement manufactured by the human brain.
Before We Were Martial Artists
I believe that all human beings are martial artists. Some of us have embraced the artist’s way and others are latent with potential. But who were we before we were martial artists?
We could just as easily ask when humans first brushed their teeth. In fact, historians believe we started brushing our teeth approximately 5000 years ago, during the same period certain exercises were being developed to prevent disease. Yoga was in full creation to purify the spirit, and teeth cleaning was becoming a thing. Teeth cleaning and yoga are valuable disciplines. Notably, they demonstrate how our species, diverging from our neanderthal relatives, made an important commitment to care for our physical health.
Jungshin on page 84-85
WE LIVE ON A PLANET HURTLING THROUGH SPACE AT 67,000 MILES PER HOUR TO MAKE IT AROUND OUR SUN EVERY 365 DAYS.
Not to mention, our solar system (earth and all) whirls around the center of our galaxy at some 220 kilometers per second, or 490,000 miles per hour.
This alone is a very, very good reason to meditate! But that is a lot to take in, so let us slow this way down and begin with the basics. We can jump into the cosmos once we have taken some deep. grounded breaths.
Read full text…
Martial Arts, the best meditation
We live on a planet hurtling through space at 67,000 miles per hour to make it around our sun every 365 days, not to mention our solar system (earth and all) whirls around the center of our galaxy at some 220 kilometers per second, or 490,000 miles per hour.
This alone is a very, very good reason to meditate! But that’s a lot to take in, so let’s slow this way down and begin with the basics. We can jump into the cosmos once we’ve taken some deep, grounded breaths.
Self-Defense vs. Self-Protection
Where should your focus be?
These days, people seem to use the term “self-defense” as a catch-all. It’s become so overused that it has lost its meaning. We can google “self-defense” and discover thousands of classes that claim to teach self-defense for women, children, grandparents and even dogs.This kind of instruction is important and valid, but it can miss the key concepts of self-protection, concepts that are designed to help you avoid conflict in the first place.
Sword Workout Program – Jungshin Fitness
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Annika Kahn, founder of Jungshin Fitness, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.
What’s your business, and who are your customers?
Jungshin Fitness® is the 21st Century Sword Athlete experience integrating the ancient wisdom of martial arts with modern conditioning techniques. The movements are choreographed, implementing a unique tool: the sword. Used as an extension of the body, the sword builds core engagement, mental focus, flexibility, and overall health, helping the modern human focus the mind, leaving her, him, them, empowered and revitalized.
How to Train in Martial Arts Without a Partner
Why should you train in martial arts without a partner? How should you approach it? Those are the questions that will be addressed in this post.As you know, the martial arts are all about finding balance. This holds true for the balance of internal training and training within a community. Luckily, there are many examples throughout history of how solitary training can be key to strengthening your martial arts practice, as well as a wonderful way to deepen your senses, boost your confidence and become better acquainted with the martial artist within you.
Essential Gear
This medium-length sword is part of the Dana Abbott Signature Series from Century Martial Arts and Abbott, Black Belt’s 2004 Weapons Instructor of the Year. What makes it special is that unlike blades designed for display or, at most,demonstrations, this one is made for test-cutting. Even better, it’s reasonably priced. An attached tag says CAS Hanwei, which indicates the forge in China, and that gives me comfort because of Hanwei’s reputation for making quality products.
Jungshin Fitness Sword Workout – Now More Than Ever!
Calling all modern warriors!
The Coronavirus pandemic is a natural disaster on a global scale–but it is taking a personal toll on each of us. During this stressful time, it is critically important that we find ways to keep our bodies moving. Jungshin Fitness will improve your mental, emotional and physical health so you can be at your best, no matter what is happening in the world around you.
Jungshin Fitness: New Total-Body Workout
If you love kickboxing and yoga this routine is for you
Jeanine Detz – Shape Magazine
What is Jungshin Fitness?
Dumbbells? Check. Balance disc? Check. Sword?…Not yet? Chances are that’s going to change fast, once you see these moves from Jungshin Fitness, a popular class at The Sports Club/LA in San Francisco. We’re talking the high energy of kickboxing and the focus of yoga—with a dash of combat training and meditation. “You’ll work the large muscles in your butt and legs, which blasts calories,” says Jungshin’s creator, Annika Kahn. “Plus, handling the sword fires up your arms, shoulders, and core.” So find a wide-open space, and get ready to embrace your inner ninja! Combat fat—and change things up—with this striking new total-body plan.
Jungshin Workout
Whole Living
In Jungshin Fitness, the two practices are melded into one high-energy session. The trademark tool of Jungshin (“focused mind” in Korean) is a two-pound wooden sword. “You have to pay attention to where you’re striking,” says creator Annika Kahn, who teaches classes in the San Francisco Bay area, “so it really brings you into the present.” Try her 30-minute routine with a practice sword or even a broom handle. Do the fast-paced moves back-to-back, three times through, a few times a week, to uncover a calmer, leaner you — or, at the very least, to get in touch with your inner swashbuckler.
Ali Sweeney’s Shortcut to Great Arms
Redbook Magazine
Alison Sweeney, our newest Team Red member, has a fun shortcut for hotter arms. To start, pick up sticks.
Here’s something I’ve learned over the years as host of The Biggest Loser and on my own fitness journey: Our bodies are smart. If you do the same workout all the time, your muscles won’t be challenged to get stronger and more toned. One fun way I mix things up is by incorporating weighted sticks into my exercise routine, using an ancient Filipino martial-arts technique called Escrima. It’s a full-body workout that’s especially great for arms. If you move quickly through the reps, it definitely counts as cardio, but you can also go slo-mo and tone your arms without breaking a sweat. I keep a pair of sticks in my dressing room on Days of Our Lives for when I’m wearing something sleeveless. Fast or slow, you can’t zone out the way you can on a treadmill. I think that’s why after even a 10-minute session, I don’t just feel stronger—I’m more focused, and less stressed.
The Uniqueness of Jungshin Fitness ®
MASuccess Magazine
You matter! This is the message rooted within the cutting edge, modern-day fitness experience called Jungshin Fitness. Thie full-body, rotational workout uses wooden practice swords, combined with Eastern martial arts and modern conditioning techniques, to offer a playful, dynamic. warrior way of exercise. This legendary tactile tool helps to increase mental focus and ability to be radically present, even as you’re kicking, jumping, stretching and targeting your core.
Sword-wielding workout taps into inner power
San Francisco Chronicle – Sam Whiting
Chantal Dominique Anderson works out in a fitness class at Sports Club LA San Francisco. Her Healthy Obsession is participating in a “Jungshin” class that mixes fitness using wooden swords.
Chantal Dominique Anderson of Sausalito has her initials engraved in her Jungshin sword. It lets her opponent know she means business during this fitness class derived from a Korean martial art.
Why: I love having the ability to tap into my own power quickly, get a killer workout as a warrior wielding a sword, and achieve complete relaxation through the closing meditation – all within a one-hour class.
LI classes focus on fitness with swords, surfboards
Long Island’s offbeat fitness classes can help lighten your mood and your weight this holiday season. Mary Beth Lessing, owner of Surfset Long Island in Bay Shore and Rafael Gomez, instructor of Jungshin Sword Fitness in Farmingdale, explained their non-traditional workout classes. (Credit: Jessica Rotkiewicz)
Workout Wednesday: Sword fitness workout
9News
On Workout Wednesday, we often highlight workouts you can do at home, but it’s always fun to introduce new workout trends that are happening in our neighborhood as well.
On Wednesday, 9NEWS Fitness Expert Jamie Atlas introduced us to the Jungshin sword fitness workout. While having a wooden practice sword is ideal, you can improvise and do a lot of these drills using a PVC pipe or other broomstick (just be sure to look out for your headroom). If you can’t find a class, here are some moves you can do to make your own sword fighting workout at home:
Jungshin incorporates strikes from Korean martial arts to provide a total-body workout
Washington Post Express
A 31⁄2-foot-long sword made of red oak can transform your body, but it can’t get through airport security. That’s the lesson Annika Kahn has learned flying back and forth from her home in San Francisco to Washington, where people are eager to take a stab at her fitness program, called Jungshin.
Local chain Sport & Health has embraced Kahn’s concept and plans to roll it out at all 24 of its locations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
Mental Health, A Call to Action
I have been stalling on getting this piece out as I originally was going to reflect on Martial Arts- the year of 2022 in Winter Warrior Land.
But then this happened. And I would not be a martial artist if I did not speak the truth about what is occurring around us.
Footnote: I began my martial arts practice when I was 10 years old. I grew up in a very loving but chaotic family home, coupled with the 70s in San Francisco and my parents finding themselves and, sometimes, forgetting they had kids. Martial
Appreciating Modern Female Martial Artists
“We are the secret ingredient that makes the void live through us.”- Bruce Lee
There are some individuals who can cross space and time in consciousness. Bruce Lee was one of these time-travelers who understood ancient traditions, embodied the best of them, and turned the experience into a philosophy. Namely, the philosophy outlined in his book, Tao of Jeet Kune Do.
Appreciating Modern Female Martial Artists
I invite you to stop a moment and ask yourself to remember your grandmother’s, great-grandmother’s, great-great-grandmother’s lineage. Recall their stories. Where did you come from? What is your history? This knowledge is critical not only to how we move through the world today, but also how we support our sisters, mothers, aunts, wives, grandmothers, daughters. How we were taught the ancestral understanding of expectation and duty determines the fate of womankind today. And, the fate of womankind ultimately determines the fate of mankind. Wouldn’t you agree?
Martial Arts Supports Emotional Intelligence
As humans we have been measuring things for eons.
From the early days of tracking the sunrise and sunset, to the rise of the industrial revolution, and now into the age of wisdom, we track how long we work, sit, meditate, and breathe. This human characteristic of tracking and measuring has given rise to the intelligence quotient (IQ) tests and standards designed to assess human intelligence. In fact, you can take a test to see where you fall on this spectrum, keeping in mind that it is a measurement manufactured by the human brain.
Before We Were Martial Artists
I believe that all human beings are martial artists. Some of us have embraced the artist’s way and others are latent with potential. But who were we before we were martial artists?
We could just as easily ask when humans first brushed their teeth. In fact, historians believe we started brushing our teeth approximately 5000 years ago, during the same period certain exercises were being developed to prevent disease. Yoga was in full creation to purify the spirit, and teeth cleaning was becoming a thing. Teeth cleaning and yoga are valuable disciplines. Notably, they demonstrate how our species, diverging from our neanderthal relatives, made an important commitment to care for our physical health.
Jungshin on page 84-85
WE LIVE ON A PLANET HURTLING THROUGH SPACE AT 67,000 MILES PER HOUR TO MAKE IT AROUND OUR SUN EVERY 365 DAYS.
Not to mention, our solar system (earth and all) whirls around the center of our galaxy at some 220 kilometers per second, or 490,000 miles per hour.
This alone is a very, very good reason to meditate! But that is a lot to take in, so let us slow this way down and begin with the basics. We can jump into the cosmos once we have taken some deep. grounded breaths.
Martial Arts,
the best meditation
We live on a planet hurtling through space at 67,000 miles per hour to make it around our sun every 365 days, not to mention our solar system (earth and all) whirls around the center of our galaxy at some 220 kilometers per second, or 490,000 miles per hour.
This alone is a very, very good reason to meditate! But that’s a lot to take in, so let’s slow this way down and begin with the basics. We can jump into the cosmos once we’ve taken some deep, grounded breaths.
Self-Defense
vs
Self-Protection
Where should your focus be?
These days, people seem to use the term “self-defense” as a catch-all. It’s become so overused that it has lost its meaning. We can google “self-defense” and discover thousands of classes that claim to teach self-defense for women, children, grandparents and even dogs.This kind of instruction is important and valid, but it can miss the key concepts of self-protection, concepts that are designed to help you avoid conflict in the first place.
Sword Workout Program –
Jungshin Fitness
Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and fitness but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Annika Kahn, founder of Jungshin Fitness, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.
What’s your business, and who are your customers?
Jungshin Fitness® is the 21st Century Sword Athlete experience integrating the ancient wisdom of martial arts with modern conditioning techniques. The movements are choreographed, implementing a unique tool: the sword. Used as an extension of the body, the sword builds core engagement, mental focus, flexibility, and overall health, helping the modern human focus the mind, leaving her, him, them, empowered and revitalized.
How to Train in Martial Arts Without a Partner
Why should you train in martial arts without a partner? How should you approach it? Those are the questions that will be addressed in this post.As you know, the martial arts are all about finding balance. This holds true for the balance of internal training and training within a community. Luckily, there are many examples throughout history of how solitary training can be key to strengthening your martial arts practice, as well as a wonderful way to deepen your senses, boost your confidence and become better acquainted with the martial artist within you.
Essential Gear
This medium-length sword is part of the Dana Abbott Signature Series from Century Martial Arts and Abbott, Black Belt’s 2004 Weapons Instructor of the Year. What makes it special is that unlike blades designed for display or, at most,demonstrations, this one is made for test-cutting. Even better, it’s reasonably priced. An attached tag says CAS Hanwei, which indicates the forge in China, and that gives me comfort because of Hanwei’s reputation for making quality products.
Jungshin Fitness Sword Workout –
Now More Than Ever!
Calling all modern warriors!
The Coronavirus pandemic is a natural disaster on a global scale–but it is taking a personal toll on each of us. During this stressful time, it is critically important that we find ways to keep our bodies moving. Jungshin Fitness will improve your mental, emotional and physical health so you can be at your best, no matter what is happening in the world around you.
Jungshin Fitness:
New Total-Body Workout
If you love kickboxing and yoga this routine is for you
Jeanine Detz – Shape Magazine
What is Jungshin Fitness?
Dumbbells? Check. Balance disc? Check. Sword?…Not yet? Chances are that’s going to change fast, once you see these moves from Jungshin Fitness, a popular class at The Sports Club/LA in San Francisco. We’re talking the high energy of kickboxing and the focus of yoga—with a dash of combat training and meditation. “You’ll work the large muscles in your butt and legs, which blasts calories,” says Jungshin’s creator, Annika Kahn. “Plus, handling the sword fires up your arms, shoulders, and core.” So find a wide-open space, and get ready to embrace your inner ninja! Combat fat—and change things up—with this striking new total-body plan.
Jungshin Workout
Whole Living
In Jungshin Fitness, the two practices are melded into one high-energy session. The trademark tool of Jungshin (“focused mind” in Korean) is a two-pound wooden sword. “You have to pay attention to where you’re striking,” says creator Annika Kahn, who teaches classes in the San Francisco Bay area, “so it really brings you into the present.” Try her 30-minute routine with a practice sword or even a broom handle. Do the fast-paced moves back-to-back, three times through, a few times a week, to uncover a calmer, leaner you — or, at the very least, to get in touch with your inner swashbuckler.
Ali Sweeney’s Shortcut to Great Arms
Redbook Magazine
Alison Sweeney, our newest Team Red member, has a fun shortcut for hotter arms. To start, pick up sticks.
Here’s something I’ve learned over the years as host of The Biggest Loser and on my own fitness journey: Our bodies are smart. If you do the same workout all the time, your muscles won’t be challenged to get stronger and more toned. One fun way I mix things up is by incorporating weighted sticks into my exercise routine, using an ancient Filipino martial-arts technique called Escrima. It’s a full-body workout that’s especially great for arms. If you move quickly through the reps, it definitely counts as cardio, but you can also go slo-mo and tone your arms without breaking a sweat. I keep a pair of sticks in my dressing room on Days of Our Lives for when I’m wearing something sleeveless. Fast or slow, you can’t zone out the way you can on a treadmill. I think that’s why after even a 10-minute session, I don’t just feel stronger—I’m more focused, and less stressed.
The Uniqueness of Jungshin Fitness ®
MASuccess Magazine
You matter! This is the message rooted within the cutting edge, modern-day fitness experience called Jungshin Fitness. Thie full-body, rotational workout uses wooden practice swords, combined with Eastern martial arts and modern conditioning techniques, to offer a playful, dynamic. warrior way of exercise. This legendary tactile tool helps to increase mental focus and ability to be radically present, even as you’re kicking, jumping, stretching and targeting your core.
Sword-wielding workout taps into inner power
San Francisco Chronicle – Sam Whiting
Chantal Dominique Anderson works out in a fitness class at Sports Club LA San Francisco. Her Healthy Obsession is participating in a “Jungshin” class that mixes fitness using wooden swords.
Chantal Dominique Anderson of Sausalito has her initials engraved in her Jungshin sword. It lets her opponent know she means business during this fitness class derived from a Korean martial art.
Why: I love having the ability to tap into my own power quickly, get a killer workout as a warrior wielding a sword, and achieve complete relaxation through the closing meditation – all within a one-hour class.
LI classes focus on fitness with swords, surfboards
Long Island’s offbeat fitness classes can help lighten your mood and your weight this holiday season. Mary Beth Lessing, owner of Surfset Long Island in Bay Shore and Rafael Gomez, instructor of Jungshin Sword Fitness in Farmingdale, explained their non-traditional workout classes. (Credit: Jessica Rotkiewicz)
Workout Wednesday: Sword fitness workout
9News
On Workout Wednesday, we often highlight workouts you can do at home, but it’s always fun to introduce new workout trends that are happening in our neighborhood as well.
On Wednesday, 9NEWS Fitness Expert Jamie Atlas introduced us to the Jungshin sword fitness workout. While having a wooden practice sword is ideal, you can improvise and do a lot of these drills using a PVC pipe or other broomstick (just be sure to look out for your headroom). If you can’t find a class, here are some moves you can do to make your own sword fighting workout at home:
Jungshin incorporates strikes from Korean martial arts to provide a total-body workout
Washington Post Express
A 31⁄2-foot-long sword made of red oak can transform your body, but it can’t get through airport security. That’s the lesson Annika Kahn has learned flying back and forth from her home in San Francisco to Washington, where people are eager to take a stab at her fitness program, called Jungshin.
Local chain Sport & Health has embraced Kahn’s concept and plans to roll it out at all 24 of its locations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia.
