| If you've been reading my articles for a while, then you | | | | HIS counter-block and punch combination - and both of |
| know that a large theme of them is "I do dumb things | | | | them landed full shots. With no protective hand gear |
| so you don't have to" - I love martial arts, I love learning | | | | or mouth guards. One set of badly bruised ribs, three |
| new styles, and I love integrating things from different | | | | shattered teeth and one EMT visit later, I'd had the |
| styles into jiu jitsu and the softer forms of Dragon | | | | parents take their son out (their son thought it was |
| Style Kung Fu, while holding on to the striking elements | | | | cool...), and had to give a really stern lecture about the |
| of Shao Lin Kung Fu. | | | | essential kung fu safety gear to the class I was |
| Well, right now, I'm going to tell you about something | | | | teaching. I'm still hoping this won't raise the dojo's |
| dumb someone else did, so that you can avoid his | | | | liability insurance rates. |
| mistakes. I love martial arts, my wife puts up with my | | | | So, here it is for you: You want clothing that lets you |
| martial arts, and so on and so forth, but sometimes I | | | | move freely. A gi or training jacket, or even a bright |
| need to touch on the basics. The most basic thing | | | | yellow jogging suit will work for this. If you're a guy, |
| about studying martial arts is proper training gear. | | | | you want a cup. You want footwear that will keep |
| I'm going to focus on the essential Shao Lin Kung Fu | | | | you from bruising or breaking bones in your feet when |
| training gear here, because of something I saw in the | | | | you kick. You absolutely want a mouth guard - |
| dojo that really upset me. We had a new student | | | | Bennie, the new student who got broken teeth - |
| come in, who'd studied at another school before | | | | would've been unhurt if he'd been wearing a mouth |
| moving to Las Vegas, and was all excited about | | | | guard. |
| showing off at a new school. I take partial | | | | When you're sparring, you absolutely want hand |
| responsibility for what happened next - I wasn't paying | | | | protection. You don't need full on boxing gloves, but |
| attention; I'd seen some experienced students showing | | | | anything that will allow you to move full speed without |
| each other some moves, doing a throw or two, and | | | | hurting someone is essential. You're making a lot of |
| went back to talking to the parents who were | | | | sudden moves with a lot of power behind them, and |
| considering signing their son up for classes. | | | | it's possible for someone to get hurt. |
| I didn't see everything that happened, but the new | | | | Until next time, whatever your style - tae kwon do, |
| student was showing a block-and-punch combination | | | | muay thai or shaolin kung fu, take the time to do it |
| he'd learned, and slipped, and one of my students did | | | | safely and learn it well! |