Today, without doubt one of the fastest growing martial arts style is mixed martial arts. In the cage it has been proven over and over that mixed martial arts are better than most other traditional styles as just about anybody from traditional styles have tried and failed. However, traditional martial artists argue that their styles weren't created for sports or cage fighting but for military combats at their time or defense against bandits. While mixed martial artists point out that most fight end up on the ground, traditional martial artists say their arts were created for environments were going to the ground meant immediate death.

Many people today worry about their cholesterol levels which are often linked to high risks of many heart diseases or arterial diseases. From the high levels the cholesterol begins to deposit on the arterial walls, clogging them and depriving tissues or even organs from sufficient oxygen and nutrient exchange. Recent research, however a demonstrated that the root cause of these problems are not in the high cholesterol levels in the blood but rather in the amount of sugar consumption people are taking in today. From the large amount of sugar the arteries will be inflamed and then cholesterol begins sticking to these, slowly building up and clogging them.

Reduce your sugar intake and you'll reduce the chance to arterial blockages.

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Herbs have been used all around the world in just about any ancient cultures as the main treatment methods and herbal treatments are still very much alive today.

Traditional Chinese medicinal herbs are used differently as the traditional western herbs. In China herbs are combined into strong formulas that are a lot more effective as single herbs which where mainly used in the West. Chinese herbal formulas generally contain five to fifteen herbs and they can easily have more added for additional treatment. Although there are patented formulas most formulas are created for the individual and also modified as healing progresses.

Traditional Chinese herbal formulas also differ from their western counterparts because they are used according to their energy properties rather than their chemical effects. Chinese herbology follows the traditional healing principles of treatments and herbologists monitor the patients energy flows instead of the chemical healing effects. The energy meridian (or channel) system is the same as of acupuncture and these are used for both diagnosis as well as for treatments. Herbs are not only used for healing but as for prevention of diseases. They are cooked in food as part of meals or also consumed in teas daily.

Herbs have no or very little side effects making them a favorite method as alternate to conventional drugs.

Moxibustion also originates from China and today also still commonly used even becoming more and more popular world wide. It is an effective natural treatment and also often used as an alternate method to acupuncture for those who are afraid of the traditional acupuncture needles.

Moxibustion very much used the same way as acupuncture but instead of using needles to stimulate acu-points on the body the practitioner uses a stick made out of herbs, very much resembling a large cigar and the slow burning of this herb stick is used to warm up points or areas on the body. The heat also opens up the pores on the body letting in the healing properties of the herbs from the moxa stick, further assisting with treatments.

Moxibustion is very effective for pain and aches, by warming these areas help blood and other body fluids to flow properly assisting the body in healing or slowing down chronic problems.

There are more variations of moxibustion such as combining it with acupuncture needles. In this case the practitioner inserts needles in the body and also applies moxibustion by the needles, increasing the effectiveness of healing and cutting down on healing time.

Moxibustion originates from North China where the weather is harsher and using heat for warming helped with healing even more. It is, however not restricted to colder areas, today it is widely used at any parts of the world and still a preferred method for many people for healing.

Cupping is part of the traditional Chinese healing methods and it is still widely used as a healing method. Many people also use it as an alternate way for acupuncture mostly due to fears of needles.

Cupping also has a long history and survived the times because it is a proven healing method.

How cupping works?
The most popular method is using glass cups where the practitioner quickly heats up the air inside of and quickly placing the cup on the treated area of the body. The warm air creates vacuum which helps increasing the flow of blood and energies at these areas, thus assisting in healing. Cupping is especially effective for pains and aches.

What is acupuncture, where does it come from and how does it work?

The ancient Chinese theory is that the body has its energies circulating in main channels much like blood does in blood vessels. These energy channels are called meridians and according to the traditional believes these are divided into 12 main channels. Most of them pertain to vital organs in the body such as the heart, the stomach, the liver ... etc. and these regulate different functions in the body. Briefly stated inserting the needle at various points on the body the relating channels energy is affected, regulating the flow to that specific organ thus regulating its function.

Although acupuncture has been used in Asia for thousands of years it is still very much alive and part of the main stream medical treatment. It is also becoming more and more popular in the Western countries and more of them require an actual degree for practitioners to legally treat patients. Acupuncture is natural with no or very little side effects, safe, cost effective and also proven to be effective for a number of illnesses.

Many people who have not much knowledge about acupuncture are afraid of needles mostly due to fear of pain, however acupuncture needles are very fine with thickness as human hair therefore creating no or barely any sensations. Acupuncture is also very effectively used on animals, some race horse owners do not let any other healers to their horses but an acupuncturist.

There are also alternate methods to needles such as laser acupuncture which is widely used for treating addictions such as smoking or drinking or moxibustion or cupping. Please read more about these on our forum.

Some important links:
The Japanese Society of Acupuncture
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (USA)
Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association
European Traditional Chinese Medicine Association

It's a little known fact that in Japan Samurai were not only men but a number of female Samurai also existed. Below are some original pictures of actual women samurais from history. To be able to see pictures please sign up and login.

The founder of Judo is Jigoro Kano who created this style in 1882 as an effective development of the body and mind and also to preserve one's health, longevity and self-control.

Judo's characteristics are differ from many modern Japanese arts as kicks and punches are rarely if at all used and most of the techniques are geared towards to takedowns, throws, locking and submission techniques. The rare kicks and punches are also not allowed during competitions.

The development of Judo roots in the history of the founder who was on a quest to learn Jiu-Jitsu which by his times has started to die down due to Japan's modernization and the wider introduction of firearms which many felt made the hand to hand combats ineffective and old fashioned. With the decreasing popularity of the hand to hand combative arts Kano had hard time to find any instructor. Upon finding a school - which consisted five students at the time - Kano began studying and later became the most able to continue the teachings. Kano decided to yet further his learning and joined another school where he remained another year. In February 1882 he established his first school at a Buddhist temple.

Judo is characterized by three main group of techniques: throwing, grappling and striking. It is mainly characterized by the first two, throwing and grappling and striking is rarely used. Judo practitioners also practice forms - kata - which are almost two men forms, in other words practiced with a partner. A practitioner of Judo is called a 'Judoka'.

Some other variations of it also exists such as the Russian 'Sambo' which became popular in Russia and around the world and became almost a national sport in the founders' country.

Judo is considered as a modern martial arts and today it is also an important competitive sport at the Olympics.

Images below show early Judo training. Note some female practitioners.