Recently by Below The Belt

"JUST hold it there," said Chris Crudelli with a broad smile. "Its about the mind having control over the body..."
Of course that was easy for Chris to say - he was standing upright!

The rest of us were crouched over, legs spread wide apart, knees bent at right angles, groaning, sweating and jibbering as we held the infamous horse stance for what seemed a life time.

There I was, deep in horse stance with every muscle in my legs screaming "Stop! Now!" and thinking "Why I'm I doing this?"

But of course Chris is right - the mind is such a powerful thing that it really can kick the proverbial ass of the body any day if you believe it can.

He also had us practising developing Chi, or Ki if you follow the Japanese arts.

Question is - what is the force that you can feel in your hands when you practise the Qi Quong techniques?

Hello - I've decided to give over this blog to an exclusive interview with Keith Porter, 15th Dan Ninjutsu.
Keith is one of the to Ninjutsu experts in the world and regularly trains with Grandmaster Hatsumi Maasaki in Japan.
Having known and trained with Keith I can safely say he is one of the most knowledgeable martial arts expertrs alive to day.

Phil Doherty: Hello Keith. How and when did you become interested in martial arts?

Keith Porter: "I was born at RAF Cosworth, near Wolverhampton, but spent most of my life in Whitstable, Kent.

"When I was 9-yrs-old I joined a local Judo club in Whitstable, but you know what kids are like, it didn't keep my interest.

"My dad was a former Essex boxing champ so he taught me boxing and I kept that up for a number of years. I then went on to Taekwondo and did that for a couple of years. I also had a little go at Wing Chun, which is excellent for infighting. It was pure luck that I got into Ninjutsu.

A STUDENT of mine posed this question recently "How does martial arts training make you a better, more moral person".

My quick answer was: "It doesn't!"

My rationale was that the training itself is just set of different moves that potentially can kill, maim and hurt and that the moves themselves are not vehicles of moral teaching but are by their nature neutral and at worst can be the complete opposite.

So does this mean that martial arts are devoid of moral understandings?

Again I would argue no.

I have yet to come any system that advocates actively going out and beating strangers up for the sake of it.

WITH much of the news dominated by youths stabbing other youngsters it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking all teenagers are bad.

But of course this is ridiculous - the vast majority of young people are decent, law-biding and, well, mostly respectful.

Those are the kids we rarely get to hear about in the news because helping or proving to be an inspiration to others ain't as 'sexy' as a good old bad news story about young thugs.

Now the Sunday Sun recently featured a story about a 16-year-old youth called Daniel Squires who sadly died from cancer after a two year struggle.

By Guest Blogger Peter Seth, 3rd Dan Aikido.

Knives! Horrible things in the hands of fools!

In fact it does not even have to be a knife, almost anything can be employed to intimidate, terrorise, wound and kill. It is the individuals not the weapons they use which must be the priority in addressing the present violence sweeping the country.

Apart from the criminal element and the perpetuation of violence for gain, the other main area is the violence that seems to be prevalent and increasing amongst the youth in this country.

With youngsters, both male and female as young as nine up to the age of early 20s and sometimes beyond, being involved in nasty and sometimes deadly violence how do we address the issues?.

A COUPLE of students of mine were going home recently when they were pulled over by the boys in blue.

The excuse (not that they need one) by the police was that the car they were travelling in was not registered as being from that area.

Asking the lads what it was they had in the back of the car one of my students answered: “Weapons, swords and sticks and things.�

An honest answer, if not maybes the most sensible one!

The copper took a step back with a sharp intake of breath and was most likely thinking about backup, helicopters and the armed response unit!

FOR quite some time Sport England has been trying to unify martial arts under National Governing Bodies. It is an uphill struggle and one imagines a thankless task.

Their aim is to bring unification among the disparate groups that make up our world (who, let’s admit generally can’t agree on anything!).

Sport England believe it would make their task of over-seeing martial arts easier and allow the public a one contact point where they could check instructor qualifications and insurance etc.
In the sports martial arts arena it would also mean that there was a unified team drawn from all clubs and groups and not just a select few that often happens at present.

This means, for example, that the Great Britain Karate team could draw from a wider pool of talent.

All good stuff – I’m sure you’ll agree?

But I have reservations about this long-term goal.

ANOTHER day another person dying or fighting for their life at the hands of feral youths on the rampage.

Some blame the binge drinking culture, others drugs, some poverty and yet others the break down in traditional families.

Of course there is some truth in all of the above.

Yet in Japan and other Asian countries there is poverty and heavy drinking and yet these cultures do not have the same levels of youth disorder that seems to plague our small island.

In Japan, of example, violent crime is virtually non-existent compared to our New Jerusalem of Britain.

Why? Is it because they are taught to show respect for their elders and, just as importantly, themselves and others?

FOR quite some time a dedicated group of martial artists in the region have been working hard to raise cash for Cancer Research UK.

They do this not for the glory but because they want to make a difference – and as such they are unsung heroes.

The foremost of these unselfish and caring guys is Sensei Peter Seth who spends most of the year organising the North’s biggest martial art showcase, the Marfest International Martial Arts Festival held annually in Sunderland.

Guest Blogger John Barrass, Chief Intructor of the Kuri Nami Satori Ryu Kenjutsu Club discusses the samurai sword ban

IT is unfortunate that the actions of thugs and criminals have led to a ban on the sale and import of samurai swords.

Due to the actions of the few the many may have to suffer as the Home Office has said only serious collectors and martial arts enthusiasts will be allowed to possess samurai swords.

But how long will it be before there is a total ban?