Random Sports Articles

Crouching Tiger Hidden Ambition

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Martial Arts movies, you either love them or you hate them. There is no middle ground. They invoke passion on either side. If you love them you’ll probably watch any old rubbish so long as there is some chance of someone getting a kick to the head. What’s more you will probably even get a kick (pun totally intended) out of the cheesy badly dubbed dialogue. Classic lines to be found in almost any Chinese movie are, “My uncle sent me” and “My mother told me not to fight”. They are uttered by the hero and are brilliant. They usually precede the first big fight in which lifelong friends and enemies are made. Formulas are big in martial arts movies.

The most classic and unchangeable formula is the one for the final fight scene. This is the one on one fight between the ultimate baddie and the ultimate goodie. The hero always starts well, he climbs into the bad guy and gains the upper hand. It looks like it could all be plain sailing and then the bad guy gets in a few well placed kicks and punches. The hero starts to bleed and breathe heavily and they retreat to circle each other and eye each other warily. In the second round the hero get rough up quite badly but he still manages to get in a few good licks here and there, mostly it belongs the to the bad guy. The hero usually has a swollen eye or a limp or an old injury has flared up again or something similar. In round three the hero gets the bejeesus beaten out of him. You’d think he’d never learned to fight at all. The size of the can of whippass that gets opened is not to be rivaled. Until round four. When something inspirational happens to the hero. He either catches a glimpse of the girl he loves or he remembers her in a particularly touching moment or he remembers some very sage advice from his mentor or he just gets the absolute hell in with the evil laughing son of a, and he pulls himself towards himself and fights like nobody’s business. The bad guys is overwhelmed, and depending on the movie, is either knocked out cold or knocked out dead. The hero bloody and maimed but victorious.

Women in martial arts movies used to be fairly redundant. They were there to make squeaky noises and look pretty and that was about it. Sometimes the bad guy kidnapped them and sometimes they were used as decoys to trap the hero blah blah, but they were seldom integral to the plot. And in martial arts movies plot is vital. These days, however, women are playing a far more central role and are taking the men on in physical combat. What is more, they are winning. Zhang Ziyi has almost single handedly turned martial arts into the sexiest thing that a women can do. In one of those interminable top 10 count downs that tabloids love to do, she was voted the sexiest action star, above the likes of Clive Owen, Bruce Willis and Denzel Washington. Pretty good going for a young lady who defies gravity at every opportunity. It must be said though that Zhang Ziyi probably wouldn’t be where she is now if it wasn’t for Michelle Yeoh. She is supremely talented and definitely paved the way for other women to have successful careers in martial arts movies and not just as the eye candy.

Every movie fan has their favourite martial arts star. There are a few to choose from. Jet Li is probably the most popular with moviemakers at the moment. He is massively talented with a body that can do anything. One very memorable Jet Li scene is in Kiss of the Dragon when an alarm is beeping and to stop the irritating noise, he kicks the button over one shoulder, with the opposite leg. Its mucho impressive. Also in Kiss of the Dragon, he kicks a snooker ball out of its pocket and while it is in the air, he kicks it again and it hits a bad guy in the noggin and kills him. It is uber cool. No special effects. He doesn’t need them. Another man who doesn’t need special effects is Jackie Chan. Everyone loves Jackie Chan. If you didn’t laugh during Shanghai Noon then you need to get your sense of humour checked. He has oodles of character and he loves his work and it comes across while he’s doing it. His star might be on the wane in Hollywood but he has hordes of fans and they will love him until death. He brings his own unique brand and style to the genre and he doesn’t follow the formula. At all. He also made bloopers indispensable in credits. Not to mention the fact that he is the inspiration behind a zillion other aspiring martial arts stars. Chow Yun-Fat. He is an icon. Who else could have taken on the role in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and played it with such dignity, solemnity and aplomb (apparently Jet Li was offered the role and turned it down, information given merely as an aside, and perhaps as food for thought). Chow Yun-Fat also has a sneaky sense of humour that he probably feels he is entitled to indulge at this stage in his career, which is why we see him in Bullet Proof Monk and Pirates of the Caribbean. I’m not going to expand on Bruce Lee, what does one say about a legend? His actions speak for themselves.

You will note there is no mention of European martial arts stars. Let us try and think of some and still maintain the serious tone of this article. Jean-Claude Van Damme. Dolf Lundgren. Don “the dragon” Wilson. Chuck Norris. Steven Segal. Now a true martial arts movie fan will watch movies with any or all of these actors in them. Some of us are picky and will only watch some of them. The point is we watch them. You don’t have to tell us how sad we are, we know, and still we watch them.

Do you want to know why we watch some of the cheesiest movies in cinematic history? Well, so do we. We sit on the couch in front of the TV and we think “holy bug juice! This is seriously bad. Why am I not in bed already?” and an hour later we’re still in front of the TV watching that last fight scene and sitting on the edge of our seats even though its going according to the formula and then it ends and we’re so relieved because the hero won. We sit back and relax and say, “Boy that was a load of bollocks.” And we’re right back there for the next one. It could be because we harbour secret desires to be top-notch ninjas ourselves. With all the cool kicks, punches, somersaults, jumps and swords in the world. It’s probably mostly that we envy their abilities and want them for ourselves. It could also be partly because we’re just a violent and bloodthirsty lot, completely missing the boat regarding the philosophy of martial arts and its centering, mind and body melding applications.

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Sandra wrote this article for the online marketers Ravenscroft taekwondo one of the leading taekwondo practitioners in SA

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Monaco Grand Prix Tops Favourite Destinations Poll

Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Less than two hours flying time away, the Monaco Grand Prix has been voted as the favourite destination by British people as the ultimate sports event to visit.

No other sporting event comes near to being able to combine the year round sophistication and glamour of Monte Carlo with the heady excitement of F1's premier annual race on the streets of Monaco.

The interest in F1 has been in decline in recent years in the UK, and it is a surprise perhaps that the Monaco Grand Prix has managed to retain her legendary status.

Part of the decline has been since television coverage in the UK switched from the BBC to ITV, with ITV running advertisements during the race.

But the biggest factor for the declining interest of F1 in the UK has been the marked lack of success in the sport for British drivers, with Damon Hill and Nigel Mansell the last two Britons to consistently win races and championships.

This year has seen the most open championship in some years, following the retirement of ace German driver Michael Schumacher.

Seven times World Champion Michael Schumacher retired from racing at the end of the 2006 season, and his departure has increased the possibility of no individual driver dominating for some time to come.

The ace German driver won his championships in 1994 and 1995, and between 2000 and 2004 won five championships in a row.

A new star has entered the arena of F1, and it's a Briton, helping to re-ignite British interest in the sport, and going some way perhaps to explain the British love affair with the Monaco Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton is a 22-year-old Formula One racecar rookie who has taken the racing circuit by storm this year, finishing on the podium in third place in his first Grand Prix in Melbourne, Australia, and then second in the Malaysian Grand Prix just two weeks later, then becoming the first driver to take three podium finishes in his first three races. He may seem to be an overnight sensation, but he's worked his way into the Formula One racing world since he was a mere youngster.

In an almost unbelievable stroke of luck, young eleven-year-old Lewis participated in, and won, the McLaren Mercedes Champions of the Future series in 1996 – and met Ron Dennis, owner and director of the McLaren Formula One racing team. The introduction proved fortuitous for the youngster, who told Dennis that his goal was to race the Formula One circuit. A mere two years later, McLaren signed Lewis Hamilton to his 'McLaren Driver Development Support' program. The document served to make Lewis, at thirteen years old, the youngest driver in the world to have held an F1 racing contract.

As Lewis became more experienced and participated in pre-Formula One races, he distinguished himself with his dedication and gusto. The boy with the impish grin is still grinning as he poses for publicity shots at various pre-Formula One racing venues in which he has raced, including 2005's F3 Euro series, which he finished with 15 victories and 13 pole positions.

Lewis spent years racing go-karts and participating in Junior Formula One racing events, including the 2001 British F1 Renault winter series and the 2002 Formula Renault UK, as well as races in Macau and Korea's Grand Prix races. In 2005, Autosport magazine ranked Lewis 24th among their top 50 drivers.

As he has worked his way up the ranks, Lewis fast earned a reputation as an extremely gifted driver with the flair for daring racing maneuvers that reminds many of the 'old timers', who maintained top speeds and risky moves as they raced various courses around the world. His star seems to be rising as fast and surely as one of the the first black Formula One racecar drivers in the world.

In 2007, Lewis was signed on as a full time Formula One driver for McLaren's Formula One racing team, a dream come true for the vibrant, personable racer. He made his Formula One racing debut recently at the Australian Grand Prix this March, coming in third at the prestigious event in Melbourne.

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More details about Monaco and the Monaco Grand Prix can be found at YourMonaco.com

Included in the guide are hotel reviews for hotels in Monaco and new sections about the Monaco Royal Family, with biographical notes on Princess Caroline of Monaco and Prince Albert, who traditionally presents the winner of the Monaco Grand Prix with his winners trophy.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

The Basics Of Cleaning A Fishing Reel

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Knowing the basics of how to properly maintain and clean your fishing reel will extend the longevity of the fishing reel. It will also reduce the number of headaches you may encounter if you do not routinely clean and maintain your reel. Many times when a fisherman is done with a reel it is simple hosed. Simply hosing off a reel is not proper maintenance or cleaning. A reel has many moving parts. As you use it fishing, gunk and grim get into those moving parts. This occurs primarily as line is released and retrieved.

Cleaning your fishing reel is normally a very simple process. Now if you have a high tech reel this process could get more complex. Above all else you should read and follow the manufacture directions, found in the fishing reels owners manual. These directions are the most precise and important, no matter what you may read anywhere else.
Before you begin to clean your reel there are a few things that you will need. You will need a small screw driver to take the reel apart. Again make sure you refer to the manufacturers directions when doing this. Depending on the reel there may be some parts that you should not take apart.
You may also need a pair of needle nose pliers. These can be used for several purposes. First there may be a parts where removing with your fingers could bend or break. Second, it is much easier to untangle line with needle nose pliers.

You will need lubricant for the moving parts. Exposure of different parts of your reel to the elements can cause them no not move smoothly, if not completely seize. Use manufacture suggested lubricant.
You will also need a few towels and Q-tips. These are primarily used to clean or dry the various parts of the reel. The Q-tips will be of particular help as invariable dirt has worked its way into arreas of the reel that otherwise would be impossible to clean simply with a towel.
Above all else you will need a clean flat work area in which to disassemble the reel. You should put a towel down on the surface before taking the reel apart. Follow the manufacturer’s directions when disassembling and reassembling the reel.

To disassemble a reel, in general, you will want to locate the screws holding the housing together. Once you have located these screws you will want to you will want to use your small screw drive to remove them. Once the housing is loosened you you will be able to remove the reel plate. Removing the reel plate will expose the mechanical parts of the reel. You will not want to disassemble the reel any further. From this point you should be able to examine, clean and do basic maintenance. Once you have cleaned any noticeable dirt and grime from the reel housing you will want to lubricate the exposed parts. This will help keep the reel in working order for future use. Once the lubrication is complete you will then want to reassemble your now clean and lubricated reel. Remember, as always consult the manufacturer’s directions when cleaning and maintaining your reel. Not doing this could cause you to accidently break the reel.

The importance of properly cleaning and maintaining a reel cannot be understated. Filing to do so will reduce the life expectancy of the reel and reduce its ease of use. The more complex a reel is the more important it is to properly clean and maintain it. Knowing the basics of how to do this is only the first step. The second and final step to doing this properly is to always consult the manufacturers maintenance directions found in the owners manual.

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John Tasher writes on a wide variety of subjects. If you are looking for Fishing Reels For Sale,or Cheap Fishing Reels or Discount Fishing Reels, then visit his site BigJohnsFishing.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Class, Motivation and Form in Sports Betting

Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Handicapping techniques can be loosely grouped into evaluating teams in three categories: class, motivation, and form.

Class meaning the quality of the respective teams, form is recent play and I hope motivation is apparent.

One may immediately ask about injuries. That is covered under the "class" umbrella as the sharp player makes adjustments to roster changes, be it trade, injury, star minor leaguer, surprising and disappointing performers, etc.

Motivation includes mental state. So letdowns, sandwich games, revenge, playoff ramifications are among the issues in said subset.

Form should be weighed in direct proportion to how often the sports play. In other words, baseball, which plays every day, is the sport where recent form is slanted the heaviest, while football is where we adjust it to the smallest value.

There is no perfect interval to rate form, but as we've said it should be number of days, not games in the apples-to-apples comparison. For example, in comparing recent form of the Lakers to the Spurs, most use last five games. We prefer the last 10 days.

Nothing can, for good or bad, alter recent form as much as time off. This explains why momentum is most important in baseball and least in football.

The old adage of cream rising to the top…or dung sinking to the bottom does have a great deal of truth to the handicapper. So across the board, quality is far and away the primary derivative in sports gambling.

The public tends to overreact to aberrational recent performance, especially in high profile game. The oddsmakers are aware of this. Hence the ability to see the big picture is one of the great qualities a gambler can have.

Famed British writer Daniel Finkelstein of The Times in the UK wrote concerning English soccer, "form is temporary, class is permanent." We find this quite accurate in North American sports as well.

Joe Duffy's plays are part of Dream Team at GodsTips, the anchor of OffshoreInsiders.com He is perhaps the most published and respected author on sports gambling theory and has been featured as a regular guest as the handicapping expert on the Rick Ballou Show on Sporting News Radio, Gamblers Zoo national radio show, the Meat and Potatoes gambling show, Pro Fantasy Sports Internet radio and Grogan's Fantasy Football show.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

How To Teach Drills For Soccer

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Dribble around cone & pass relay race is one of the best ways to teach the players regarding drills for soccer. Speed dribbling i.e. running with the ball, turning, passing and receiving at game-speed while under pressure is very important.

This method teaches the players all of these things, such as speed dribbling, passing, receiving, turning, and kicking a ball while running and under pressure. Furthermore, it also teaches the receivers to move to the ball.

Easy Set-up

The set-up is very easy. To start with, the coach should divide the players into teams with two players per team. However, this is no hard and fast rule.

If one of the teams has an extra player, or a parent also want to play, it should be allowed. In this method, there is a turning cone, which is placed about 6 to 15 steps from the starting cone.

The players have to race around the same and the dribbler can pass to the waiting teammate as soon as he goes around the turning cone. There should be a point system, such as one point for each completed pass.

Teaching the Passers

The passer learns how to kick the ball while running and under pressure or how to pass quickly after having made a turn. One important thing is that the method teaches the passer that he / she should quickly move after making a pass and not stand still.

Teaching The Receivers

One common mistake that the young players make is that they wait for the ball to come to them, instead of going to the ball. This method helps the receivers learn that they should not wait for the ball to come straight to their feet.

Instead, they must anticipate the pass, be alert and move to the ball. Coaches can also teach the receivers to come to slow or short passes so they get to the ball quickly.

This method is simple but carries valuable advantages. The method really works and the best thing with this method is that it is self-teaching. The set-up for these drills for soccer method is very easy and you will certainly see fast results.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of drills for soccer. His web site, Teaching Youth Soccer Coaching Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Wider Problems to be caused by No Fear of Relegation for Rugby League’s Elite...

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600

It has been well documented over years gone by, how English athletes are consistently finishing second best to their corresponding Australian competitors, whether it be in Cricket, Athletics, or Rugby League. It is very likely that an Australian would even tell you that their international Rugby Union team is superior, despite England showing more steel in the past two World Cup encounters between the countries! Regardless of this, the national Rugby League team in Australia are unarguably the best team in the world, and many people put this down to the highly competitive domestic league set up (The NRL) which is contested by the same 14 club teams year on year – No team gets relegated, and no clubs are granted promotion from the lower leagues. Other people may suggest it is attributable to the fact that Aussie school kids are force fed sport and are taught to appreciate the benefits of athleticism from an early age.

The English RFL believe the gap exists between the two countries at international level due to the lack of home-grown talent, and now they are of the opinion that mimicking the Aussie Rugby League set up is what’s required to diminish the disparity, meaning after twenty-eight rounds of the 2008 Super League, who-ever finishes bottom will not spend all of the next season attempting to break back into the elite. Instead, the RFL propose that any club wishing to compete in Super League during 2009 must complete a written application by March 2008. The outcome of the application is to be determined on criteria such as facilities, finance, junior development and fan base. It is more than likely all existing Super League clubs will apply and, after rumours the league is about to expand to 14 teams, Widness, Salford, the Celtic Crusaders, and French outfit Toulouse, are expected to put forward applications.

The main rationale behind scrapping relegation is that it would allow clubs to develop young players in a more controlled manner, and without the fear of dropping into a lower league it is thought teams are less likely to opt for short-term solutions involving the recruitment of veteran overseas players. Another motivating factor for ditching relegation is to protect promoted clubs that may not be financially equipped for survival in the top flight – there is a significant difference between what Super League and League One players command for wages. A prime example of this happened recently when Widness, who spent two seasons in the Super League following promotion, were relegated after their third season which then resulted in the club falling into administration.

On the flipside, relegation instigates enormous tension and drama amongst both fans and players which brings additional excitement to the game. It will literally half the overall number of sports betting odds available for the Super League, because betting on who will be relegated is almost as popular as gambling on the eventual winner, particularly for fans of those clubs competing in the lower half of the table. Scrapping relegation allows unambitious clubs competing ever year in Super League could just coast along safe in the knowledge that T.V and Ticket money is there to be collected week in week out. It also denies those clubs in the lower leagues, whose ultimate goal would be to break into the top flight, the right to realise their dream. Finally, it just seams like the right way to do things! A team which cannot display the necessary qualities to be competitive within the league shouldn’t be there.

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British rugby league betting fans have always had the right to predict which teams will or will not avoid dropping into lower leagues. From this day forward fans of the thirteen man game will no longer be able to place bets on who will be relegated, and it is very likely this will result in a declining interest in rugby betting and online rugby betting.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Boat Accessory Shopping Made Fun

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500

When it comes to boat accessories, like car accessories, there are a lot of accessories to choose from. Not only is there a large selection of boat accessories, but like everything else that has a big demand in the market place, there are many brands, nances...for any one boat accessory.

This is great because a boater can get precisely what they want. The hard part, or at least, the hard part in the past, is finding whats available in respect to different boat accessories. Today, by taking advantage of the internet, just like you are now if your reading this, you can in a very short time, search, find and educate yourself in regards to knowing exactly what your options are for any given boat accessory.

Simply do a search on Google for "boat accessories" or if you know exactly what your looking for, do a more specific search for a particular boat accessory.

Here's a tip.

Do a search on ther net for "boat accessories" at Google. You can find just about any boat accessory imaginable, read about it, compare products, pricing etc. If you know specifically what type of accessory your looking for you could save time by doing a more specific search. For example, need a cover for your bass boat, well then do a search for "bass boat cover", pretty simple.

Some of the better boat accessory sites even offer "live chat help" in real time on their website. So you can do your comparative shopping and then ask questions in real time if you still had questions! So even if you didn't buy your boat accessory online, you can sure become one hell of an educated shopper.

Now, if you chose not to take advantage of the ease of purchasing online, at least you can go to your local boat accessory store and purchase what you want (if its in stock) rather than being "sold" want the sales person has the biggest mark-up on.

The bottom line is boating accessories make your boating experience easier and more enjoyable.

They can also increase the value of your boat as well. Some accessories are necessary and others are just available for your convenience. When choosing boat accessories you will begin by getting the ones that are essential to keeping you safe and your boat in good condition.

The type of accessories that you need will also depend on the type of boat that you have.For instance, a fishing boat will require different accessories than a sail boat or a pontoon boat would.

Consider your needs before you even start your online shopping or shall we call it, boat accessory information gathering! Sorry, I simply love the advantage the internet gives a person. So, with that said, it is a good idea to sit down and make out a list of the accessories that you would like to have starting with the necessities first, than the toys.
Essential Boat Accessories
You don’t want to be caught out on the water without the right equipment. This could cause some very serious problems that could ruin an otherwise good day. Some of the essential boat accessories that you need to make sure you have before heading out are listed below.

• Life jackets • Anchors and lines• Ladders • Mirrors• Paddles Registration and lettering kits• Safety equipment• Stabilizers
Buoys • Lights •
Maintenance equipment
Each one of these serves a different purpose and is needed to ensure that you have everything you need to keep you safe and help you care for your boat. Always wear your life jackets or at least have them in an area that is easy to access when on the water. You never know when you may need them.
Non-essential Boat Accessories

Non-essential boat accessories are the items that you don’t need on-board your boat to be safe. However, they can help you to have a lot more fun or dress the boat up and make it look more attractive. Some of these would include the following.
Boat fenders• Boat heaters• Water skies • Wake boards •Wet suits
Radios and speakers • Fish finders • Swim platforms

These are just a few of the boat accessories that fall into this category. There are many more available. In fact, if you haven’t been shopping for accessories for your boat in a while, you may be surprised at all of the selections that are available. Adding boat accessories can make a huge difference in the appearance of your boat.

Some of them can really increase the value and help you get a lot more for the boat if you decide to sell or trade at a later date. Don’t think just because an item is non-essential to the use of the boat that it is not important. Everything that you add will make a difference.

So the bottom line is, if you want to shop or simply compare href="http://www.marine.com/

index.php/ref/94

" target="_top"> boating accessories, give

yourself the online advantage, educate yourself

first on the net!

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Mark Petrelis creates information packed websites about his interests and passions. Boat And Boating Info has great boating links, boat articles, audios, boating news feeds and more. http://www.boat-and-boating.info

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Football Exercises: Warm Up Drills

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Various football exercises are a great way to get your players ready for a training session or a match. The following warm-up drills can make some effective exercise for your players.

Passing Through A Circle

Passing through a circle is an effective warm up drill and gives your players good warm up before you start a training session or before they are getting ready for a match.

In this exercise, have five of your players stand in a circle with twenty-yard diameter. Now, have another five of your players stand behind each of these players. Now the front-standing players have to pass the ball to each other in a random way while standing at the same place. No doubt, this is an effective technique, but since this exercise requires lots of movement, your communication skill will be at test here.

You need to use your communication skill and vision in order to instruct the players for this exercise. You will have to use your imagination in order to make this exercise more innovative by adding variations to the same. For example, you may want to put a defender in the middle of the circle.

Acquire Explosive Acceleration And Fast Sprinting Speed

The following exercise can be highly effective for your players to help them acquire explosive acceleration and fast sprinting speed. You must have your players do these soccer exercises as fast as possible.

Leg Circuit Exercises

- Two-footed squat thrusts can be a good exercise for the youth soccer players. In this exercise, you should have your players aim for a twelve-inch jump.

- Have your players walk lunge forward and then rapidly repeat the process by changing the lead leg.

- Alternate leg squat thrusts is another great exercise for the young soccer players. In this exercise, the coach should have the players count reps on their one leg only.

Upper Body exercise

- Normal press-ups are also quite effective, but you must make sure that your players are aim to keep a straight line through their back.

- You can also have your players try the wide-arm press-ups. In this exercise, have your players take elbows out to their sides.

- Close-hand press-ups are also worth giving a try. Make sure that while doping this exercise, your players are aim to keep their thumbs touching each other.

Apart from the above football exercises, you should also include abdominal exercises. They are very important in keeping your players fit and strong.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andre Botelho is a recognized authority on the subject of football exercises. His web site, Teaching Youth Soccer Coaching Drills: www.SoccerDrillsTips.com, provides a wealth of informative soccer articles, resources and tips for soccer coaches, parents and players.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Beware - Not All Self Defense Instructors Know Reality Based Defense!

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:59:34 -0600

Believe it or not, there are many unqualified blackbelts and self defense instructors giving advice and teaching stuff that could get you killed. Worst of all, these people have never been in a life or death fight and have no valid or real experience when it comes to fighting.

Rule #1 - You should always interview a potential martial arts or fighting instructor before you join the dojo. You want to put them through an interview process finding out what qualifies them to teach you. If they got a blackbelt in taekwondo at the age of 15, have never been in a real fight other then sparring, turn away and run!

Rule #2 - You want to make sure the class you will be joining has full contact sparrring. You need to feel the pain of being hit, get accustomed to having fists and feet thrown at you. You need to have active experience in actual combat situations.

Rule #3 - Not all mixed martial arts instructors understand the difference between in the octagon and on the streets. If they tell you their jiujutsu will save you on the ground they are wrong. Simply because you never want a street fight to go to the ground. You can get stomped, stabbed, or smashed by your opponent and possibly his friends.

Rule #4 - A self defense instructor should be certified and trained under a known expert of the art. You don't want to pick a guy with a blackbelt who proclaims he's an expert. You should be learning reality based street fighting for the modern world. You don't want to learn simple techniques for a variety of "common attacks" with no real power or force based on what he's teaching.

Rule #5 - If he prefers to be called a master, or claims to be a family member of a group of master self defense instructors or martial artists, he's full of crap. Most dojo's want to make money and if they throw a lot of hype into their sales pitch you know he just wants your money and the stuff he teaches is probably garbage.

Picking the right self defense instructor is fundamental to your personal training and real life success in a fight. You want a teacher with battle tested experiences that are proven to work. Not outdated information or stuff being taught with no reality or force as part of the training.

Don't make the mistake of throwing money into the most expensive dojo in town and expect to have the edge lesser priced schools would have in a street attack. Interview your teachers before you join!

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To give you a better look on this subject you you can download 2 free instant access reports that will explode your self defense techniques skyrocketing you to be a one person wrecking crew - Free!

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Beware The Concert Tickets Scammers.

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 04:37:17 -0600

Policing concert tickets for sale over the Internet is a nightmare. In 2006 there was a flash fire of news media interest in fake concert tickets. In the manner of modern media there was a sudden flurry of reports of the ‘human interest’ kind with live music fans shown to have been conned out of their money. It is of course all yesterdays’ news now and you could be forgiven for thinking it is all over.
However, it isn't. Thousands of fans had spent hundreds of dollars for concert tickets that never came and in most cases they had no hope of redress or refund. Nobody has been brought to book and one such concert ticket agency called Ticket Tout Ltd. went bankrupt owing around 2 million dollars to thousands of innocent customers. These concert ticket con artists resurfaced as Londonticketmarket.com and began their rich picking routine all over again.
How the concert tickets scam works. You will be tempted by offers of the hot concert tickets for the top acts, but find that can't get through to buy them. Or they may have sold out weeks previously but of course you still hope to go, especially if they are premium concert tickets, the best in the house.

The concert tickets scam artists promise, on a very business-like website to get you the concert tickets of your dreams for a price well over their face value. They claim to have concert tickets available. So you flash your credit card, book your trip and your overnight stay maybe, but the concert tickets never arrive.

Of course you chase down the concert tickets vendor but the phone goes unanswered by any real person and your emails go astray. Sometimes you would meet stalling tactics but the concert tickets never show up unlike the debit on your credit card statement.

How to guarantee your concert tickets. The easiest way to avoid being burnt by the concert tickets scam is to watch out for and not to buy concert tickets from vendors like these. Register in advance with only official agencies. However, for the occasional concert tickets buyer this may not always be practical.
So before paying too much for your concert tickets, check out the selling agent. Where is their office? Look for a proper landline number in this country? Where these are not listed on the website beware. The address to should be a genuine street address, not a mailbox number.

Take the time to check these things and don’t be blinded by the thought of your concert tickets and favorite artistes. Do a Google search for any reviews of the vendors. Shop around for the going rate for your particular concert tickets. Are they available for less elsewhere? A clear indicator of dirty work is if one company is offering tickets for a concert otherwise sold out. Be very suspicious. Buy only with a credit card. There is always a chance of regaining your money.
Not just concert tickets but any purchase online should be via sites that offer encrypted payment. You can always tell these because there will be a closed padlock icon at the bottom of the payment page and the web address at the top of the browser window should begin https://. The "s" meaning secure. Read the terms and conditions with regard to refund in case the concert tickets become invalidated for whatever reason. Also be sure to know how and when the tickets will be delivered, and what seats you're buying.

Try to avoid buying tickets for concerts at online auction sites such as eBay. All too often these are not concert tickets at all.

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