Top 3 Forms Of Martial Arts To Learn For Your Personal Protection

You can benefit greatly from studying martial arts. And no, it’s not meant for kids only: If you’re serious about it, you can start out as old as you like and still end up being good at it. Martial arts can be more than learning combat moves for self defense: they’re great physical exercise, great self-discipline training, each form has its own philosophy and spiritual practice behind it (which you can study along with the moves) and great fun. But for those of you who are planning on getting their money’s worth, you can ultimately become an expert.

You might find yourself during your lifetime in certain situations from which you could easily escape unharmed if you have the proper training. Learning a fighting style could be very useful as a self-defense method: against attackers, muggers, perpetrators etc. If you’re trained well enough you could easily disarm assailants or even take on more than one at a time. There have been many fighting styles and techniques developed throughout history in various parts of the world. There are also many combinations of fighting styles available (mixed martial arts), for people who want to get the best of ALL worlds. It’s a matter of choice; let’s see what are the most popular at the moment and maybe you’ll find the one that suits you best.

Krav Maga

This it may come as a surprise, but it’s Israel’s very own fighting style. It was developed (mostly) by Imi Lichtenfeld during the 1930s. The style itself is very direct, meant to counter holds and incapacitations of every sort. Because it’s full contact and it gives advantage against almost any type of attack, it’s excellent for street survival, and not only. It’s a mixed style, comprised of elements which are basic to other fighting techniques like Karate, Jiu-Jitsu throws and grappling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground fighting, Wing Chun burst of hands and even Greco-Roman wrestling. Its dynamics consist in the fact that it allows the practitioner to an attack and defends at the same time, in a single movement of the body. In most martial arts styles, the tendency is to block and immediately respond with a counter blow. Things are different in Krav Maga, we’re you’re supposed to block and deliver the attack at the same time: you could (for example) block an attack with you right arm and at the same time strike with the other arm or the legs. The strikes delivered and promoted by Krav Maga are vicious, meant to incapacitate and hurt as much as possible. You learn to go for the most exposed body part, like the throat, eyes, groin or the liver. It also teaches a lot of techniques for disarming your opponents, no matter if they bare sticks, knives or guns. The style is very efficient, it develops hand-eye coordination and it takes no longer than 5 months to learn.

Aikido

This is a very distinct fighting style, which has been promoted a great deal in pop culture by Steven Seagal. Don’t let Seagal’s reputation as an actor throw you off: he is probably the leading authority in the field when it comes to Aikido, having studied most of his youth years in Japan, with the greatest masters. He’s a legit 7 degree black belt who not only mastered the style, but also developed it: the kote gaeshi (Seagal’s signature move) or “forearm return” is a prolific move, essential to all survival fighters, no matter the style or technique.

This style uniqueness consists in its approach to direct fighting: Aikido teaches almost no direct blows whatsoever, it mostly teaches you how to counter everything that can be thrown at you. Its philosophy is based on the idea that an attacking opponent always leaves himself vulnerable. What you need to do is exploit that vulnerability and use your enemy’s momentum against him. For example, a straight punch could simply be countered by side-stepping and grabbing the opponents wrist or arm. You can simply pivot and throw him down if you grab the arm, or if the wrist is involved, simply twist it towards the outside. The momentum will help you break the wrist with almost no effort on your part, incapacitating your attacker immediately. This style requires awareness rather than speed or strength. If you keep your cool and your eyes opened, as an Aikido practitioner, you’ll have no trouble breaking the joints and wrists of your attackers.

Muay Thai Kickboxing

The fighting style was originally developed in Thailand, in the 19^th century, and it translates to “the art of the 8 limbs”. It’s a contact fighting style, based on a large variety of punches, elbows, and kicks. Its philosophy consists in the fact that someone who is using a tool for fighting is limited by that one tool. A muay thai practitioner, on the other hand, has many such tools (punches, kicks, elbows), therefore has the advantage. It’s not a fancy style, but rather an effective one. It’s based on lighting speed, precision, and power, and can exploit even the slightest opening in your adversary’s defense. The best way to counter a weapon attack (as long as you not held at gunpoint) is to approach the attacker as forward as possible. Simply aim for the jaw, throat or liver and kick it as hard as possible.

With enough technique and training, your legs and punches could easily crack bones and inflict serious pain. Kickboxing requires some serious physical training, as its practitioners do a little something called combat qi. It’s basically subjecting your body parts to repeated hits and damage until the “hardened” body part no longer hurts as it used to. This practice is mostly used to harden the shin bone; kickboxers hit hard surfaces for 2 hours-a-day, 2 years straight.

There are many other fighting styles available, but these are my personal favorites and possibly the most useful in a combat scenario. But if you have to take one thing away from martial arts, that’s discipline and self-control. Do not get carried away and avoid confrontation unless there’s no other way but standing your ground and fighting. But if that time comes, at least you now know where to go in order to overcome your opponents.

15 Essential Crops To Have In Your Survival Garden

15 Essential Crops To Have In Your Survival Garden. Photos – Pixabay (PD)

In a survival scenario, the keyword is self-reliance. The weekly trips to the local food markets or stores will cease to become an option. And even if available, the prices will most likely sky-rocket so that it just won’t be convenient anymore. What you need to do is consider the possibility to set up your very own garden, which will sustain and provide for you and your entire family. It’s a rather complex task, but it’s nowhere near impossible. And once you’ll get the hang of it, it will become rather relaxing and enjoyable.

It’s something that can ultimately be achieved by the average Joe, with enough practice, resources, and dedication. You don’t have to be a professional farmer, you’ll just have to educate yourself a little on the matter. Be aware of the sustenance and nutrients each product has to offer, calculate how much land you’ll need for the endeavor and set your budget. Your best weapon (if you decide to pick up the shovel) is information: educate yourself on season crops, micro-farming, insect repellants, seed collections and storage and on the nutritional value of various crops.

And arm yourself with patience, because this type of activity requires a lot of practice if you’re starting from scratch. But you’ll get better at it with time, and at some point, you’ll be become self-sufficient, even though if you originally started gardening as a hobby. When it comes to choosing the right seeds, I strongly recommend getting non-GMO or heirloom variety seeds. These seeds will continue to reproduce, unlike the hybrid varieties that stop reproducing after the first season. Let’s have a look at different types of seeds that are suited for your very own survival garden.

Corn – it’s a warm-weather crop, very intolerant to low temperatures, so you should plant it only after the last frost. It usually produces two ears per stack and it’s loaded with calcium, iron, and protein. It’s easy to pick and to store.

Wheat – possibly the most common crop in the world, because of its large content of nutrients like copper, iron zinc and potassium. Spring wheat is planted in early spring and it’s the most common variety in the world. Winter wheat can be planted anytime from late September to mid-October.

Potatoes – they’re high in protein, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and potassium. It’s best if you plant your potatoes 4 – 6 weeks before the last frost. An average plant will hold somewhere in the lines of 4 -6 potatoes per sprout. When storing them, just know to keep them in a very cool and dark place, away from fruit.

Peas – it’s one of the most (if not THE) easiest plants to grow, because most varieties are not pretentious and grow very fast. Peas are rich in fiber, protein, potassium, vitamin A, Vitamin B6 and more. The best varieties to consider are the snap, the shelling and the sugar and snow pod. They will do just fine even during a harsh winter, as they’re resistant to frost.

Spinach – considered the original super-food, it’s a great source of nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and thiamin. It’s easy to grow, and most species grow best during winter. There are a few though that stray from the rule, so inform yourself before purchase.

Tomatoes – once again, we’re dealing with one of the easiest plants to plant and grow. It’s very nutritious as it’s abundant in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin E, potassium, thiamine, and niacin. To make sure you get plenty of them throughout the year, just plant the first batch in late spring and the second one in late summer.

Beans – they come in many varieties, such as kidney beans, pole beans, bush beans etc. They are rich in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and Calcium. Pole beans require steak firmly planted in the ground, on which the plant can grapple and grow. Their grow cycle is shorter than that of the bush beans and the yield production is better as well. It’s easy to grow and staggering the plant will give continuous yields.

Carrots – there are very easy to grow and prefer cooler weather. So the best time for planting would be during fall, winter or early spring. They’re rich in vitamin A and beta-carotene, which is excellent anti-oxidant which does wander for your eyesight, skin or hair.

Garlic and Onions – they’re a very rich source vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and folic acid (folate). They’re best planted in mid or late October and can be pulled early in case you’re eager to have green onions or garlic.

Cucumbers – they come in all shapes and sizes, with many varieties to choose from. You can pick whatever you like, from large to small ones (which are excellent for pickling). They are very nutritious, as they are loaded with vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium. They are a crop for warm weather and if you pick them regularly, you’ll get increased production.

Lettuce – not only will it be easy to plant and grow, but is also one of the earliest harvests you’ll get. It’s best if you plant it somewhere at 6 – 8 before the first frost date for optimum results. It grows quickly and you can pick it partially simply by choosing a few leaves at a time. The nutritional content differs in case of variety, but mostly all contain proteins, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, folic acid, and iron.

Eggplants – it’s one of the most versatile vegetables when it comes to cooking, as it offers a lot of possibilities. It’s a warm weather plant and doesn’t do well during winter. So you should wait after the last frost is over in order to plant it. It’s high in fiber, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, and anti-oxidants.

Broccoli – it’s a plant that grows rather easily. It’s usually planted mid to late summer and by the time fall is upon us, you’ll have your first broccoli harvest. It has, however, the tendency to give yields even after the first harvest. It can withstand mild frost, but won’t survive a harsher climate. A far as nutrients go, it’s most commonly packed with vitamin A, vitamin K, and protein.

Cauliflower – it’s a cool season vegetable, resistant to low temperatures. It’s quite fast to grow and gives extremely rich yields. It’s very nutritious and can be very versatile when it comes to cooking. It’s packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fibers.

Turnips – the seeds are best sown in late may, but if you get caught in doing anything else and forget, early summer will do just fine. They’re easy to manage, as they’re very resilient to plant diseases. It’s very versatile too, as you can eat the whole plant, green and root alike. They contain calcium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and iron.

This list is a must for your very own garden, the plants that no survival enthusiast should go without during a crisis. Remember what I said before: take your time and practice, because it’s unlikely you’ll be successful right away. But once you get the hang of it, you and those close to you won’t go hungry a day in case SHTF. So get going, get your hands dirty and you’ll pick the fruit of your labor in no time… literally!

By My Family Survival Plan

Dangerous Clothes That You Wear Every Day

Some of us are willing to go to extremes in order to make a solid fashion statement. We will push the envelope as far as we possibly can just to feel good in our skin, to get noticed and turn heads. We’ll dip our hair in noxious hair paints and gels, we’ll shove our feet in uncomfortable footwear or we’ll try to squeeze in tighter clothes each passing day in order to fool the ever-vigilant eye of the judgmental society we happen to be part of.

The last thing we consider (if we consider it all) is our personal health and how we endanger it in order to appease the gods of fashion and glamour. But endangering your health just for the sake of looking good doesn’t necessarily require ultra-uncomfortable platform shoes or body corsets. Everyday pieces of clothing can harm too!

Facial piercings can cause nerve damage!

Going full-rebel and getting you face pierced (be it nose, lip, chin or eyebrow) might be fun and games at first. But make sure the full-rebel doesn’t go full-retard when you find yourself either cross-eyed or with a partially paralyzed faced, drooling from the corner of your mouth. Scientific studies conducted in early 2011 have shown that face piercings carry high risk of damaging the facial trigeminal nerve (which conducts physical sensation to the neural center). This particular nerve is in direct correlation with the cerebellum and the vestibular nucleus, which are directly responsible for body posture and body alignment. So getting a piercing put in without having the slightest idea of face’s anatomy might result in getting a lazy eye, loss of balance and stability, constant headaches and other. The same study I referred to before showed that people who experienced these syndromes immediately felt better after the face piercings were removed. But as soon as they were put back in, the symptoms seemed to reappear.

The necktie can affect ones eyesight!

Looking like a million bucks, neat and clean spells nothing but “respectable”, right? Well, yes, but the gentleman’s seal, the necktie, can also spell glaucoma; it’s one of the most common eye diseases of the 20^th and 21^st century, and if not treated properly and in haste, it can lead to permanent loss of vision. It’s caused by a tight necktie around the neck acting la a tourniquet, obstructing blood flow in the head and creating high pressure in the eye bulb. Studies conducted in July 2003 on a group of 40 men (half of which was healthy while the other half was glaucoma sufferers) have shown worrying results after the men were asked to tighten their neckties beyond comfortable levels for 3 minutes. The intraocular pressure was measured and this is what came up: 60% of glaucoma sufferers and 70% of the healthy men showed increase intraocular pressure! This was the result of the obstruction of the jugular vein, which returns blood from the head to the heart. Continuous exposure to this type of treatment will undoubtedly lead to permanent loss of vision.

The bra can debilitate the immune system and sleep patterns!

What would women do without bras? Those with huge packages would find even the simplest task, like walking, annoying as hell. While the ones with nothing to show but a flat chest would be lost without the wonders of a puffed up bra. But bras have downsides too! In 1999, some Japanese researchers have conducted a study which attributed hormonal imbalance and abnormal sleeping patterns to the usage of the undergarment. The testing was conducted over a period of 10 days, in which the women would wear brassieres overnight and the scientists would constantly test their rectal temperature, saliva and urine. It turned out that the patience saliva contained dangerously low levels of melatonin. This was attributed to the skin pressure caused by bras, which suppressed the production of the hormone. Melatonin regulates the sleeping patterns (wake up / sleep time), the immune system, and in women, it also regulates the menstrual cycle. So it’s easy to see why it’s important to keep your melatonin levels within normal range.

The skinny jeans can wreck your nerves!

The skinny jeans are available everywhere and to everyone in today’s modern society. They go by many names: drain pipes, pegs, cigarette pants etc. And because they’re so innocently-sounding you might be tempted to think they pose no threat to one’s health, but you’d be wrong. It’s been demonstrated neurologists and public warnings have been issued that skinny jeans can compress the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve which runs down your thigh. Through constant constriction, it will start to backfire and send a random burst of pain sensation to the central command, until it crashes completely. The end result is a condition known as meralgia paraesthetica (aka the Bernhardt‐Roth syndrome), a neurological disorder that can cause random bursts of pain numbness, hypersensitivity to heat, even atrophy in severe cases.

The accessories you have on you can be toxic!

If you ever remember buying or at least noticing small merchants that sell chains, phone cases or other trinkets in the street or small shops, you’ll be horrified to know that most of the items I’m talking about are highly toxic and life threatening! Lead (Pb) was the original main ingredient in the industry, but due to its harmful properties, it was replaced with cadmium (Cd) along the way. This is like trading the devil for Satan, as cadmium itself is a carcinogen for the liver, the bones, and the kidneys! But it’s cheap and available. Studies conducted on 92 pieces of tween jewelry have shown that 90 pieces exceeded 30 times the recommended amount of cadmium exposure, while 2 of them exceeded the limit 100 times over! Studies regarding lead poisoning conducted on women’s purses have displayed similar numbers to those found in cadmium research.

So there you have it. Know you know. Keep away from no-name brands. Their manufacturers use cheap, harmful materials and abide by no health regulations or norms. Don’t risk your health just to look pretty!

My Family Survival Plan