Blog Archives
Martial Arts CHARACTER And the Universal Law of Interdependence
Friday, July 31st, 2009 | Self Improvement |
In the philosophical teachings which form the foundation for the Ninja Warrior's lifeways, there is a principle known as the 'law of interdependence.' This so-called 'law' is not a must-do rule which one must follow, nor is it to be confused with dependence or co-dependence as it is seen today where one or more individuals who cannot or choose not to provide for themselves, lean on and 'depend' on the work and resources of another for the fulfillment of their needs. Rather, the law ...› Continue reading
Creative Ways to Interest Younger Kids in Traditional Toys
Thursday, July 30th, 2009 | Home and Family |
K.A.G.O.Y. ('kids are getting older, younger') is an acronym that popped up in the toy industry literature about 6 years ago. KAGOY is the allure, to younger kids, of toys meant for older kids, for example, 6 year old girls abandoning baby dolls for make-up and their male counterparts leaving their Legos for video games. A recent Google search of K.A.G.O.Y. revealed that age compression is still an ongoing phenomenon and is becoming even more pervasive. So what is an internet toy retailer, much ...› Continue reading
Every Mom Worries
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009 | Home and Family |
Every Mom Worries ~ But do you obsess about your child's affinity for sweets or worry that he's not as smart as the kid next door? If so, read this to determine if you're being silly or sensible. Cold Cop: A one-woman germ patrol, this mom is always on the lookout for telltale signs of germs that can cause colds. When you're around her, you're forever fearing that your child may -- horrors! -- sniffle or cough, resulting in one of Mrs. Germophobe's nervous ...› Continue reading
Women in The Martial Arts
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009 | Sports and Fitness |
Women In The Martial Arts by Anita Wilson 1st Lady Assistant to Sensei Henry Ellis Ellis Schools of Traditional Aikido I was born in West London in 1963, my father was very involved in the martial arts and a dan grade in Karate he was also a dealer in ancient Japanese arms and armour, although my father has an antiques shop in London's Bond Street, my home was more like a samurai warriors dressing room, with original suits of Japanese armour complete with very frighting face masks that would ...› Continue reading
War Declared On Instant Messenger
Monday, July 27th, 2009 | Home and Family |
Hey Parents! I hate to tell you, but there is no such thing as 'useful instant messaging'. Your crafty child might try to take advantage of your lack of 'Techie' know how when they say in that whiney voice... 'But Mom I'm IMing my friends about homework.' Don't buy it! They are simply playing up the school is important bit so they can get you off their back. To be fair, yes kids might spend a couple minutes discussing their school assignments. But for every 30 seconds of actual work, another 30 ...› Continue reading
Japanese Wedding Theme
Sunday, July 26th, 2009 | Relationships |
Japanese weddings, although very expensive are very elegant and serene. If you are choosing a Japanese theme for your wedding, think about ways to achieve the authentic look at a fraction of the price. For a Japanese wedding theme begin with the bride's attire. Traditionally, a bride in Japan wears a white silk kimono, which can cost up to twenty five thousand dollars to purchase. With a good seamstress, a kimono can be made from white silk. A groom wears a haori on the top and a hakama on the ...› Continue reading
The Weirdness of the Japanese
Saturday, July 25th, 2009 | Art and Entertainment |
I hope Hollywood decides to make no more horror movies based on Japanese ones. They're really boring and not the least bit scarey. Right now I'm thinking of 'The Ring' and the 'The Grudge' and I've seen ads for 'Black Water' which I absolutely will not see or rent in the future because I learned my lesson from those first two. Both of them I fell asleep watching. The Ring, I know, got some good reviews and it was really beautiful to look at but I didn't like the characters and I ...› Continue reading
Your Aura is Your Brand
Friday, July 24th, 2009 | Marketing |
About two weeks ago I unveiled my emotional sentiment to this wonderful lady friend of mine I have known for several months. Over a simple dinner on a Friday night, I shifted up the gear to ultimately culminate in an unforgotten moment - disclosing how I've come to admire her and proposing to explore the relationship further. Unfortunately her reply wasn't the kind every mortal man ever craved for. Citing differences in character, she yanked the plug and put me in an absolutely zero voltage; in ...› Continue reading
Self-Defense Within Martial Arts Training Demands a Real-World
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 | Self Improvement |
This story is being offered in response to a request made by my teacher, Soke (Grand Master) Masaaki Hatsumi, during a recent training visit to Japan. During one of the training sessions, Soke was suggesting that everyone, regardless of rank, should make it a point to talk to those with actual combat experience and to learn from these people. The point was, if you do not know what a real fight is like, you will not be able to train properly for an authentic situation. I was asked to share some ...› Continue reading
Leadership, Self-Development, and the "Committment to Growth"
Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 | Self Improvement |
There is a common phrase that says: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." I know that most of us have heard it. The problem is that we all too often take it, and other so-called "conventional wisdom" as truth. Read that phrase again: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." What is conjured up in your mind - what do you think of - when you contemplate those words? If you're like most, you believe, for whatever reason, that after a certain age, you can't learn anything new. That, after ...› Continue reading
History of Kokeshi Japanese Wooden Dolls
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 | Hobbies |
Little is known of the early history of Kokeshi Japanese Wooden Dolls. One school of thought believes that Kokeshi dolls have their origins in the practice of spiritualist religion. Wooden dolls were thought to contain the spiritual essence of the dead and were often made for honorary remembrance. The modern history of Japanese Kokeshi dolls began in the latter part of the Edo Era (1603-1867). Originating in the Tohiku region of northern Japan, famous for it's hot springs and rejuvenating spa ...› Continue reading
Summer Anti-Boredom List
Monday, July 20th, 2009 | Home and Family |
Publishing Guidelines: Feel free to publish the following article in its entirety in your ezine, website, or print newsletter. The resource box must be included with an active link. Please send a copy of the publication in which the article appears to: Deborah@fiveminuteparent.com Word wrap to 60, (291 words) ****************************************************** Summer Anti-Boredom List By Deborah Shelton Before summer vacation turns into a boredom fest, sit down as a family and make a summer ...› Continue reading
Ten Top Tips About Linking Magic, Computers And The Internet
Sunday, July 19th, 2009 | Spirituality |
At the time when the advance of genetics has us ask, 'What is a human being?' and examine the spiritual implications of scientific progresses, it is only reasonable to next explore the nature of computers and of the World Wide Web. However provocative, considering whether our machines are imparted with a soul is suited to an environment where we are about to meet more and more 'non-biological' beings. Can you imagine our computer chips one day declaring: 'Hello, my name is IBM (substitute HAL, ...› Continue reading
Secrets Of Word-Of-Mouth Marketing - A Book Summary
Saturday, July 18th, 2009 | Marketing |
This article is based on the following book: The Secrets of Word-of-Mouth Marketing "How to trigger exponential sales through runaway word of mouth" George Silverman, Amacom 2001 ISBN 0-8144-7072-6 272 pages Spread the word about your hot new product or company! Word-of-mouth marketing is the most powerful and persuasive weapon you can use, and it won't cost you anything! Based on George Silverman's years of consulting with successful word-of-mouth campaigns of his own clients, here is one of ...› Continue reading
Aikido and The Art of Cold Calling
Friday, July 17th, 2009 | Marketing |
Imagine being in a crowded concert or bar. All of a sudden, a fight breaks out between two men who've had too much to drink. You happen to be a few steps away, and the next thing you know, one of the men turns to you and looks as if he's going to take a swing at you. What's your first instinct? Most of us will do one of two things. We'll either try to step away, or we'll raise our arms to deflect him and fight back, which can result in harm to you or to your attacker. But if you were trained in ...› Continue reading
Martial Arts
Thursday, July 16th, 2009 | Hobbies |
http://www.taichiacademy.com.au/default.htm I am very interested in Martial Arts, as I've been training in Tai Chi on and off for ten years as well as an Internal Martial Art called Wu Dao Gong for a year and a half. I have searched many websites to find a good one to write about but none seem to compare to the site by the actual organization that I am fortunately part of. They are called the Tai Chi Academy and their online magazine can be found at a link from their homepage or at: ...› Continue reading
Freemium Ninja Tactic Explained
Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 | Marketing |
In a previous post, we talked about how you can best use the 'Freemium' model for business success. In this article, we're going to discuss some of the tactics and strategies (we refer to these as 'Secret Ninja Tactics') to significantly increase the response rate on your already successful Freemium based sites. The Freemium model will make you money, but using these Secret Ninja Tactics could double or triple that amount. 1. 'Hide' Your Free Entry Point The first Secret Ninja tactic is to ...› Continue reading
A brief history of Japanese Daruma Dolls
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 | Hobbies |
/p> History of Japanese Daruma Dolls Daruma dolls are representations of the historical Indian priest Bodhidharma, a sage who traveled throughout Japan and China in the 5th or 6th century AD. Bodhidharma is credited with establishing Chan Buddhism in China and Zen Buddhism in Japan. Legend has it that Bodhidharma achieved enlightenment, or satori, following seven years of meditation either in a cave or as he was facing the wall of a room at the Shorinji Temple in China. During this time he ...› Continue reading
How To Choose A Martial Arts School
Monday, July 13th, 2009 | Sports and Fitness |
To reap the best benefits from martial arts, they should be taken as long term activities rather than short term. Given this suggestion, one should not just simply walk into the closest martial arts studio and sign up right away without doing some research. Not all martial arts are alike and not all schools or studios are alike either. Therefore, it is important to really think about what your own needs are with respect to martial arts training. The discussion of which martial art style to take ...› Continue reading
Rules of the Game
Sunday, July 12th, 2009 | Marketing |
We're talkin' about the game of being an expert at your specialty. These rules are unforgiving. Break them and a remorseless force simply sweeps you off the board, clicks you off the screen-and you're not even history. You're nuthin',baby. Abide by these rules and you smile all the way to the bank. I started out not even knowing there were rules. Within 4 years I'd lost my little all. $235,000 eaten up, gone -beyond recovery. Money talks, right? Well, mine was never to be heard from again! I ...› Continue reading
Kundalini and 'Going where we're supposed to go'
Saturday, July 11th, 2009 | Spirituality |
In the early 90's I had a spontaneous Kundalini Awakening after a near death experience, which I wrote about in a different article. Here's what happened next. After I got out of the hospital after my injury, and even during my stay there, I felt that I was extremely different. At the time I accounted it to just being glad to still be alive, and for over a decade I never thought anything more about it. Yet the fact was that I did feel extremely different and I felt driven to pursue meditation ...› Continue reading
Want A BIG Boost In Sales? Market To Lots Of Niches.
Friday, July 10th, 2009 | Marketing |
When most of us think of racking up massive sales, we imagine a product or service that EVERYONE will want. The person who comes up with the next paperclip or comb will strike it rich, right? Mass appeal products do garner massive sales, BUT getting your product on the radar screen of millions of consumers is an extremely difficult and expensive task. Even large corporations who spend millions often miss the mark and their product winds up remaindered on the shelves of discount dollar stores. A ...› Continue reading
Japanese Barberry ..... A Multi Use Plant
Thursday, July 9th, 2009 | Home Improvement |
Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) DESCRIPTION: Japanese barberry is a compact, shrub with sharp spines, that commonly grows from two to three feet tall. Its roots are shallow and tough. The smooth-edged leaves range from oval to spatulate in shape and are clustered in tight bunches close to the branches of the plant. There are yellow flowers which bloom in May and are about one third of an inch wide, solitary or in small clusters of 2-4 blossoms. The bright-red fruits mature in ...› Continue reading
The Secrets Of The Oldest Existing Chinese Martial Art.
Wednesday, July 8th, 2009 | Sports and Fitness |
Shuai Jiao is probably the world's oldest martial art. In modern Chinese, its name is used to refer to any wrestling sport. Outside of China, though, it means the ancient Chinese and Mongolian wrestling styles. Legend has it that Shuai Jiao is descended from a sport called Jiao Di, where the contestants wore helmets with horns on them and tried to head butt each other. I don't know about you, but I bet getting hit by one of those hurt! In 2687 BC, the Yellow Emperor's army even used Jiao Di to ...› Continue reading
Is Damascus steel really stronger?
Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 | Hobbies |
I get asked this kind of question a lot lately and I also hear things like, Jeez Damascus is a lost art, isn't it? Or Damascus is sharper than ordinary steel and on and on. Well these are valid questions and can not be answered in a few words like yup sure is or nope it aint. The problem of a short answer is also due to, what is Damascus steel? Many folks have heard the term Damascus, have heard of Japanese swords and have been subject to some misleading information along the way. I sometimes ...› Continue reading
Japanese Garden Styles - Which One Is The Best For You?
Monday, July 6th, 2009 | Home Improvement |
Japanese gardens have become popular choices when choosing to landscape a yard. The entire garden concept is designed to create an experience, invoke feelings and provide a haven where one can be relaxed, calm and peruse inner-thoughts. Therefore, it is important that the rocks and plants meld together within the landscape, and that the relationship and placement between rocks, plants and water is well thought out within the design. There are several different types of Japanese garden styles ...› Continue reading
Home Study
Sunday, July 5th, 2009 | Education |
--------------------- Home Study: What Life-enhancing Skill do You Learn? --------------------- You're already doing unofficial home study when you research a project online. Study in class has its place, but... Up to date I've done many courses in classrooms but only two were very useful. I've learned most of the useful stuff from books or the Internet. ----------------------- What will help you most in life? ----------------------- The most valuable thing you learn at school is to write ...› Continue reading
Is Aikido a Martial Art ? Part Two
Saturday, July 4th, 2009 | Sports and Fitness |
Part Two. Choreography Aikidoists are often accused of practicing " Choreographed Aikido" and to be honest I must admit that these claims are very often justified, with Uke (attacker) preparing to break fall long before he makes his attack, and most of them attack off balance , therefore making any multiples of techniques possible with the minimum of effort and of course this makes Tori (defender) look "fantastic". What is really sad is that these people believe that this is good Aikido. ...› Continue reading
Intelligent Design: Arm Wrestling with Darwin
Friday, July 3rd, 2009 | Education |
Unless your head has been super-glued inside a science book, you have observed the furious debate between proponents of intelligent design (ID) and supporters of evolution; a debate that has bounced from courtrooms into opinion pages around the country. Pointing to the complexity of life on earth, IDers posit the existence of an intelligent designer and reject the notion that all can be explained by evolutionary theory. The issue has become a political tractor with conservatives and liberals ...› Continue reading
Learning With Today's Child
Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 | Education |
I spend most of my time working with students who are severely struggling in school. And most of this time is spent teaching correct processing skills. The information does not seem to move through their bodies and brains as it does in most people. And yet, there seem to be so many of these children. I have ideas about why there are so many children today who don't seem to be "wired" correctly. I also know that it takes a lot of work to "rewire" the brain to work correctly. Yet, once this is ...› Continue reading
Chinese Sword
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 | Hobbies |
If you are looking for a sword worthy of battle you want to be sure and choose a blade that is made of high carbon steel or folded steel. What's wrong with a stainless steel blade you might ask? Stainless steel blades are nice if you're going to hang the sword on the wall. As a matter of fact, they're often called "wall hangers". Stainless steel blades simply are not made to stand up to the rigors of cutting and dojo exercises. Two very popular makers of blades that are battle ready are ...› Continue reading