Author: blogger

Martial Arts Weapons, Sauna Or Sweat Suits And Maxivest Method For Losing Weight

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They bring you a fantastic selection of martial arts supplies at low prices. Their complete list of products contain Martial Arts Weapons, Sauna Suits, Sweat Suits, Kettlebells, Kettle Bells, Weighted Vests, Medicine Balls, Weight Gains and some others. Pro-X Sports on-line shopping site where they maintain a high level of service and like to guarantee customer satisfaction and they stock all brands.

The weight added to the body is supported by the skeletal system and by the muscular structure and is distributed over a large area of the body and is also safe for a persons joints .This is great news for all those people in the US and UK suffering from osteoporosis. The Maxivest is the alternative! You can use the Maxivest when you walk ,run, practice jogging or even yoga.

Weighted Vest Works: An individuals body is acclimatized to ones weight and it burns calories based on weight, exercise duration and intensity. When weight is added to the body, more strain is applied to the muscles
and more energy is required to support the functioning of moving the added load;
ultimately this leads to more calories being burned to support muscle action making any workout more effective.

The Maxivest is open sided providing a cooling effect and non-chafing with webbing pockets for maximum durability, it will not stretch or sag and your current fitness program by concurrently strengthening core muscles, improving spinal bone density, and maximizing your workout with the added weight. It help you lose WEIGHT safely and efficiently. Other documented benefits include strengthening core muscles and improving spinal bone density.

Lack of physical activity, especially amongst women has caused a huge rise in the number of individuals suffering from osteoporosis which is a vast problem in the US and UK. In numerous research studies, where a weight vest was used, significant data has been produced to indicate that the weight vest improved spinal bone density.
Try out pro-xsports for new methods to keep yourself in shape.

Tinga Tinga Paintings- Widely Represented form of Tourist-Oriented Art

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Tinga tinga is a painting style developed in the second half of the 20th century in the Oyster Bay area in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and afterward spread to most East Africa. Tinga Tinga paintings are one of the most widely symbolized forms of tourist-oriented fine art in Tanzania, Kenya and adjoining countries. The genre is named after its creator, Tanzanian painter Edward Said Tingatinga.

Tinga Tinga paintings are conventionally made on mazonite, using numerous layers of bicycle paint, which makes for luminous and highly statured colors. Many fundamentals of the style are associated to requirements of the tourist-oriented market; like the paintings are usually small so they can be easily transported, and subjects are proposed to appeal the Europeans and Americans. In this sense, Tinga Tinga paintings can be deemed as a form of airport art. The drawings themselves can be portrayed as both youthful and sketch, and humor and irony are often precise.

In past times, this African art was well thought-out as the black art but, then the variation in times and the change in thinking pattern of people has influenced this art very much and it has completely altered now. Paintings of this art represent the African culture and its nature, various painters in Tanzania are taking pains to try new things with rich African culture and this art is quickly gaining popularity. Tinga Tinga paintings are beautiful form of expression which has given birth to exclusive style of impressionism. This art form depicts natural surroundings and life of Africa.

Local artists of Tanzania have been functioning for tourists to accomplish special requirements of long-distance travelers, including size. The paintings are one of the most renowned categories of paintings in Africa. However, following four paintings themes are highly admired among art lovers.

Couple Theme Founders of the community are represented through this theme of painting. This theme is very popular among people as it implies power and proud. Shrines and sculptures were only used for special occasions.

Mother with her children- This theme is popular because it portrays the importance of a relation between the mother and her child.

Man along with weapon or animal- This theme represents the power and status of being individual and admiration for ancestors. This also represents strength and opulence.

Stranger- This theme represents the hospitable nature of the community and the country.

It is an art form which is widely acknowledged and art collectors endow huge amount of money to procure the Tinga Tinga paintings. This helps local artists of Tanzania in discovering, gaining recognition and receiving good amount of money. This also helps in preserving and conserving the local art of the country.

By filling facade as completely as possible, with one or more of the animals, Tinga Tinga artists often utilize the motifs as if they were a part of the Swahili tradition anyway. Animal figures are drawn so that they in their whole fit into the frame of masonite, or two animals are decoratively positioned next to each other, as if they were tangled calligraphy letters from an old Nordic textile design – or, rather, a selection out of a creatively rendered, striking Arabic Koran verse. Numerous Tinga Tinga paintings demonstrate both the genesis of and the reunion between east and west in eastern Africa.

Eddie Izzard Force Majeure World Tour Comes To Dpac, Durham Performing Arts Center May 21,

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Durham, NC, January 30, 2014 – Eddie Izzard will bring his massive Force Majeure world tour to the U.S., visiting 32 cities through the spring with more dates to be announced later this year. The tour stops at DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, on May 21, 2014.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, February 4 at 10 a.m.:

Online at DPACnc.com

DPAC Ticket Center: 919.680.2787, 123 Vivian Street, Durham, NC

Ticketmaster.com / Ticketmaster Charge by phone at 800.745.3000

Presented by WestBeth Entertainment, a full list of U.S. tour dates with links to tickets is available at http://www.EddieIzzard.com.

Force Majeure is the most extensive comedy tour ever; launched in March of 2013, the tour will take Izzard to 25 countries on five continents. From Cardiff to Kathmandu and Moscow to Mumbai, Force Majeure will play throughout Europe, Africa, Russia, the U.K., Canada, the U.S., India, Nepal, The Far East and Australia. Izzard recently completed runs in France performing entirely in French and in Berlin performing entirely in German.

One of the most acclaimed comedians of his generation, Izzard’s unique, tangential, absurd, and surreal comic narratives are lauded for their creativity and wit, earning him a New York Drama Desk Award and two Emmys for Dress to Kill, two British Comedy Awards for Top Stand-Up Comedian, and an Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement.

In the U.S., Izzard is the first solo stand-up comedian to perform at the Hollywood Bowl, has sold-out three consecutive nights at Radio City Music Hall and toured arenas throughout the U.S. including a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden.

On TV, Izzard most recently guest starred in the series, Hannibal, on NBC. He starred in and served as a producer on the critically acclaimed FX Network Show, The Riches, opposite Minnie Driver, guest starred in the final season of Showtime’s United States of Tara, and his 2010 documentary, Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story, received an Emmy nomination.

His long list of film and stage credits includes Valkyrie opposite Tom Cruise, Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s Thirteen and Ocean’s Twelve opposite George Clooney and Brad Pitt, David Mamet’s Race and The Cryptogram, the title role in Marlowe’s Edward II, and A Day in the Death of Joe Egg in London and on Broadway which won him a handful of awards, including a Tony nomination for Best Actor.

WESTBETH ENTERTAINMENT is a producing organization that has successfully and consistently produced critically acclaimed, financially successful, groundbreaking entertainment for 30 years. WestBeth has produced, presented, and managed diverse productions and tours that have played such venues as Madison Square Garden, Broadway, Radio City Music Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Toronto’s Massey Hall, the San Francisco’s the Curran Theatre, Chicago’s United Center Arena and the Chicago Theatre, and many music and performing arts centers around North America.

WestBeth is currently producing La Soire in New York City and an upcoming Australian tour of Puppet Up! – Uncensored.

Recent productions include the Canadian tour of Eddie Izzard’s Force Majeure, and Dylan Moran’s Yeah, Yeah in cities across the US and Canada. WestBeth also produced the 6 week off-Broadway run of South African comedian Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime; Eric Idle’s What About Dick at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles; and the national tour, Off-Broadway, and 2013 Edinburgh Fringe Festival runs of Puppet Up! – Uncensored (aka Stuffed & Unstrung) with The Jim Henson Company.

Other notable productions include John Leguizamo’s Ghetto Klown on Broadway, the West End, and Colombia, South America; British comedian Simon Amstell’s one man show NUMB in New York and other cities around the county; Billy Connolly’s tour The Man Live in New York and San Francisco; Eddie Izzard’s Dress To Kill, Circle, Sexie, Stripped-a 35 city US tour and tour of Canada, Stripped Too: US Arena tour, Stripped to the Bowl, Stripped to the Shore; Billy Connolly’s Too Old To Die Young tour in America and Canada; Lewis Black’s Nothing Sacred show at New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, as well as Lewis’ Dual Citizenship Tour in Canada and ‘In God We Rust’ at City Center in New York.

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About DPAC Since its opening in 2008, DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center, has become the center for live entertainment in the Triangle. Recognized for its contemporary design, DPAC features 2,700 seats, intimate sightlines and state-of-the art sound and video. Listed four times in the top 10 in Pollstar magazine’s annual worldwide theater attendance rankings, DPAC is currently the #4 ranked theater in the U.S.

What is up next at DPAC? Alternative rock’s hottest ticket PIXIES (January 31), an evening of mind-blowing music with GOV’T MULE (February 8), and back by popular demand “The Edible Inevitable Tour” with ALTON BROWN (February 27).

For more information, please go to http://www.DPACnc.com.

Press Contact:
Rachel Gragg
DPAC, Durham Performing Arts Center
Durham, NC
+1 (919) 281-0476
http://www.dpacnc.com

Top 10 Art And Design Scholarships

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Art scholarships can help you get the education you need to get your foot in the door of this rewarding career. The burgeoning contemporary art fields are filled with opportunities for design scholarships as well, and the future job outlook is good. The following top 10 art and design scholarships can help students get ahead in the world of modern design and graphic art.

Bob Coonts Graphic Design Scholarship

California College of the Arts

Cal Poly Graphic Communications Scholarships

Graphic Communications Scholarship, Award and Career Advancement Foundation

Macys Scholarships Endowment in Memory of Rudolph V. Javosky

Miami International University of Art & Design

NEA John Renna Art Scholarship

Raleigh Hunter Scholarship in Visual Design

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers

Visual Communication and Design Scholarships

The first scholarship is limited to senior level students in Colorado State Universitys College of Liberal Arts. The second in this list of art scholarships is also for a specific school; the California College of the Arts. The same is the case with the California Polytechnic State University, which offers numerous design scholarships to students majoring in Graphic Communications. On the other coast, New York City metro students majoring in graphic communications can get many foundation awards through the Award and Career Advancement Foundation. And over at Cincinnatis College of DAAP, there is a fund in honor of the designer who headed up Macys construction department for nearly two decades.

Down in Miami, the International University of Art & Design offers quarterly art and design scholarships to new students with a 2.5 GPA or higher and financial need. And for students attending Corcoran College, the National Endowment for the Arts offers five annual scholarships from the estate of John Renna based on academic achievement and financial need. Students at North Carolina State University may be eligible for a scholarship from the Hunter Publishing Company or directly through the College of Design. No matter where you are attending, though, you can always look to the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers website for scholarship opportunities. And finishing out the list is the scholarships for visual and graphical design students of Indiana University Purdue University.

Art and design scholarships are relatively easy to find, and with just a little research you can be on your way to finding the perfect scholarship for your degree!

Martial Arts Equipment For All Styles

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In the “old days,” it was not unusual for jugs of water, bags of rice, and buckets filled with sand to be incorporated into a number of different workout programs. Nowadays, we’re fortunate enough to have access to an excellent selection of martial arts equipment. Because of the effective usage of such equipment, it becomes possible to achieve the most from a structured class or private training.

Of course, this could raise questions regarding the type of martial arts equipment is necessary for the “average” workout. Again, there’s enormous variety available. Below is a brief overview of the martial arts equipment you’ll commonly encounter. Nearly all of it is a must for virtually every martial arts practitioner regardless of style.

Certainly, the common punch bag is a clear must in a dojo or training hall. Punching bags not just give you a definitive target to direct your blows towards. Such bags enhance the possibility to develop solid endurance and cardiovascular conditioning. You can find great variety among the many different punching bags available and they include:

Standard Boxing Size: These would be traditional boxing bags that mimic the shape and size of the torso. They’re primarily for the purpose of punching but mid-line and high line kicks are generally effectively trained on these bags as well.

Banana Bags: Most are thinner punching bags which are the size of the human body. The lower region of the punch bag permits the effective training of leg kicks, knees, and also other strikes.

Light Bags: Light punching bags are low weight (about 1/3 the weight and size of a punching bag) and are designed mainly to give resistance to jabbing style punches as well as hook and uppercut line blows. Some even make use of a lightweight punch bag to train headbutts!

Punching bags may be hanging bags that are affixed to various “hooks” in the ceiling or they may be freestanding. Freestanding bags are, essentially durable base mounts. Such bags are significantly more expensive than a number of the traditional hanging bags but they are much easier to move and store.

While hitting the heavy bag is really a must for effective training, you really do need to hit it in as safe a manner as possible. This will likely require the proper protective gloves essential for hitting an impact target. Including all manner of impact targets – heavy bags, focus mitts, shields, and Muay Thai pads. The knuckles inside the hand are quite small and fragile bones. For this reason reliable gloves – whether they are traditional 12oz, 14oz, or 16oz boxing gloves, boxing bag gloves, or mixed martial arts lightweight finger free gloves – must be worn when hitting a heavy punch bag. For those that enjoy sparring with “point karate” gloves, be mindful of the fact that such gloves aren’t manufactured for hitting impact targets. They will not provide you with the adequate protection you require for such training. Stick with using them for light contact sparring instead.

As most martial artists realize, the hands are not the only area that require protection which explains why a substantial amount of martial arts equipment will provide protection to the feet. Shin pads and point fighting footwear are two of the most common. Some may assume that such equipment is only used in sparring. In actuality, wearing when hitting impact targets is advisable too since this can protect the lower extremities and nerve endings from damage. Really, the perennial running theme here is that most martial arts equipment is intended to enhance safety. Obviously, you can also get some items that serve other purposes as well and they’re well worth a look at too.

Stretching devices can be employed to help you extend the range of motion in the leg ligaments. This will definitely prove helpful for people who would like to enhance their kicking flexibility. Similarly, the “old school” Eagle Catcher is a perfect spring action handheld device designed to build up a great level of gripping stretch. The classic makiwara pad has long since been used to toughen the hands in traditional karate training. Similarly, the kung fu wall bag is a fantastic asset for developing strikes common in the Chinese martial arts. Such older and more traditional training aids definitely have their place in a modern world which is becoming more and more noted for its sportive approach to training. But, whether you are practicing for competition or traditional self-defense, you will need equipment that helps facilitate your goals.

Regardless of the type of martial arts equipment you purchase, you want to make sure it is from a reputable name brand manufacturer. Some will make the error of buying more affordable equipment from a “no frills” manufacturer. Rarely is such equipment worth much of anything. Not only will cheap equipment not deliver on expectations, it can put the user at an injury risk. Certainly, that would not be helpful in any way whatsoever. Keep with reliable name brands for your martial arts equipment needs. Such an approach will assuredly prove significantly more helpful in the end.

Combining Martial Arts Like Wing Chun And Aikido

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Most martial arts don’t fit together easily. You take the circular hands of Chinese kenpo Karate and try to put them atop the linear stances of Japanese shotokan, and you are going to get an uncoordinated mish mash. Or, the quick and slick jabs of boxing might fit with wing chun, but the round house power punches don’t fit at all.

And, of course, there are arts that do fit together. You can put aikido together with pa kua chang, but it is going to take discipline and logic to categorize individual techniques. And, this leaves the creator with a problem of how do you teach the beast without confusing.

That all said, I was taking an Aikido class one day, I was a mere beginner in that art, though I had seven years of kenpo and karate and a bit of wing chun. So they asked me to partake in randori. which is the freestyle aikido employs to train students. And, it was a sad experience, at best.

I didn’t want to give them my punches, karate had taught me to lock down and become immoveable, and the result was that nobody could throw me, and the give and take of the randori exercise broke down. I blame no one, it was mixing apples and peaches, and one could argue they should have been able to make their art work, but I should have been able to work with them. Interestingly, it was what happened after that that became interesting.

Paul, one of the advanced black belts came up to me and wondered where the breakdown had been. Other black belts, lower ones, stayed away from me like a pariah, but he wanted to learn, and that was the mark of an advanced belt.

So I explained about l how I had been taught to lock down my stance, and we looked at that in conjunction with aikido techniques, and how things could have been different. Nothing was really making sense, until I asked him if he had ever heard of sticky hands. When I showed it to him the lights began to go on.

Wing Chun, you see, has more mobile stances, and we spent hours figuring out how to get the feet to go fast enough to keep up with the aikido centrifugal action. Slowly, we figured out how the feet were supposed to cross or circle with the action of the attack. We began to go into advanced techniques, Paul excited because of all he was learning, myself grinning, because I was getting a super advanced lesson in higher Aikido that the other fellows in the school, the lower black belts, would have died for.

It takes logic to put arts together, and very few people are successful at the endeavor. I succeeded wildly, and this because I always seem to run into people that are willing to look a little deeper, and willing to share what they learn. If you think you know it all, if you’re proud, if you look down on other students, then you will never open your mind and be able to ingest all the wonderful truth that flows so freely in the universe.

Martial Arts For Your Health and Mind

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Your health is necessary and maybe one thing we don’t suppose much roughly till it is too late. Martial Arts deal a brilliant process to maintain match and take care of your health. Readers will acquire a quick introduction to Martial Arts being maybe the most effective manner to keep you and your loved ones fit.

There are many methods on the planet to exercise and keep fit. I want to recommend that for seeking after your well being there’s not as a whole technique on this planet today that may come close to coaching within the martial arts.

Looking after your well being is sizeable company at present and one thing which should not be taken lightly, after all at present we tend to be living longer. After a life occasion of giving ourselves to working for the contain and surviving our retirements should be the perfect days of our lifes so looking after your health at the moment should be one of the most important things in your intelligence.

Martial arts put forward a approach of life to take care of your well being and a method of interacting with the world something like you. It goes with out saying that there are countless martial arts to resolve from and they don’t seem to be all going to be suitable for everyone. For moment if you’re a forty 12 months outdated with arthritis in your knees training in kick boxing is a manner it’s best to maybe provide a miss. The truth is after attending scores of well being and safety seminars inside health services I state come to the conclusion primarily based on the facts and figures there usually are not lots of activities that can be considered safe in your health.

You’ll come across that even the fashionable day Yoga will experience workouts that health and safety reps will exhibit lots to say around, enormously almost about the positions that require you to bend backwards placing your backbone in extremely unnatural positions.

Find a great Martial Artwork college and you’ll not boast to worry over completions or preventing, they’re there that will help you take care of your well being and that of your families. They need your currency to keep the school start off and put forward this invaluable service to the community. They dont longing your capital like numerous commercial faculties which might be raking it in, where you will acquire numerous completive lotto gamblers ready to punch you in the head and just about power you.

With martial arts like Tai Chi and Aikido I would like to recommend it’s never t o early to commence and defiantly never too late when shopping into these arts to help you in looking after your health. Tai Chi and the practice which makes up this artwork class is the one one I exhibit encountered which might come near the excessive standards of the Health and Security Representatives of our contemporary world. Actions are gradual there are no snapping movements on the joints of your skeleton, various classes do not incorporate bending backwards in any technique and contact training with other lotto players does not come until later on in the training and again could be intended especially mild unlike sparing in Karate or Kick Boxing.

In case you are shopping to take care of your health and that of your households possibly going to a Tai Chi school collectively would not be the best choice except your Children are above 16 years outdated, mainly because of the awareness span of our youngsters at the moment and the non completive and slow actions of Tai Chi will rather usually leave them questioning what it’s all roughly speaking.

Aikido is great for households to experience and gives different ways of interacting collectively and the world about them. Not solely will you be shopping around after your well being, your family will increase in confidence collectively and individually allowing you all a novel outlook on life as a whole. You will pay for to meet different magnificent talented gamers and establish some new pals to final a life moment.

Samay Performing Arts Presents egyptian Nights

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MIAMI, FL Internationally renowned dance director and choreographer Samay promises a mesmerizing night of magic as she takes you on a journey to Egypt without having to leave your seat. The much anticipated yearly Middle Eastern dance recital will showcase the talent of over 200 student performers on Friday April 30th, 2010 at the Manuel Artime Theater. With previous shows having sold out to more than 2,000 attendees in only days, this years production guarantees another eager full house. Titled Egyptian Nights, this show will provide a cultural display of Middle Eastern music and dance including thrilling masterworks and much awaited new choreographies.

Standing side by side with Samay on this yearly production is the School of Community Education of Miami Dade College. Here, students in the Middle Eastern Cultural & Arts Program are offered an array of classes under the direction of Samay to meet different needs. Students in the classes range from beginner levels to advanced troupe levels which provide a chance for certification, or levels of dance that are simply for fun and fitness. Even the choice of learning to dance with customary props, such as Zills, Veil and Shamadan, is offered. Within the program, students can learn and understand all aspects of the art form such as movement, history of dance and music, as well as different styles of raks sharki and folklore from all regions of the Middle East. Since 1997, this successful program at MDC’s Kendall Campus has been and will keep growing into one of the largest of its kind within the state of Florida. I am proud to have trained many future performers and instructors in South Florida and I am determined to continue the hard work and dedication of training future stars, says Samay.

Belly dancing itself has significantly grown in popularity in recent years. Today, the dance is known by over thousands of women who admire its captivating charm and exquisite technique. Although always evolving, there is no doubt that Samay has a love for traditional Egyptian dance. Graceful women like Samia Gamal are within the range of dancers who rose to fame during the golden years of the Egyptian film industry and certainly inspire Samay to choreograph such elegant dances for her wonderful shows. This year marks the eighth anniversary of one of the most awaited events of the year. Directed by an international award winning dance company, it is Samays goal as an artist and instructor to have others embrace the art form of Middle Eastern Dance.

For more information about the 2010 show or about Samay Performing Arts, please contact Danna Prpich at 305-726-1195 or visit www.mdc.edu/ce/kendall/bellydance/default.html or www.bellydancebysamay.com .

About Samay
Samay is an internationally known professional Middle East dance artist, instructor and choreographer. She has extensively traveled the Middle East to acquire the technique and cultural aspects of Middle Eastern Dance including raks sharki (proper term for belly dance) and folklore. In 2004 Samay was awarded first place in the Ahlan Wa Sahlan International festival and competition in Cairo Egypt hosted by world renowned Raqia Hassan. Samay has been featured as a performer and instructor in the Ahlan Wa Sahlan festival, the largest Raks Sharki festival in the Middle East and also recently featured in Europe. Samay has had the honor of studying and participating in seminars with world renowned Egyptian and local artists such as Raqia Hassan, Yousry Sharif, Dina, Nagwa Fouad,Tamalyn Dallal (Samay’s main instructor), Jihan Jamal and many more.

Martial Arts Weapons

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Martial arts weapons are necessary equipments that you cannot avoid for learning your art form in a planned manner. These weapons help you to learn your chosen art form in a better way. Also, they assist you while making the perfect move. You can plan your attacking skills by enhancing your skills of weapons that best suit your martial arts. Every art specialty has its own weapon that can be used while a close combat. You can enquire about your weapons and try hard to achieve your goals with your enemy. For mastering your art, you can get the much needed weapon and try practicing now.

Where to shop:
Thanks to internet technology and awareness about authentic and genuine weapons, you can get the necessary weapons that match your art form in the best possible manner. In addition, you can get weapons hat match with your personality and give you enough coverage to protect your body from potential injuries. Also, choose the perfect material for your weapons so that you can avoid any tough time handling such things while your practice combat.

For getting your perfect weapons, you can search online to get a list of websites dealing into such weapons. You can get weapons that match your skills, compare prices and check the quality marks as well. You can also enquire about the safety features and the process of handling to get its bets value.

Choose the right materials for your weapons to showcase your skills that give your more confidence and valor.

The Story Of A Real Hollywood Legend And Real Life Martial Arts And Close Combat Hero

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Look at today’s Hollywood Action stars you see a lot of window dressing without a lot of substance. If you’re a patriot, Hollywood can be a pretty lonely place, but during World War II Hollywood’s some of the brightest stars went to war and among them was Douglas Fairbanks. He didn’t serve in the rear either. He chose to take to war to the enemy using deadly close combat techniques that included combat martial arts.

Film legend Douglas Fairbanks Jr is best known for the over a hundred films he made, but many of his real life heroics remain classified by the United States Navy. Fairbanks was among the first to pioneer unconventional warfare tactics and commando training. While you can’t count on celebrities to even make their own court appearances, Fairbanks didn’t back down when his country was at war and he chose to become a clandestine warrior.

At the beginning of the war Fairbanks held a number of important civilian positions before being commissioned a Lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserves. His first assignment was on Lord Mountbatten’s staff in England as part of an exchange program. Mountbatten was a very vocal supporter unconventional warfare, and encouraged all the Allies to create Special Forces units. Fairbanks trained at the H.M.S. Tormentor Advanced Training and Amphibious Operations Base and at the Commando Training School at Ancharry Castle, Scotland. As part of his top secret training Fairbanks learned martial arts, knife fighting, sentry removal, and other close combat techniques from martial arts legend William E. Fairbairn.

After taking part in cross-channel raids with British commandos Fairbanks returned to the United States and organized the Beach Jumpers, a specially trained unit that was designed to deceive and distract enemy forces. The new special boat unit also rescued POWs, and landed commandos. Although he was supposed to be an organizer Fairbanks still participated in operations in the Mediterranean Sea and was decorated multiple times by several countries for his heroics. The Beach jumpers would take part in dangerous operations in the Pacific theater and combat operations in other wars before being incorporated into other units. After the war Fairbanks continued his interest in martial arts and encouraged others to learn the combatives he learned for self defense.

Douglas Fairbanks chose to become an actor, but he could have been successful in any career. Like his father actor Douglas Fairbanks Sr. he was very athletic, and excelled at many sports. He wasn’t just a good athlete. e was an excellent student and well as a successful businessman. In addition to acting, he was also a skilled painter and sculptor. Before the outbreak of WWII he did several films including Catherine the Great, The Prisoner of Zenda, and Gunga Din, a close combat classic, where three British Army officers take on a cult of thieves and assassins who worshiped the Indian blood goddess Kali.
Fairbanks would remain in the reserves after the war until he retired with the rank of captain and continued to work, splitting his time between Hollywood and London. Like most veterans he seldom spoke of his wartime service, and most of the operations Fairbanks took part in remain classified, but it clear that he served bravely and honorably. Fairbanks also saw the potential of martial arts, and summed up his thought when he wrote:

“In the early days of the cattle country, the six-shooter was the means of leveling all men to the same size. Now that the sale of the six-shooter is prohibited, every one should have some knowledge of the art of self-defence in cases of emergency.”

Most people know Douglas Fairbanks for his film work, but his greatest role was as a real life hero. Without seeking reward, or even the applause of an audience he did his part to win the war and showed uncommon valor. He could have taken a non-combat assignment, but instead he took on the most dangerous missions and hardest training. He took on the Nazis using close combat and deception, and proved martial arts could turn an athlete into a warrior