It's my martial arts world

[cranefly]

In the Ukraine, a country where females are victims of sexual trafficking and gender oppression, a new tribe of empowered women is emerging. Calling themselves the “Asgarda”, the women seek complete autonomy from men. Residing in the Carpathian Mountains, the tribe is comprised of 150 women of varying ages, primarily students, led by 30 year-old Katerina Tarnouska. Reviving the tribal traditions of the Scythian Amazons of ancient Greek mythology, the Asgarda train in martial arts, taught by former Soviet karate master, Volodymyr Stepanovytch, and learn life skills and sciences in order to become ideal women. Little physical documentation existed on the tribe, until recently, when renowned French photographer, Guillaume Herbaut, met the Asgarda back in 2004 in the midst of the Orange Revolution.

10 pages with photos.

http://www.planet-mag.com/?s=asgarda

[Drunk Monk]

...because fencing wasn't like this:

[youtube]1rZr2u9JD0M[/youtube]

P.S. Asgarda? For real? What a trip. Definitely worthy of a KFM poach.

[thatguy]

From Neatorama

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.neatorama.com/2012/12/03/Ninja-Reviews/">http://www.neatorama.com/2012/12/03/Ninja-Reviews/</a><!-- m -->

866 of 908 people found the following review helpful
Good as backup NFMBFTKS, but not as primairy NFMBFTKS
April 27, 2011
By Samurai, medical doctor, rock star, etc.
This review is from: BladesUSA Hk-6090 Fantasy Sword (27.25-Inch Overall) (Sports)

I have been a user of Ninja Forearm Machete Blade Full Tang Knife Swords (NFMBFTKS for short, pron 'nif-mib-fit-kis') for most of my career, and have some that are quite nice. As a professional mercenary and vendor of 'blood diamonds', 'blood coffee beans', 'blood Nike knock offs', and other 'conflict-zone' products, I find myself in need of a good NFMBFTKS regularly.

I was a bit disappointed for several different reasons when this product arrived at my secure compound.

First, this product is sold by a company called 'Martial Arts Land', which is the same name I gave to my home in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I wish the company had done more research into other entities who are also using that name before naming their company. The post office had quite a time, seeing as the shipping label read 'From: Martial Arts Land' and 'To: Martial Arts Land'. I hope they are not the people who have been getting my missing issues of 'Soldier of Fortune' magazine, as the 'help wanted' section is crucial to my ability to earn a living.

Second, when I saw the description of a 'hi-tech' strap in the product description, I was fully expecting something computerized and perhaps operated by hydraulic machinery that would maybe shoot spikes into the arm if someone besides the owner attempted to use it. Imagine my disappointment when it was shipped to Martial Arts Land (my secure compound in DRC, not the original shipping company, see how confusing this is getting?) with a simple Velcro strap. There is no failsafe in the weapon as-shipped to prevent an enemy skilled in the use of ninja weapons from taking this particular NFMBFTKS from you and using it against you.

Thirdly, I did not find the handle to be particularly ergonomic. After using this product as intended for approximately 8 hours a day, I have developed 'repetitive ninjitsu stress disorder' in my rotator cuff caused, I believe at least in part, to the lack of adequate wrist support. I saw an occupational health ninja who agreed with my assessment and suggested I spend hours on end standing under an icy water fall in the middle of the woods in the dead of winter doing ninja poses to help it heal.

All in all, I can see myself using this as a back up ninja forearm machete blade full tang knife sword day-to-day, or maybe on light trips to the grocery store or library, but I will not be replacing my primary ninja forearm machete blade full tang knife sword any time soon.

Pro:
Powerful Ninja Weapon
Machete Blade
Full Tang Knife Sword

Con:
Velcro strap not hi-tech
Lack of good ergonomics
Company name 'Martial Arts Land' is a problem, as I as my home address is also 'Martial Arts Land'


Was this review helpful to you?

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Got your NFMBFTKS right here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44568&page=12">http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/s ... 68&page=12</a><!-- m -->

Meanwhile, check this out:
[youtube]p9Eg0cD4B8A[/youtube]

[thatguy]

[youtube]PNJ2PcB7yKc[/youtube]

I really should try washing them inside-out...

--tg

[cranefly]

The sword is silent as it leaves its scabbard in an expert draw. The only sound it makes is when it whistles as it cuts through the air. It might be the last sound you ever hear.

Wow. Scientific American as a market for martial arts writers?
Who woulda thunk?

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/assi...hing-doom/

[cranefly]

Fighting may have shaped the evolution of the human hand, according to a new study by a US team.

The University of Utah researchers used instruments to measure the forces and acceleration when martial artists hit a punch bag.

They found that the structure of the fist provides support that increases the ability of the knuckles to transmit "punching" force.

Finally an explanation for why I always have the urge to punch people in the face.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-20790294

[Drunk Monk]

Actually, I discovered the S.A. piece on my own.

Meanwhile, lest we get too scientifical here...
[youtube]3AcGEVtwIiA#![/youtube]

[thatguy]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://imgur.com/o0JIc">http://imgur.com/o0JIc</a><!-- m -->

Best friends at kickboxing final...



and this cute one:



--tg

[Drunk Monk]

[youtube]8df8bfoxxDE[/youtube]

[Drunk Monk]

[youtube]C1OJSeoQm-s[/youtube]

[cranefly]

Great.

I'll never feel safe going to a beauty contest again.

[thatguy]

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.neatorama.com/2013/01/03/Human-Hands-Evolved-for-Punching/">http://www.neatorama.com/2013/01/03/Hum ... -Punching/</a><!-- m -->

Human Hands Evolved for Punching
John Farrier
Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 12:00 AM

According to the recently published results of a study by biologist David Carrier, the human hand, when formed into a fist, was an evolutionary advantage for early humans:

For this latest study, he and co-author Michael Morgan, a medical student, conducted three experiments. First, they analyzed what happened when men, aged from 22 to 50, hit a punching bag as hard as they could. The peak stress delivered to the bag -- the force per area -- was 1.7 to 3 times greater with a fist strike compared with a slap.

"Because you have higher pressure when hitting with a fist, you are more likely to cause injury to tissue, bones, teeth, eyes and the jaw," Carrier said. [...]

In terms of the size and shape of hand anatomy, the scientists point out that humans could have evolved manual dexterity with longer thumbs, but without the fingers and palms getting shorter.

Gorilla hands are closer in proportion to human hands than are other apes' hands, but they and no other ape -- aside from us -- hits with a clenched fist.

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

Meanwhile, here's a little Kung Food.
[youtube]aiXHdfx25ac[/youtube]

[cranefly]

""We've got kung-fu elephants. They just come and kick our camera traps," Ahmed said. "We have to have equipment that can sustain an elephant trampling for an hour."

http://news.yahoo.com/tiger-tracker-tale...13422.html