By Brittany Corrigan

Okay, okay, I know you are all just dying to know what the most asked martial arts question of all time is.  Well…I can’t tell you that because I don’t actually know.  I do however know what question I have been asked the most and that’s essentially the same thing.  So here it is:

What kind of underwear do I wear under my gi pants?

I kid you not.  Most asked question of all time.

I have to give props to all of the men who have asked me this question over the years.  It can’t be easy to look a young, talented, incredibly attractive (not to mention modest) woman in the face and ask her what kind of undies to wear – without turning red or at least giggling a little.

I always answer this question the same way regardless of gender.  After extensive trial and error research, I can confidently say that men’s boxer briefs are the best athletic underwear for two reasons:

1.     A wedgie is friend to no one.  Underwear that rides up is a distraction.  When rolling, it may not always be possible to spare a hand for the casual wedgie pick.  Boxer briefs ride up the least of all the under wear categories.

2.     No one likes to be a panty flasher (I hope).  As a new student, your uniform will be white.  In the heat of the moment, when you’re trying desperately to keep that guy who’s three times bigger than you in your, what I’m sure is spectacular, side control, and your butt is straight in the air…everyone can see through that thin, white material.  Yep, you are panty flashin’.  Don’t worry, my friend, it is in fact unavoidable.  But the bottom line (pun totally intended) is that no one wants to see your spiderman undies or some glittery word printed across your backside or heaven forbid see your birthday suit.  Boxer briefs are generally solid in color and give the appearance of athletic shorts or even Soffes.  Really, they are the magic undie.

Now some of you might say, “hey, I prefer compression shorts.”  While I totally respect that opinion, let’s be serious here.  Compression shorts are a preference while boxer briefs are a necessity.  Compression shorts are synonymous with spandex shorts, and some people (namely my lady friends) aren’t spandex fans. Stick to my advice boys and girls.

Optimum comfort with maximum coverage.  Boxer briefs, the miracle panty.

By Brittany Corrigan

Being a part of the martial arts world is great, but being a part of a martial arts family, being behind the scenes of this world that isn’t just a wealth of knowledge but an actual way of life may not always be what you have imagined.

Over the past six years, I have been privileged enough to experience the many different facets of this industry with its blend of tradition and progress. I have been, am, and will always be a student in this continuous learning process. I have been a training partner, hopefully a helpful and respectful one, to my classmates and peers. I have been an “uki” – a sort of rag doll for the instructor to demonstrate a technique on as he teaches the class at large. I have been an instructor, leading classes in stretching and Yoga. I have been a friend to the many great athletes and students who have walked into the Academy. I have been a secretary, student director, and sometimes janitor at a busy, family owned and operated martial arts academy. And most importantly, I have been a wife, daughter, and sister to, in my completely unbiased and fully objective opinion, the greatest martial artists and instructors in the industry and the greatest men of the age. Like I said, completely unbiased. Let’s keep this professional, people.

In each of these aspects, I have gained extensive knowledge of the industry’s inner workings. From the typical daily schedule of a highly in demand instructor to the exact combination of cleaners used to disinfect the mats and even to the color someone turns right before they to toss their cookies on those immaculate mats you just cleaned because they didn’t take your advice and ate a whole BAG of apples before their belt test. I have seen it all. I have heard it all. Let’s face it, I’m basically all knowing at this point – just kidding…but seriously.

I have had the pleasure of welcoming many a new student into the academy and covering the basic information they need to get started. In this orientation process, we cover things like: class schedule, payment method, school uniform, the importance of wearing shoes into the school but not onto the mat (my personal pet peeve), our annual closings…well, you get the idea. Not unusually, people tend to have a few questions i.e. what if I miss a class (don’t), can I wear my socks on the mat (ever been on a slip n’ slide), would it be all right if I use the techniques I learn on my innocent and much smaller little brother (get out).

So basically, I’d have to say that, apart from the many prestigious and important things I’ve done at the Academy, I’ve spent a great deal of time answering the same reasonable questions over the past six years. Now, I plan to use my vast knowledge and estimable modesty to answer, in detail, the most asked questions I have faced during my time working within the martial arts world. So keep an eye out for future installments of this blog you lucky ducks, because I’ll be answering the most asked question first, and it will definitely surprise you!

Tune back in tomorrow (Friday the 13th) after 6 AM for the first topic!

BY David Corrigan (@d_corrigan on Twitter)

I was just recently referred to a website that some of you may or may not have heard of - TED (Ideas Worth Spreading). I do not know a whole lot about the site other than I have watched a few very interesting, thought provoking, informative, and inspiring talks on this site. The other day I stumbled across a talk by Shawn Achor, the CEO of Good Think Inc, where he researches and teaches about positive psychology.

This video discusses how being happy can increase productivity in the workplace. He goes on to briefly explain some of the major ways to increase happiness and positive thinking. Two of the activities listed that stood out to me were EXERCISE and MEDITATION. Both of these, are integrated very well into a good traditional martial arts class, while also learning a very valuable skill. Check out the video and let me know what you think of the talk on Twitter or Facebook @PMAOakRidge. 10 minutes out of your day, and I guarantee it will be worth it.



[ted id=1344] Enjoy!

Here is the link if the video embed is not working - http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work.html

BY David Corrigan (Follow on Twitter @d_corrigan)

This week at Progressive Martial Arts, we had a few discussions involving the legal ramifications of defending yourself. Our discussions took us through many scenarios, ranging from just defending yourself with strikes, and using lethal force with weapons.

When any of these scenarios occur, it may be a good idea to contact the police and notify them that you were attacked and that you defended yourself. However, past this it may be in your best interest to contact a lawyer before giving any more information to authorities. Check out this taped law school lecture about not talking to police, sent to me by one of our students. The lecture is almost an hour long, but packed with some good information for U.S. citizens. I pulled up the lecture on my iPhone and listened to it while driving.

Tell us what you think about this topic on our Facebook page (Facebook.com/PMAOakRidge) or Tweet to us @PMAOakRidge! Please share this post with your friends, this is useful information...

Here is the link if the video is not popping up on your device -

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=8167533318153586646&hl=en

No matter what television channel you watch or magazine or newsletter or newspaper you read, you will be constantly bombarded with reports about the benefits of regular physical activity. To begin, there is the benefit that exercise offers in relation to achieving and maintaining healthy weight levels, which holds its own health benefits. In addition, it is widely accepted that exercise in general helps reduce stress through a myriad of avenues. And now, consistent physical activity is strongly recommended in the treatment of a wide variety of ailments, ranging from immune disorders (and disorders where the immune system could use a good boost) to Parkinson’s disease and osteoporosis.

And what could be better exercise than the Martial Arts? Martial Arts training is aerobic, the kind of exercise that is recommended for many areas of health maintenance and optimization such as heart and lung fitness, as well as achieving proper weight goals. Martial Arts training is also what is considered a “weight-bearing exercise,” which is the type of exercise recommended specifically for the health benefit of maintaining or improving bone density to prevent osteoporosis or reverse osteopenia. Weight-bearing exercise is actually crucial for anyone and everyone to maintain bone health, especially as they age.  Many recent reports also focus on the benefits of “core strengthening” or types of training that are “core” focused. Yes, Martial Arts does that, too. Studying and practicing the Martial Arts gives you a complete mind and body work-out, resulting in all the benefits, including those that contribute to stress reduction.

So commit to your Martial Arts training. You’ll be committing to being healthier in every way possible: less illness, fewer chronic conditions, healthier lungs and heart and bones, less stress and resultant illnesses, more flexibility, and amore toned body that is less prone to injury. And that’s not to mention that you will feel great and have fun.

The New Year is right around the corner, start making your commitment now!

By Allie Alberigo

Normally the word “outbreak” brings on fear of diseases or viruses and causes panic.  In this article, “outbreak” means many things, both negative and positive.  In class, a virus outbreak could prove to be a negative force: on the other hand, an outbreak of energy, sincerity, humility and discipline could be life changing.  We need this latter kind of outbreak in our lives more often.

One negative person in your immediate circle can cause you to become negative. Words that are spoken, actions that are taken, and emotions that are voiced are easily adopted. So we need to be very careful not to allow a negative outbreak in our lives.  It is easy to sit back, listen to the news, and hear about the negative occurrences going on right around us.  It is very difficult to resist being affected by this input, to make the conscious decision to walk away when you are bombarded by this kind of negativity.  The mind is easily affected you need to take the necessary precautions so you can decide whether to be a part of the cotangent or not.  Just as in medicine, a placebo may either protect you from a sickness or not, depending on your belief system and the power of the mind.

Have you ever felt a cold coming on, and allowed yourself to fall ill by accepting the fact that you will get sick?  Other times you may tell yourself you are not going to get sick and then you don’t.  It’s the same with negative emotions and energy, and on the flip side, positive thoughts.

What is nature of the energy in the class, in your workout, or in your home? Can you be the catalyst to make a positive change? Can you create the environment to make it happen?  The answer is “Of course you can!”  You can either be positive or not, it is entirely your choice.  When working out at your school, all you need to do is tell yourself you are going to make this the best workout you ever had, and pass the positive energy on to others.  A simple loud Kiai (spirit shout) or an extra strong respectful “yes sir” can be very contagious.  Your emotions will bring on positive emotions in others, and before you know it the classroom, workplace, or home life will be changed.  You are what you believe, either negative or positive, so choose to make every day a positive.  Envision the positive energy and it will manifest right before your eyes.

By Jennifer Galea

The “Halo Effect” is a psychology term that means to see everything about something as “angelic” because of a single positive characteristic. This can apply to nutrition as well. A label of “healthful” (whether it is applied by the manufacturer or yourself) does not mean “calorie free,” “full of health benefits,” or “eat as much as you want.” Especially for health-conscious athletes, it is incredibly important not to fall into this psychological trap.

With the advent of food chains touting “healthier” fast food, people are likely to apply the Halo Effect while consuming their meals. A recent study conducted on people who go to fast food restaurants found astounding results: people eating at a restaurant with a reputation (or advertising) of being more healthful (specifically Subway in this study) may actually consume more calories than others at fast food restaurants with no such claims! How can this be?

The study found:

1. 1. People eating a “healthy” meal from Subway were more likely to add a side and dessert that were calorie-rich, not to mention having a larger drink. So the Halo Effect psychologically brought all these other items under the “halo” of the “healthy” sandwich.
2. 2. People significantly underestimate the calories they consume. This was true at McDonalds (in the study): understandably, it is hard to imagine such a small quantity of food could contain so many calories and fat. But, the underestimation was even greater at Subway, where the Halo Effect was minimizing the estimation of not only the sandwich, but of all the “add-ons” as well.

So what is the answer? Be aware of every item that you consume. It is fine to have a slice of cake occasionally as a special treat, but don’t undo all the good you have done by rewarding yourself with a “special treat” every time you make a calorie concession elsewhere in the meal. Also, focus on portion size; don’t eat twice as much of a lower calorie or lower fat choice. And finally, don’t believe the advertising. Stick to what you know, and if you don’t know, find out before you add an item to your diet. Being a health-conscious individual, you want to be just that: conscious. Fuel your body appropriately for optimal performance and health.

Ah . . . the art of listening. Even though you claim to be listening and you respond at the right moment with the typical ahs, uh-huhs, and yups, you may still find yourself in a daze. Just because the auditory process is working and the sound is going into your ears it doesn’t mean you have clear understanding.

Maybe even right now you’ve scanned this article up to this point and really haven’t given it your 100% undivided attention. Let’s stop and start again, this time with 100% intent. Okay, are you with me? I hope you went back to the drawing board and started from the top and now you are intent on getting everything possible out of this.

I have some rules for listening and they can apply to you. The very lessons I am speaking of can help you in your Martial Arts, with relationships, at school and at work.  If you become a better listener you will become a better person.

Four Tips for Better Listening!

1. Make sure you are not distracted. Eliminate any outside factors that may take away your concentration.

2. When you listen, really listen. Do not let anything interfere, such as background noise, music etc. Stay focused on the topic at hand.

3. Look directly at the person you are listening to; do not shuffle through papers and do not engage in any other activity: eye contact or at least face contact is important.

4. Feed back what you have heard. “So this is what I understand that you’re saying. Is this correct?” Make sure you are on the same page.

Becoming an effective listener takes practice. I notice in my classes that only a portion of what goes into a person’s head is retained. And especially when I’m teaching young students, only a part of the information is learned. Even parents don’t always give their undivided attention to their children when they are talking.  But it doesn’t need to be this way.  Although this may be the case now, the best place to start to fix the problem is with you. Follow rules one through four and you will be well on your way to becoming a better listener.  I assure you that this is something that will improve your relationships and communication with others making you a better Martial Artist, student, and friend. Just listen!

Many students at Progressive Martial Arts list "Self Defense" as their primary reason for training, and the other top answer is "Health/Fitness." What some don't realize are the two are the same thing! Self Defense is not just defending against an assault, it is also fighting obesity, age, and fatigue! Check out this article by Jennifer Galea about self defense...for your body! With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it seems appropriate.

As Martial Artists we strive to nourish our bodies and our minds in the best possible ways.  And by optimizing our overall health, we optimize our athletic performance. In 2007, a panel of 21 international experts published the “Report on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer.” They published recommendations for countries, to prevent cancer in their populations, and for individuals, to decrease their personal risks.

1. 1. Body Weight. The recommendation continues to be to maintain normal body weight, but the newest recommendation emphasizes being as lean as possible within the normal range for body weight. In addition, it stresses the importance of avoiding weight gain, especially with regard to the gain’s impact on increasing waist circumference, after age 21, as this type of weight gain is associated with increased body fat.
2. 2. Physical Activity. As with all current recommendations for physical activity, the panel found that daily physical activity is crucial in reducing cancer risk. In addition, the panel advised limiting sedentary behavior (such as TV watching).
3. 3. Empty Calories. Yet again, we are told to avoid foods and drinks that contain what are considered “empty” calories. In particular, the panel mentions calorie-dense foods (such as fast foods) and sugary beverages.
4. 4. Plant Foods. Fruits and vegetables continue to be emphasized, but the important role of whole grains also takes center stage.
5. 5. Animal Foods. Red meat is a culprit in some forms of cancer, and so should be limited to 18 ounces per week. Processed meats should be avoided.
6. 6. Preservation, Processing, Preparation. The panel recommends limiting consumption of processed foods, many of which are very high in sodium as well as other chemicals.
7. 7. Dietary Supplements. Although a vitamin/mineral supplement may be called for in other realms, when it comes to cancer prevention, diet is key. The panel does not advise taking a dietary supplement, but rather recommends meeting your nutritional needs through diet alone.

Although these recommendations are specific to reducing cancer risk, following each and every one of them is crucial to optimizing our health in general. Martial artists who can commit to these food consumption strategies are practicing self defense against a formidable opponent, disease!

By Allie Alberigo

Ancient principles with modern applications are what the Martial Arts is made of.  Even in a modern world where many Martial Arts systems have become eclectic and where words like “Mixed Martial Arts” have become synonymous with what the Martial Arts represents, there are age-old philosophies that still ring true in the 21^st century.

When I was a young boy, the Martial Arts was taught a bit more elusively.  The teacher may have disguised his lessons a bit more. Now we want to cut to the chase and demonstrate benefits quickly.  Is that good or bad?  Of course it is entirely up to the student: when the student is ready the teacher will appear.  How ready are you as the student?

Ten Philosophies of Greatness

1) Always be open minded – ready to learn from any experience.

2) Always work hard to achieve greatness – never settle for mediocrity.

3) Never expect – always strive to deserve.  Never assume results are owed to you.

4) If it is too easy – it is not always worth it.  Sometimes we want to take the easy way out. Today’s buzzwords are “work smart, not hard.”  But hard work always pays off in the end.

5) Don’t compare – everyone is different. Don’t fall into the trap of trying to do what the person next to you is doing.  You are your own person; you should work on you and you only.  It doesn’t matter what others think.

6) Be Patient – strive not to sweat the small stuff.  If you allow yourself to get distracted or upset over little matters, then other components of your life including family and friends will be affected by it.  Put everything in perspective.

7) Be Compassionate – Realizing that all people have their own agendas will certainly help you gain perspective on how you should react to others’ actions.  Try to always put yourself in their positions.

Be Loving – My teacher always told me to treat others as you would treat your mother, father, son or daughter.  We tend to be more patient with people we know rather then perfect strangers.

9) Be Strong – As the Navy S.E.A.L.S say, pain is weakness leaving the body.  Don’t shy away from hard work or tasks that are difficult.  Strengthen your spirit, your body, and your mind.

10) Be Healthy – Treat you body as your temple. The saying goes “Everything in moderation.”  Always be careful about what you eat and drink and how much rest you get.  The body is like an engine; if you do not put in the proper fuel it will fail.  Take care of your body; it is the only one you have.