Saturday, February 19, 2011

Protect Yourself!

Martial arts are defined as practices of combat. In other ways, we use martial arts to protect ourselves from any danger especially when we are being attacked by someone. Today, let's take a look at different types of martial arts that are still being practiced today. Here are some of the most popular martial arts: 

1) Aikido
a) It is a Japanese martial art that was developed by Morihei Ueshiba.
b) Aikido learners use their own energy to gain control of them or to throw them away from you rather than using punches or kicks.
c) Aikido involves joint locks and throws from jujitsu(derived from judo) and combines with sword and spear fighting body movements.
Let's take a look at one of the best Aikido demonstration done by Mr. Anthony Yates:

2) Bando Thaing
 
a) It is a style of armed or unarmed combat native to Burma.
b) It involves kicking and striking like Karate, throwing like Judo, swordplay and fighting with knives and sticks.
c) Bando Thaing learners initiate the movement with a withdrawal followed by an attack outside the opponent's reach. 
d) This martial art requires great use of all body parts.
If you still not clear about this Bando Thaing, let's watch this video:



3) Capoeira 
a) It is an exciting sport which originated from Brazil that combines art form and self defense, with strong aerobic and dance elements.
b) Others will form a circle and 2 people will show off their skills in eluding and striking their opponent.
c)All in all, it gives you flexibility,self discovery and endurance. 
I recommend you to watch this awesome video of Capoeira:
 

4) Haidong Gumdo
a) It is a Korean sword art which builds physical, mental and spiritual development.
b) Haidong Gumdo learners learn forms, step drills, sitting and moving meditation and bamboo and straw cutting.
c) It focuses on the tactics of outdoor and pitched battles. 
This is one of the bamboo cutting demonstration that captures my eyes:

5) Iaido
a) It is a Japanese traditional Budo which involves with drawing the blade and cutting in the same motion.
b) The form: draw and cut, a finishing cut, cleaning it and returning it to the scabbard, without looking at the imagery opponent.
c) Techniques: sudden attack by opponent,surprise attack while bowing to someone or an attack in a darkened room.
This is the video that best describes Iaido:

6)  Kalarippayattu
a) It was originated from Kerala and practiced in south Indian and Tamil Nadu.
b) It incorporates strikes, kicks, grappling, weaponry and healing techniques.
c) Weapons used: sword, Dagger, Shield, short sticks and spears.
This video involves the usage of Urumi which means flexible sword:

7) Karate 
a) It is a generic term for kick or punch arts that originated from Japan.
b) It uses directed blows of the hands or feet with a special shouts from a poised stance.
c) This martial art is an excellent all-round exercise as it requires a lot of body muscles movements. 
To get a better picture of Karate, watch this Karate demo:

8) Kickboxing
a) It started when Karate practitioners were frustrated because martial arts competitions didn't allow full contact kicks during the 1970's.
b) Techniques used: kicks, punches, kick blocks and shadow boxing including wood blocking.
c) Due to the high risk of injury, new safety rules and protective clothing were introduced.
If you would like to improve your kick boxing movements, you can try on this killer kick boxing workout:

I believe that there are lots more martial arts that are being practiced by people up to this day. I hope you can gain extra information about different types of martial arts. So, get yourself in any martial arts class today!

Credits to:

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all? That is what the Queen from the Disney's Snow White always said. But today, we are going to figure out on how to determine your face shape by simply looking yourself at a mirror. Besides that, I will share some hairstyles that suit your face.  

How to determine your face shape?
Materials that you need:
a)Measurement tape






b) A piece of paper









c) A pen





First step
- Choose a bathroom that has a good lighting.
-Stand in front of your mirror and make sure that you can see your full face.

Second step:
-Start measuring across the top of your cheekbones.
-Place the end of your tape measure just past the outer corner of your eye. Then, lay the tape measure in a straight line across the bridge of your nose to just past the outer corner of your other eye.
-The tape measure should be resting on top of your cheekbones.
-Read the number at the end point and write down the measurement.

Third step:
- Next, measure your jaw line.
-Start on one side of your jaw at the base near your ear. Run the tape measure along your jaw line until you come to the middle of your chin.
-Multiple the number at the end point by two and write down the measurement.

Fourth step:
-Now, measure your forehead.
-Place the tape measure on one side of your forehead at the widest point halfway between your eyebrows and your hairline.
-Run the tape measure along your forehead until you come to the same point on the opposite side of your head.
-Read the number at the end point and write down the measurement.

Last step:
-Measure the total length of your face
-Start at the middle of your hairline.
-Run the tape measure down your face, over your nose to tip of your chin.
-Read the number at the end point and write down the measurement.

The results:

a) You have an OVAL FACE SHAPE if:
Description:
-The length of your face equals one and a half times the width. 
-This face is well balanced and proportionate.
-You have a narrow jaw line and rounded hairline.

Hairstyle that suits you:
Women
-Any hairstyles may suit your oval face-short, medium and long hairstyles
-You will look best if you let go of your hair untie.
-Avoid heavy bangs or too forward-directed styles.
Men
-Any style is suitable.
-Pay more attention to your nose and the position of your eyes and ears.

b) You have a ROUND FACE SHAPE if:
Description:
-The measurement of your width and length of your face almost the same.
-Your widest point is at your cheeks and ears.
-You also have round hairline and chin.

Hairstyle that suits you:
Women
-Try hairstyles that weight at the crown to balance the width of your face.
-Short hair style with a swept-back direction may be best for you.
-Avoid very short, cropped hairstyles.
Men
-Avoid full or round hairstyles.
-You can try to style your hair a bit higher at the top and front in order to provide balance on your round face.

c)You have an OBLONG FACE SHAPE if:
Description:
- Your face is longer than it is wide.
- You may have a very narrow chin or a very high forehead.

Hairstyle that suits you:
Women
-You can try on short or medium hairstyles.
-Layers haircut may be best for your oblong face.
-Avoid having a long hair!
Men
-Go for a style that is longer on the sides and short on top.
-To create balance, you can try to wear glasses or have a groomed beard.

d) You have a HEART-SHAPED FACE if:
Description:
-You have a delicate and narrow jaw or chin.
-You have a wide cheekbones and/or forehead.

Hairstyle that suits you:
Women
-You can try on chin-length or long hairstyles.
-Chin-length bob haircut is perfect for you!
-Avoid short haircut!
Men
-Opt for a style that will narrow your forehead area.
-You can try on bangs swept to the side and a beard.

e) You have a SQUARE FACE SHAPE if:
Description:
-Your face is as wide as it is long but with a more angular shape than a round face.
-You have a strong and square jaw line as well as square hairline.

Hairstyle that suits you:
Women
-You can try on short or medium haircut.
-Wispy bangs or layers would be best for you.
-Avoid long hair styles that emphasize your square jaw.
Men
-Make sure your sides leaner and short.
-Keep your hair clean around the ears.

f) You have a DIAMOND FACE SHAPE if:
Description:
-Your face is widest at the cheekbones.
-You have a narrow forehead and jaw line of approximately equal widths.

Hairstyle that suits you:
Women
-A true diamond-shaped face gives you lots of hairstyle options, so experiment!
-Avoid having too much hair on your face because it will hide your beautiful diamond shape.
Men
-Try on a style with bangs.
-You may also try on longer shag hairstyles.

Now, I guess you are able to determine your own face shape,aren't you? Remember to check out what is the best hairstyles that suit your face! Happy trying~

Credits to:

Friday, February 11, 2011

Weird Enough?

Our lives are surrounded with so many cute animals like cats! Besides cats, people do adore rabbits, hamsters, birds and so much more. But, have you ever seen rare animals that make you go WOW or OH MY GOD? So today, I will bring to you the top ten most weirdest animals on Earth!

10) Dumbo Octopus

a)They got their name due to the gigantic ears that they have which they use it to swim around.
b)Most of dumbo octopuses live in underwater grand canyon.
c) They can grow up to 200mm.
d) At will, they are able to flush their transparent skin layer.
e) It has soft bodies and a pair of fins located on their mantle.

9) Shoebill

a) They got their name simply because their bills look like shoes!
b) It is a very large bird in which the adult is in grey color while the young ones are in brown color.
c) They live in the tropical East of Africa in huge swamps.

8) Angora rabbit

a) Angora which is one of the oldest types of domestic rabbit has a soft, long hair.
b) It is originated in Turkey together with Angora cat and Angora goat.
c) It is bred mainly for wool because of its softness.
d) They need to be groomed everyday to avoid from having hairballs.

7) Proboscis monkey

a) It is the most weirdest looking monkey in the world because of its nose.
b) It is originated from south east of Asian island of Borneo.
c) Males use their big nose to attract females.
d) Young Proboscis monkeys have blue face and blackish fur.

6) Komondor dog



a) Komondor dogs have hairs like string in which protect them from the elements and predators.
b) It is also the King of the Hungarian livestock guarding-guard dog.
c) Despite its large size, this creature is unbelievably fast and quick!

5) The Narwhal
  
a) The weirdest thing about male Narwhal is their extremely long tusk that projects from the left side of the upper jaw.
b) Their tusks can be up to 3 meters long and weigh up to 10 kilograms! 
c) About one in 500 males has two tusks, which occurs when the right tooth also comes out. 

4) Sucker-footed bat

a) Amazingly, sucker-footed bat is one of the new species that is found in Madagascar.
b) It has sticky suckers on its feet and thumbs.
c) They use their sticky feet and thumbs to scale the large leaves of tropical plants where it roosts.
d) The bats have 4 weird suckers on each of their legs.

3) Axoloti

a) It comes from Mexico and a type of salamander.
b) The best thing about Axoloti is that if they get hurt and lost a body part, it can regenerate their missing body parts!
c) It lengths from 15-45cm with wide heads and lidless eyes.
d) It has 4 different colors- wildtype(brown with spots), melanoid(black), leucistic(pale pink with black eyes) and albino(golden, tan, pale pink with pink eyes. 

2) Star-nosed mole

a) It is originated from North American found in eastern Canada and North-eastern United States.
b) It has a thick blackish brown fur and large scaled feet. 
c) The mole's weirdest feature is a circle of 22 mobile, pink, fleshy tentacles at the end of the snout.
d) They use their tentacles to identify food by touch such as worms and insects.

1) Blobfish

a) It is a fish that inhibits the deep waters off the coasts of Australia and Tasmania.
b) Blobfish uses its relative lack of muscle to swallow edible matters that floats by in front of it.
c) They live at depths in which several dozen times higher than at sea level
d) Due to deep-sea fishing, Blobfish is currently facing extinction.

There you have it the top 10 most weirdest animals on Earth. Remember, the existence of these weird creatures is one of the signs that incredibly shows our Creator's power. Hope you enjoy this post as much as I do! Goodbye!

Credits to:

~Body Bliss~


Do you have any idea on what body type that best represents yourself? Today, I want to share to all of you on how to determine your body type, diet and exercises that suit you.

How to determine your body type?

1) You have an HOURGLASS BODY TYPE if:
a) Your body is curvaceous
b) Your body tend to store excess weight in your upper and lower body but you have a small waist
c) Your body look balanced-shoulders and waists

2) You have a SPOON BODY TYPE if:

a) You store your excess weight on your hips and buttocks
b) Your upper body is slender
c) You will notice your lower body first if you look in the mirror because your hips are larger than the upper body


3) You have a RULER BODY TYPE if:
a) You tend to have a few or little curves
b) Your body is rather straight from up to down
c) Your midsection(stomach) is the place where your excess weight are stored 

4) You have a CONE BODY TYPE if:

a) Your lower body is smaller than your upper body
b) Your excess weight goes to your arms, chest and stomach
c) Your eyes will go straight to your upper body if you look in the mirror because your chest are larger than your lower body

REMEMBER!
a) Most MEN are RULERS or CONES.
b) Most WOMEN are HOURGLASSES or SPOONS.
c) If you are overweight, it is pretty difficult to determine your body type because you may end up caught in dilemma between two body types.
d) Your DIET has little to do with your body type because your body type are pretty much natural since you were born.

What exercises that suit your body type?

a) Hourglass body type:
-Jogging or running slowly
-Jumping rope
-Stationary biking

b) Spoon body type:
-Push-ups
-Side leg lifts
-Jumping rope

c) Ruler body type:
-Squats
-Sit-ups
-Swimming

d) Cone body type:
-Kick-boxing
-Squats
-Upper-body stretches

What kind of DIET that suit you?

a) Hourglass body type:
-Eat food in high protein-lean meat, tuna and skinless chicken
-Eat more leafy vegetables, broccoli and cabbage
-Eat large at breakfast, moderate lunch and light dinner

b) Spoon body type:
-Eat high-protein food- lean meat, skinless chicken, salmon
-Avoid sweet fruits-melon,grapes,pears,pineapples
-Eat more berries, prunes and apples
-Eat large at breakfast, moderate lunch and light dinner

c) Ruler body type:
-Eat more high protein food-tuna, beans and whole wheat
-Eat more brown rice but avoid white rice
-Less sugar intake in your diet

d) Cone body type:
-Avoid white rice and potatoes
-Consume chicken, tuna, beef and beans
-Eat more complex carbs- all kinds of fruits and vegetables

So, I do hope that you will be able to determine your own body type and start eating and exercising according to your own body type. Till we meet next time! 


Credits to: