Karate is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands (Okinawa) from indigenous fighting methods te and Chinese kenpō. Karate is characterised as a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands (karate chop). Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles. Karate developed in the Ryukyu Kingdom prior to its 19th century annexation by Japan. It was brought to the Japanese mainland in the early 20th century during a time of cultural exchanges between the Japanese and the Ryukyuans. In 1922 the Japanese Ministry of Education invited Gichin Funakoshi to Tokyo to give a karate demonstration. Keio University became the first Japanese university to open a dojo; by 1932, all Japanese universities had dojo. In this era, the name karate was changed to karate to indicate that the Japanese wished to develop the combat form in Japanese style. After the second world war, Okinawa became an important United States military site and karate became popular among servicemen stationed there.

The martial arts movies of the 1960s and 1970s served to greatly increase its popularity, and the word karate began to be used in a generic way to refer to all striking-based Oriental martial arts. Karate schools began appearing across the world, catering to those with casual interest as well as those seeking a deeper study of the art. Shigeru Egami, Chief Instructor of Shotokan Dojo, opined "that the majority of followers of karate in overseas countries pursue karate only for its fighting techniques depict karate as a mysterious way of fighting capable of causing death or injury with a single blow...the mass media present a pseudo art far from the real thing."Shoshin Nagamine said "Karate may be considered as the conflict within oneself or as a life-long marathon which can be won only through self-discipline, hard training and one's own creative efforts."

For many practitioners, karate is a deeply philosophical practice. Karate-do teaches ethical principles and can have spiritual significance to its adherents. Gichin Funakoshi ("Father of Modern Karate") titled his autobiography Karate-Do: My Way of Life in recognition of the transforming nature of karate study. Today karate is practiced for self-perfection, for cultural reasons, for self-defense and as a sport. In 2005, in the 117th IOC (International Olympic Committee) voting, karate did not receive the necessary two thirds majority vote to become an Olympic sport. Web Japan (sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) claims there are 23 million karate practitioners worldwide. A karate practitioner is called a karateka.

Golf is a precision club-and-ball sport, in which competing players (golfers), using many types of clubs, attempt to hit balls into each hole on a golf course while employing the fewest number of strokes. Golf is one of the few ball games that does not require a standardized playing area. Instead, the game is played on golf "courses", each of which features a unique design, although courses typically consist of either nine or 18 holes. Golf is defined, in the rules of golf, as "playing a ball with a club from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules." Golf competition is generally played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual, known simply as stroke play, or the lowest score on the most individual holes during a complete round by an individual or team, known as match play.

The majority of professional golfers work as club or teaching professionals (pros), and only compete in local competitions. A small elite of professional golfers are "tournament pros" who compete full time on international "tours". Many club and teaching professionals working in the golf industry start as caddies or a general interest in the game, finding employment at golf courses and eventually moving on to certifications in their chosen profession. These programs include independent institutions and universities, and those that eventually lead to a Class A golf professional certification.

Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running. Jogging is often used by serious runners as a means of active recovery during interval training. The runner who may just have completed a fast 400 metre repetition at a sub-5-minute mile pace, may drop to an 8-minute mile pace for a recovery lap.

Jogging helps to reduce stubborn belly fat. Stubborn fat can be very hard to shift, and a running program can really help to cut down on the last of your stubborn fat.

If you suffer from poor appetite, jogging will improve your appetite. Along with all other forms of exercise - the harder you work, the more you need to eat to repair your muscles and refuel them. When you start to run longer distances you will start to eat to fuel your body, and may even find that you need to eat more food everyday, than you did when you were overweight.

When the sport of jogging became a national obsession in the 1970s, bringing with it a fascination with fitness, people were looking for appropriate attire for running along city streets and country lanes, or jogging in place at the gym. Baseball, football, basketball, and hockey players had uniforms that were designed for the specifics of their sport and runners were looking for the same. Casual street clothes such as jeans and a loosely-fitted shirt were impractical. The old T-shirt and shorts or one-piece cotton gym suit was not fashionable.

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The Brooks® Trance 8 women's running shoe delivers exceptional motion control and stability during your run. It features the biodegradable BioMoGo midsole for springy, responsive cushioning, as well as a lightweight mesh upper for a supportive, breathable fit.

I love the Trance 8 - am on my third pair and just ordered 6 more! Brooks put a slight arch support into Trance 9 and it doesn't hit my foot right - very uncomfortable. I'm so thankful that Trance 8 seems to have been re-issued. I've now stocked up. Great motion control and just the right amount of cushioning. I was born with flat feet, and this shoe is absolutely the most comfortable running shoe I've tried. I get about 450 to 500 miles out of each pair.

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The vision of company founder Adolf Dassler has long become reality, and his corporate philosophy the guiding principle for successor generations. The idea was as simple as it was brilliant. Adi Dassler’s aim was to provide every athlete with the best possible equipment. It all began in 1920, when Adi Dassler made his first shoes using the few materials available after the First World War.

The adidas name dates back to 1948, deriving from the first two syllables of Adi Dassler’s first and last name. One year later, Adi Dassler registered the Three Stripes as a trademark. After a period spanning almost 70 years, the Dassler Family withdrew from the company in 1989, and the enterprise was transformed into a corporation ("Aktiengesellschaft"). French-born Robert Louis-Dreyfus was Chairman of the Executive Board from April 1993 to March 2001. It was he who initiated adidas’ flotation on the stock market in November 1995. adidas--a name that stands for competence in all sectors of sport around the globe. Today, the adidas product range extends from shoes, apparel and accessories for basketball, soccer, fitness and training to adventure, trail and golf.

The women's Premium Basics range is a quality collection of stylish and versatile wardrobe classics. This easy-to-wear hoody is bolstered by a stylish stripe pattern and subtle feminine detailing.

Women’s Health readers strive to better their whole lives. And that's exactly why Women’s Health reports on all the topics that interest them. In every issue you’ll find:

A lifestyle magazine rooted in health and fitness. Women's Health is filled with actionable and practical advice that you can use today. For women who want to do more, have more, and be more.

Women's Running is the only women's-specific running magazine. As the number of female runners exploded over the past few years, interest in women's-specific running information also grew. Women's Running covers all aspects of the running lifestyle. The Women's Running mission is simple: to encourage women to train healthfully, participate in active travel, adopt healthy nutrition habits, and to nourish their minds as well as their bodies.

Women's Running is the only women's-specific running magazine. As the number of female runners exploded over the past few years, interest in women's-specific running information also grew. Women's Running covers all aspects of the running lifestyle. The Women's Running mission is simple: to encourage women to train healthfully, participate in active travel, adopt healthy nutrition habits, and to nourish their minds as well as their bodies.

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Buy Weight Loss Cardio Sculpt and get Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred at an additional $2.00 off Amazon.com's everyday low price.

# Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC

# Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)

I had never purchased a Jillian Michaels DVD before b/c of the hit or miss reviews. So when I heard raves about this one, I decided to give it a shot and I am so glad I did. This is an absolute butt-kicker workout. I am an intermediate/advanced exerciser (I work out 5-6 days a week) so I figured I could see what Level 1 was all about and move onto Level 2 right away. Listen to me folks--these workouts are HARD. Level 2 was VERY difficult--a good difficult though, very challenging. When Jillian tells you to start at level 1, listen to her she knows what she's doing. I've been at this for about 5 days, and I already feel a difference in my body.

Jillian is tough--absolutely NO rest in this workout (not even for a sip of water) but that's what makes it go by so quickly, and it makes your body change, according to Jillian. You're done before you know it--but by the end you've gotten a kick butt workout and feel like you've really done something. She bases her workout on the 3-2-1 method: 3 mins strength, 2 mins cardio, 1 min abs. Her strength circuits remind me of Jari Love--compound exercises that work the upper and lower body simultaneously. The cardio is good as well: a lot of jumping, so watch those knees (she has a modifier for beginner and lower impact) And the abs is straight up ab work--a variety of crunches and twists on the floor.

This is a great workout and I find Jillian to be tough but she's pretty likeable. Be warned though: she's no-nonsense. I think it's funny when during the stretch she admits she's not flexible and struggles to reach her legs on the floor. I thought "Ha, Ha, finally something I'm better at than Jillian!" lol If you really want to get a good workout and to jumpstart your weight loss get this DVD you will not be disappointed. It's great for those who are short on time too and want to try something new; every workout is just under 30 mins!

Maximum results in minimum amount of time. Achieve greater weightloss and watch the extra pounds disappear as your endurance level and strength increase and your whole body transforms. For best results we recommend you follow our six to eight week program recommendation using the different levels as "add-ons" as your progress. THE BIGGEST LOSER CARDIO MAX DVD: This DVD consists of three different cardio workouts (plus a warm-up and a cool-down) each with an increased level of intensity:
LEVEL 1: With Bob as your trainer this 20-minute boot camp will touch every part of your body and get your fat-burning engine going strong.
LEVEL 2: With Jillian as your trainer this 10-minute supercardio drill workout will sweat away pounds galore.
LEVEL 3: With Kim as your trainer you will continue to maximize your weightloss with a kickboxing workout concentrating on your butt and thigh.Cast: Bob Harper (Seasons 1 2 3 and 4 trainer) Kim Lyons (Seasons 3 and 4 trainer) Jillian Michaels (Seasons 1 2 and 4 trainer). Six seasons 3 and 4 cast members.System Requirements:Run Time: 50 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: HEALTH/FITNESS/EXERCISE Rating: NR UPC: 031398222651 Manufacturer No: 22265

Aimed squarely at young men, Maxim is a glossy magazine focused on beautiful women, slick gadgets, fast cars, sports, entertainment, and other male obsessions. In addition to scantily clad cover models and plenty of revealing photo layouts, issues include reviews of the latest movies, CDs, DVDs, and video games; articles on how to successfully seduce women; the latest styles and trends; and interviews with celebrities. Other regular features include jokes, trivia, a sex column, practical advice, a sports column, and more.

Aimed squarely at young men, Maxim is a glossy magazine focused on beautiful women, slick gadgets, fast cars, sports, entertainment, and other male obsessions. In addition to scantily clad cover models and plenty of revealing photo layouts, issues include reviews of the latest movies, CDs, DVDs, and video games; articles on how to successfully seduce women; the latest styles and trends; and interviews with celebrities. Other regular features include jokes, trivia, a sex column, practical advice, a sports column, and more.

I've been reading Maxim since about issue #3. I used to really enjoy the magazine: their witty remarks and interviews with the monthly babes and product reviews were both entertaining and interesting. However, I'm now letting my subscription run out. Maxim has went through something like 3 editors since I've been reading and the magazine is getting progressively worse.

Maxim used to taste test microwave and fast food-type items and give them real, insightful ratings/reviews...things like pizza rolls, pizza pockets, etc. Now there's a fictional person named Hiroki, who does tests on stupid foods. So instead of "One tester said, 'Red Barron pizza had a crispy crust, but was a bit greasy,'" we're left with "Hiroki said the edible panties, 'Taste like chicken. Yum.'"

I watched this video in mixed company and I ended up liking it much more than I thought I would. The movie is hosted by Melissa Keller, who is a cute-as-a-button blonde supermodel who wears a two-piece string bikini while she's hosting (which was OK by me), and Jake Johannsen, a bearded comedian who says the stupid sexist things that every guy is thinking, but that Melissa dismisses as she quickly cuts to the next scene.

Of the segments with bikinis, my favorite was the first where Marissa Miller and Melissa Keller both wake up early near Iowa cornfields - and wear gauzy see-through top swimsuits - where the girls might as well have been topless for all that was revealed. But the women soldier on despite the cold and lack of sleep, and they genuine appear to enjoy what they're doing, as do the rest of the girls in this video.

There's a nice segment with Anna Kournikova and Serena Williams also in swimsuits. Anna looked every bit as good in a white bikini as she did on the wall poster in my baby brother's room. And Serena looked like a younger - and just as sexy -- version of Tina Turner! She has Tina's great hips - and Tina's million dollar legs. (Must've come from all that tennis, huh?)

Product Description

SHAPE magazine is edited to deliver useful techniques and an understanding of fitness. Top experts from diverse fields of exercise, nutrition, psychology and beauty join forces with nationally known journalists to make each issue a how-to manual for a healthful lifestyle.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

I've been a subscriber for two years, but I'm not going to renew this time. There are some great things about this magazine. There's always information about eating healthy, and many of the recipes are wonderful. Another feature is the Diary portion, where the magazine profiles individuals who have turned to fitness and healthy eating in order to lose weight. It's the most inspiring part of the magazine, and it's great that the magazine focuses on real women, not just how to tell those in perfect shape to stay in shape.

I do wish that the magazine would have a bit more variety. I feel like I keep seeing many of the same exercises repeated over and over. I also wish the magazine would realize that not all of us are in to New Age spirituality. If you do choose to subscribe, don't be surprised to see the latest issue at the newsstand before it arrives in your mailbox.