Yearly Archives

2021

Sports & Recreation

Activities that Boost Creative Thinking

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The lives that we lead are by no means healthy. We are constantly under stress, overworked, and subjected to too much information every day. Aside from it not being healthy for our bodies, it is also bad for our brain too. It can become cluttered, and not able to perform its usual functions very well. Unless we take a step back and reflect on our lifestyles, we may not be able to do some creative thinking when we need to. But if you are sometimes blocked and unable to think outside of the box, there may be some things that you can do in order to clear up your mind and be as creative as you can be. Here are some activities that you can do to boost creative thinking.

Start Journaling

As we mentioned, the mind can very quickly become cluttered, because of the sheer volume of the data that it processes on a daily basis. It is then forced to clear up space on its own, which means that often important things go unnoticed and become forgotten.

However, if you keep a journal, you can help relieve some of the stress from dealing with unnecessary information, and keep your mind clear, which is very important for creative thinking.

Also, choosing a vibrant and colorful notebook can act as a visual cue for your brain and help in the process.

Exercise

Although we know it is important, most people forget just how important exercising really is. However, challenging your body, although it may be tough, can lead to overcoming mental obstacles. After a stressful day at the office, vigorous training may alleviate some of the stress, and shift your focus from the less important things to the things that truly matter to you. Also, your body produces hormones that cause you to feel relaxed and satisfied after your exercise, which is exactly what you need in your creative process.

Meditation

One of the ways that we clog our brains with unnecessary information is by never ceasing to put new information in. Even when we are taking a break from work, we are browsing the Internet, reading the news, and loading more and more data into our heads.

Meditation can be a good way of stopping the influx of data and allowing the brain to process all the things we have seen or heard that day.

Sleeping

Sometimes, mental or physical fatigue is too much to bear, and your mind and body just need a full recharge. This is why, when you are having trouble with creative thinking, you should always try taking a small nap, allowing yourself to restore some energy, and try again after waking up. It sounds too simple to work, but it has often proved to be effective.

Martial Arts

How to Start Practicing Martial Arts as an Adult

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A very common dilemma most adults are dealing with is whether their age could prevent them from trying something new – a change of career, picking up a new sport or a hobby, learning a new skill or a language.

Well, one thing is for sure – you can never be too old to start practicing martial arts.

In fact, it’s a great choice! It is beneficial for both your physical and mental health.

A lot of types and styles of martial arts you can learn with no age limit.

Here is what to consider if you are an adult beginner.

Consult your doctor first

Practicing martial arts is a demanding activity requiring a great deal of effort. You have to be sure your body can endure such physical requirements. A professional opinion is a must if you have a history of injuries or some serious medical conditions.

Set your goals

Have you always wanted to join martial arts after watching action movies? Are you looking for something that will make an impact on your body and mind? Do you want to feel stronger and safer and improve your confidence?

First of all, you should understand your motivation and consider your goals. That will help you choose the right martial art and school. Focus on what you want to achieve, make a list and prioritize your objectives (for example, weight loss, defense, flexibility).

Focus on your health

Martial arts classes make you stretch and use your body in so many new ways. Not only will you strengthen your muscles but you will also reduce your sensitivity to injuries in everyday life. Martial arts will impact your mental health by teaching you how to meditate and connect with your spiritual self. Through various forms of exercise, you will feel stronger and healthier every day. It is proven that exercise increases productivity in all areas of life. It can improve your brain function and slow down cognitive decline, thus reducing the risk of dementia.

Make a long-term commitment for best results

From white to black belt – that’s the path that everyone must take. Even the most experienced professionals have once been in your shoes.

You will slowly build upon your skills and achieve proficiency. Consistency is the key. It leads to habits that form the actions. Those actions lead to success. Commit to consistent training, be persistent and the results will come.

Adjust habits

Hard work will take up a lot of energy so you should make sure you are eating healthier and having enough sleep to recover. Active recovery is also recommended. Consider light exercise, jogging or swimming. This will reduce the risk of muscle strain and other injuries and will make you feel better than ever in no time.

Sports & Recreation

5 Most Effective Martial Arts For Self-Defense

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The most unfortunate thing when it comes to martial arts is that a great number of people only turn to them after they had a traumatic experience or felt that their life was in danger. Martial arts can serve as a skill to be used in self-defense, but they are also an incredible booster for our confidence and they teach us how to understand our bodies better.

When opting for a martial art it is important to understand yourself as well the martial art in question. Every martial art is unique in its own way, and different martial arts agree with different people. However, no matter which one you choose you can’t go wrong. You will soon see yourself performing acts that you once thought were meant only for the people in the movies. To help you make the best possible choice, we have compiled a list of most effective martial arts that will help you feel safe and prepared.

Krav Maga

Krav Maga, when translated from Hebrew, means contact fighting and it is one of the most popular forms of self-defense in the world.

The martial art, created by Imi Side-Or, is used by the Israeli Defense Forces as the official defense method.

Even though there are many variations around the world, in its basic form you can learn how to disarm someone with a gun or knife, but also grappling, striking, and kicking.

Aikido

Many will disagree with putting Aikido on this list. But, while some of us need to use martial arts for defending ourselves, there are people like prison guards, security detail, and police officers who have to use force all the time.

Aikido is good in that case because it cannot cause too much harm to the person you are defending against, but it can be good for restraining the opponent.

Of course, keep in mind that when it comes to Aikido, if you reach a professional level you can lock your opponent’s wrists and push them away easily, but only if your adversary is unskilled and has no other martial art in his/her sleeve.

Karate

It is only natural that Karate has found its place on this list.

Punching, kicking, blocking, and sometimes grappling are all parts of Karate, and can be very useful in self-defense.

Straight strikes, powerful punches and kicks are all benefits of this budget-friendly martial art.

Although there are those who claim this style to be very stiff in comparison to other martial arts who don’t use blocking as much, it can work wonders on your punches and kicks.

Keysi

Superhero and comic books fans will live this style since it was featured as one of Batman’s main moves in Batman Begins. This Spanish street fighting style is ideal for someone who is being attacked by several opponents.

Silat

Originally from South East Asia, this dance-like self-defense style is like no other. By using energy and manipulation of balance, this martial art is designed to confuse your opponents and potentially hurt their limbs.

Martial Arts

Is Muay Thai the World’s Deadliest Martial Arts?

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Almost every form of martial arts is considered deadly. There are countless disciplines where people use their skills and physical prowess to hurt each other. Whether it is offensive or simply in self-defense, many martial arts are considered lethal.

But which one is the most devastating?

Muay Thai is one to consider and is seen as one of the most deadly ways to take your opponent out of action. Professional Muay Thai practitioners have the ability to fight multiple opponents and can take you out in an instant.

So let’s see what makes it so devastating.

Muay Thai Origins

If you were not aware, Muay Thai is the national martial arts of Thailand. It dates back to the 18th century during the conflicts between the Burmese and the Konbaung Dynasty. Originally, it was a military way of fighting and it was used in hand to hand battles during the war between the Ayutthaya Kingdom Burmese-Siamese War.

It gradually became a spectator sport for people’s entertainment. Fights were usually held at shrines and the entire ceremony was considered as a form of a ritual. They also started holding Muay Thai fights during festivals and celebrations. People with deep knowledge of Muay Thai can also take advantage of fun88 รหัสคูปอง as today the sport is practiced almost worldwide.

The Art of Eight Limbs

What makes Muay Thai so effective is that it utilizes both punching and kicking techniques. The name itself translates as “Thai Boxing.”

Although similar to kickboxing, it is completely different as it utilizes different kicking and punching techniques and especially holding and clinching techniques.

Muay Thai is called the art of eight limbs as the fighters use both knees and elbows to deal devastating blows to their opponents. Muay Thai fights are so devastating that they rarely go to a decision as they mostly result in knockouts.

Originally, no gloves were used during fights but practitioners later started wrapping their hands in hemp. Actually there are different types of wrappings that are used today and it depends on the ruleset. For professional competitions, there is a set of special Muay Thai gloves that are used.

Muay Thai Competitions

Muay Thai is governed by the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand. Additionally, it is sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Thailand and the World Professional Muaythai Federation. The federation currently has 70 member countries with their president being elected at the World Muay Thai Congress.

This prompted the sport to be included in the SportAccord with IFMA. The requirements were that the name of the sport can’t include the name of the country, so it was officially renamed to “Muaythai.”

This allowed for the sport to be officially included in the International World Games Association and was represented in 2017 at the World Games. The University World Muaythai Cup was held in Bangkok in 2015 under the patronage of the International University Sports Federation.

Muay Thai is greatly utilized in MMA as many practitioners within the UFC and other organizations use it as their primary technique or one from their set of skills.

Martial Arts

5 Free Android Apps If You Like Martial Arts

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Even though you don’t quite realize it, but your smartphone saves your life on a daily basis. Well, not literally, but it does help you in many different ways. For example, with a few simple clicks, you can transform it into a mini TV and watch your favorite shows or movies. Or you can head over to Bet9ja Registration and explore all of its options. And even shop without leaving the house.

And even martial arts fans can now benefit from a few apps that can prove to be a complete game-changer. They can help you practice your martial arts and incorporate them into your daily schedule. What is more, they are free of charge.

Yummly Recipes & Shopping List

What can be a better app for serious martial arts fans than one filled with healthy recipes? It is universally known that the first thing you need to do when taking up a sport is improving your diet. With a better and healthier diet come better results. You will experience a boost in energy and perform better on your practices.

Interval Timer

One of the most attractive features of this app is its minimalistic design that helps you see the screen from afar.

It is perfect for interval training within a round system. Moreover, you have the option to save your presets, so you could quickly switch between different activities. It works great even if your music is on or if you are using your headphones because it can work in the background while other apps are active or if your screen is locked.

Furthermore, if you need any notification (audio or vibration) with this app you can have it.

FitNotes – Gym Workout Log

There is no better way to track progress of your martial art training session then by running a diary. And instead of a pen and paper, you can now use this free app.

Check out your daily workout logs by swiping between them or simply jump to a particular day with the help of the inbuilt calendar.

What is more, you can add comments and feedback so you can remember what you did wrong and what you did right during the practice.

There is also a rest timer that can be of help in between sessions during the workout.

Martial Arts – Skill in Techniques

The ideal app for a martial art rookie. It has all the basic steps, styles, and techniques that anyone can learn. Check out the picture gallery and learn kung fu, judo, or karate.

Martial App Wallpaper

Even though this app won’t help you improve your skills, you can find a cool picture to set as your background or lock screen.

Sports & Recreation

Recreational Activities – Going Beyond the Sports

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In terms of recreation, the elderly and the people leading a sedentary lifestyle are often encouraged to do some sports. However, recreational activities and sports are not the same. There is a lot of overlap between the two, as many competitive sports can be used as recreational activities, albeit with a more relaxed pace.

What Is the Difference?

A sport is a physically demanding activity that requires an individual or a team to compete against others while pushing their body and their skills to the limit for the purposes of earning money or entertainment. Granted, we find that this definition is somewhat lacking, but you get the gist.

Recreation, on the other hand, refers to everything we do for pleasure. It is something that is not work but play, in a way. You can still play football, go mountain-climbing, or use parkour to get to your favorite coffee place, but if you are not doing it to entertain anyone or to make some money, but simply for the pleasure of it or because you can, that is recreation. It is an important part of personal development and mental and physical health.

Recreational Activities That Are Not Sports

This is a wide category, so we are going to have to break it down. For the sake of simplicity, we have opted to divide these recreational activities into two groups: physically demanding and relaxed.

Physically Demanding

This is a category to which all martial artists and amateur athletes belong.

Martial arts that are not combat sports but are legitimate skills where no scores are kept are used here either for self-defense or to keep your body in top physical condition. We’ve already talked about some of the benefits of martial arts for the elderly in another piece, which you can read here.

Hiking, jogging, riding a bike, playing Frisbee in the park, and walking your dog, for example, are all activities that do require some physical exertion. This is not the level of exertion you would find on an average sports field, but it is something that gives us pleasure and keeps us healthy.

Workout programs and different practices that are not about competitive results but rather your own well-being, like yoga, pilates, and tai-chi are also physically demanding recreational activities that have nothing to do with sports.

Relaxed

There are many recreational activities where you don’t have to move a finger, figuratively speaking.

Hobbies like reading, fishing, playing video games (despite the existence of eSports), chess, cards, and board games have more to do with taking care of your mind, rather than your body.

Meditation is a practice in many religions and personal philosophies where you tune out the world, which helps put things in perspective. Think of it as taking a deep breath when you are stressed, but doing it properly and not trying to fit an hour of relaxation into 20 seconds.

What Does This Mean

Sports are great for your health and can be used recreationally and not just competitively. However, doing sports is not the only form of recreation that is valid. Anything that gives you pleasure and is not self-destructive (this is important) can be used as recreation. Bonus points if you can make it benefit your body and/or mind. Don’t overdo it.

Sports & Recreation

Fun Sports Activities one can Start Even as an Adult

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Learning as a child is much easier than when you are an adult. This is a general rule and usually goes with every skill or practice. But it is not impossible for a full-grown adult to learn something even if they are absolute beginners during a certain point in their lives.

Sports are specifically good for an adult to start. Mainly because they are healthy and they allow you to keep fit. It does not matter if it is easy or not. The point is to start doing something as it will greatly benefit you and may even prolong your life.

But which sport should one choose? Here are some prime examples.

Longboarding

Skateboarding is a very fun sport. It is even being added to the upcoming Olympics as a new sport. Therefore it is the best time to try it. But skateboarding can be a bit hard for certain people. Doing tricks is the idea behind skateboarding but those can be really difficult if you are not into it as much.

So longboarding is the next best thing. You can’t perform flips or kicks with a longboard, but you can ride on it anywhere you want. It builds up your core strength, allows you to add muscles to your legs, and is generally fun.

Basketball

Basketball is an international sport. To start with it you only need a ball and a good pair of shoes. There are basketball courts, inside and outside ones, almost everywhere so it has become much easier to start playing it than before.

Gather your friends and start hooping.

Full-court basketball may be a bit difficult at first as it requires more stamina. But street basketball is quite enough. You can play 3 vs 3 and get all the exercise you need. It is as competitive and great to both play and watch.

Swimming

If you don’t know how to swim, it might be high time to learn. Actually it is never too late.

But if you do it is time to get those muscles to use.

Swimming is considered as the healthiest sport that you can pick up. It allows the whole body to develop naturally. That is why swimmers are probably the most good looking athletes on the planet.

Swimming pools are available everywhere today so simply start making rounds and timing your laps and in no time you will build up the conditioning you need.

Rock Climbing

Spending a day in nature is a great activity that you can do. Spending it by climbing up a hill is even better. This is a really fun activity and there is absolutely no age limit for it. You do need strong arms though and the ability to overcome a fear of heights.

Sports & Recreation

Health Benefits of Playing Sports

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We hear the mantra all the time – playing sports is healthy. The problem is that most of us are quite unaware of how sports affect our health. In fact, not all sports have the same impact. Some would increase our stamina, and others would positively affect our metabolism.

However, there are some things that are universal. Let’s take a look.

A Better Heart

Overall, your heart will pump better, increasing its health and prolonging it. People who exercise and play sports generally have less heart-related diseases.

Reducing Diabetes Risk

When we are not playing sports, our body tends to be confused by the insulin spikes. As soon as we set going, the insulin hormone is balanced, thereby lowering the risk of diabetes.

You Can Lose Weight

This one goes without saying – you are likely to lose weight if you are switched on. However, food intake is also an important factor. Overall, people who casually play sports are more likely to look better and avoid obesity.

Reducing Hypertension Risk

Hypertension can be dangerous, and it can even lead to heart disease or a stroke. When you play sports, your body protects you from high blood pressure by maintaining your heart health, blood, and body fat.

Cholesterol Balance

Cholesterol is one of the main reasons why we get hypertension and other similar diseases. Playing sports lowers the levels of cholesterol and keeps us overall healthy, making all the bad cholesterol go away and leaving you with just the good one.

Blood Flows Better

Cholesterol often causes the bad blood flow which can eventually lead to a heart attack. However, when you play sports, you make your body well-oxygenated, and the blood circulation is significantly improved.

Stronger Immune System

A weak immune system means that you are more likely to get attacked by viruses and it would be more difficult for you to fight them back. A strong immune system is self-sufficient, and you do not need to go to the doctor and drink antibiotics as much – your body will take care of the viruses for you. Sportspeople are known to be very healthy and do not get sick often.

Stronger Muscles

Stronger muscles will give you the power of doing physical things with more ease. Every sport strengthens the muscles, but not all will strengthen them equally. In fact, you need to choose an appropriate sport if you want to train a particular muscle group.

Stronger Bones

Bones that have higher bone density are stronger, and sports is the #1 way to maintain the strong bones. That will keep your body agile and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

Reduces Risk of Depression

Some people have constant depression, while others get depressed when things do not go their way. One thing is sure – depression can be lowered and even cured with moderate sports activity. We constantly release dopamine when we play sports, and this is what eventually makes us happy. If the sport is competitive and we win, that’s a big plus.

Better Discipline

Finally, you will start to value your time and better organize it. When we are playing sports, we are inspired by our achievements and always want to become better by devoting time and discipline to that sport. It means that other areas of our lives become more organized as well.

Sports & Recreation

Football Fans Guide to Football Stadiums in Europe

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If you are a football fan, you are probably already familiar with the fact that this noble sport originated in England and quickly became #1 entertainment on the Old Continent. It soon spread worldwide, and people from every part of the Earth accepted it and fell in love with it.

However, its cradle is still Europe, and it seems that Europeans have a specific passion for it – especially when it comes to nurturing the culture that revolves around football.

Stadiums of Europe are the epicentres of the biggest football events in the world. Here are some of the most famous stadiums.

Camp Nou

Barcelona is a beautiful city with a rich history and amazing architecture. Apart from the Gaudi’s buildings, another important architectural giant is Camp Nou, home to Barcelona Football Club. It is probably the biggest stadium in Europe, and it can take a total of 99,354 spectators. If you happen to be in Barcelona during a home match of the club – feel free to visit it and feel the thrill.

Wembley

Wembley is the national stadium of the English football team. However, with a slightly different history, the stadium grabs as much attention – it is the stadium on which many celebrities are doing their concerts, some of which are pretty memorable as well. The stadium can take up to 90,000 people and is one of the many stadiums that you need to visit when in London.

Stade de France

The French had their national stadium built way before the English (Wembley was built in 2007, Stade de France in 1998). The stadium was initially built for the purpose of playing the FIFA World Cup finals in 1998 on this very stadium. However, they also use it for various other purposes, including the Rugby World Cup finals.

Santiago Bernabeu

The eternal enemy of the FC Barcelona is Real Madrid, a football club coming from the capital of Spain. Their stadium is called Santiago Bernabeu, and it takes up to 81,044 spectators. It is also home to the national football team of Spain. The same goes as for Camp Nou – if you are in Madrid, this is one of the architectural wonders that you must visit.

Luzhniki

The original name of Luzhniki is Central Lenin Stadium, and it was opened in Moscow back in 1956. At the moment, it takes up more than 80,000 spectators and was the main stadium of 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia. At one point, the attendance of the game between the USSR and Italy in 1963 was more than 100,000.

San Siro

Italy also has its stadium-representative, and it is home to AC Milan from Milano. It is actually a really old venue, built back in 1925. However, Milan is not the only club to use this venue. In fact, Inter Milan also uses it for official games. When the two teams play – you are up for a great atmosphere in a duel called Derby Della Madonnina. The stadium takes up to 80,000 spectators.

Martial Arts

The Best Martial Arts Online Games

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Martial arts are everywhere. We see them in movies and read about them in the papers. It was only a matter of time when game creators would start focusing on these ancient fighting techniques and start exploring them through various genres, especially in games.

It all started with the games that are now considered legendary, such as Mortal Kombat and Tekken. This paved the way for a lot of other sub-genres that gained worldwide popularity.

One of the sub-genres is online games that focus on martial arts. As there are many people who enjoy playing games in their browsers, especially if there are some free spins available, game producers are trying to make an online game about almost everything you can imagine. Let’s see which martial arts games are the most popular!

Dragon Ball Z Online

Dragon Ball Z is the famous Japanese manga-turned-anime created by Akira Toriyama. In this game, you can play various characters and go through the adventures that Goku went through in the anime. The game has this MMORPG feel where you can choose different classes and races as well. It was published in 2016 and immediately gained a huge number of followers.

Naruto Online

Bandai Namco Entertainment took inspiration from other anime which is as popular as DBZ – Naruto. Just like Dragon Ball, this game also features some of the popular Naruto characters and has a unique fighting system. Published by OAS Games, Naruto Online was released back in 2016, and it is made in the MMO style with the levelling and experience system.

Mortal Kombat Online

The beauty of the Internet is that we get to return to the past and play some of the games that we used to like very much. This is the case with the legendary game Mortal Kombat – you can play all of the previous versions of it via your browser acting as an emulator. Just go to this website and choose your favorite Mortal Kombat game – you will not be disappointed. Play as Sub-Zero, Raiden, Shiva, Johhny Cage, and all the legendary characters that appear in the series.

Tekken Online

Tekken is yet another legendary game that became popular through various consoles such as NES, SNES, and PS1. You can play these for free and remember the good old days when martial arts were a must feature of a great fighting game. Choose one of the famous heroes such as Yoshimitsu and fight your way through the forces of evil. The system for playing Tekken Online is the same as for Mortal Kombat – there is a website which acts as an emulator for all of these games.

Conclusion

Many would claim that these type of games teach us nothing but violence. That is a far cry from being true. In fact, it is how we raise our kids to perceive violence is what makes them violent. If you show them these games as an instruction to self-defence and a way to learn new moves in judo – you did a great job as a parent.

If you are not sure whether your kid should play these, you can always play them yourself since most of them are just a few clicks away and available to you for free.