Dr. Craig here; over the past 50+ years of speaking and training with martial artists, 32 years of interviewing and writing about martial arts and martial artists, whether one is into traditional training (internal and external), reality-based self-defense, combative sports or filmmaking, each understood the nature of inner power . Chi is the inner power, Chi is the key to the spirituality of martial arts, and Chi Gong (Qigong) and Chi Healing are two disciplines that directly work with Chi, where Chi Gong is about tapping into Chi for personal benefits, and Chi Healing is about utilising Chi to help others. You will learn to Control your Chi. My wife Silvia (aka The Chi Whisperer) and I have a cumulative experience of practicing Chi Gong 74 years and Chi Healing 72 years. With reflection, we want to share our learnings with the martial arts communities to broaden our fellow martial artists’ understanding of the way Chi works and to then apply the knowledge to reap the benefits from working with Chi. The Spirituality of Martial Arts Series will address how Chi is woven into the tapestry of a martial artist’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness, as to improve the health and martial arts proficiency of all our kindred spirits of martial arts. After earning a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois in the field of neuroscience, the Chi Whisperer became an established research scientist in the medical schools of Washington University, Yale and UCLA, and a senior research scientist at a pharmaceutical company. One of her many contributions to science was identifying a disease-causing gene and naming the protein product of the gene. In 1984, she decided to focus her martial arts energy and training into mastering one thing, Chi Gong, to the point where she developed one of the most amazing skills that barely one out of a million practitioners can do, read a person’s Chi (more on this another time). Everything she shares in the Spirituality of Martial Arts Series is her insights derived from her hard-core scientific training and her deep understanding of chi, which are presented in direct, straightforward writing. The Chi Whisperer on Fear Fear is an emotion, a basic survival mechanism. It’s designed to protect us and keep us safe. Fear affects our Chi profoundly. When chi is at work it flows. Adequate fear enhances our Chi flow. Excess fear causes Chi disruptions and imbalances. Overwhelming fear leads us to suppressing. The suppressing reverses (or stops) Chi flow as well as disengages us from feeling all feelings, including emotions and body sensations. These effects on Chi flow and feelings disconnect us from the situation that makes us overwhelmingly fearful in the first place. These effects also prevent our body and mind from coping with the situation. Thus, fear is in control of us. The suppressed fear manifests in our body into physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, heart issues, and digestive problems. Additionally, unchecked fear can affect mental and emotional well-being, leading to anxiety and other emotional/mental issues. Emotions are contagious, and fear, in particular, is a powerful emotion that can spread easily from one person to another. We are naturally primed to be fearful for whatever other people are afraid of. Our brain is very proficient in tapping into fear. It automatically focuses on fear and creates narratives to explain, justify and accept the fear, even adding more for us to be afraid of, now and in the future. The fear snowballs into us freaking out, paralyzing, panicking, and having panic attacks. If we are surrounded by people who are constantly expressing fear and anxiety, we may begin to feel more anxious and fearful ourselves, even if their fears don’t seem logical to us. This can lead to negative consequences, including difficulty sleeping, reduced ability to concentrate, and increased risk of developing anxiety disorders. This contagious nature of fear will make one’s un-checked fear not only hurt oneself but also others too. Additionally, other people's fear can also impact our behavior. For example, if a parent is overly fearful and protective of their child, this can prevent the child from developing important life skills and can also lead to a sense of dependence and helplessness. Exaggerated fear can be overcome. When we overcome our excess fear, it can be a very rewarding experience that can also boost our own sense of self-confidence and well-being. We can then help others to overcome their exaggerated fear. By supporting others and helping them to face their fears, we can build stronger relationships and create a more positive and supportive community. Different tactics have been used to overcome fear. Putting one in extreme danger over and over is a common method used to overcome fear. This method does not snap the person out of fearful tendency. It only overwhelms the person with fear, ending up learning to suppress fear; therefore, reverse Chi flow. Introducing small doses of fear at a time is a much more effective way of overcoming fear. The small doses are enough for one to be afraid, but not enough for one to suppress it. Also, constructive procrastination is also helpful to get one ready to face the fear. Using the combination of these two strategies allows the brain to recognize that the situation is not so scary, so that the brain stops making up scary narratives. Dr. Craig Before learning Chi Gong, I was facing life threatening situations daily for 22 years due to the terminal lung/digestive, deadly disease cystic fibrosis. I was raised by traditional Scottish parents where we were taught to never complain and to be mindful of our manners. I was unwittingly being primed to be a martial artist. Practicing martial arts, 30 pills/day and a painful lung-mucous clearing therapy called pats, enabled me to survive long enough to learn Chi Gong. My story has been widely publicized on national media and all over the internet. The medical establishment concurs that I’m still alive at 67 due to martial arts and Chi Gong. When the Harvard physiologist professor, Walter Bradford Cannon, coined the term fight or flight response in 1915, it was based on animal responses to threats. If he had added freeze to the line, it would have been more accurate for humans. I’ve seen many folks freeze under pressure and during fear. Fortunately, martial artists have learned self-defense, whether it works or not is another story, or we can at least run like hell without tripping and falling over ourselves. The longer I’ve lived, the more I’ve seen how fear daily affects martial artists. Many of us through rigorous training, developing a martial artist mindset, building confidence and discover how to adapt to different environments, when faced with fear, we’ve learned how to suppress, compartmentalize, or block it out. What we were never taught is that the energy of fear remains in the body, and the longer it hangs around, it become harder to get rid of and then it will manifest into major physical health issues down the road. Since we as a martial culture don’t complain about our circumstances, we would rarely or never admit that we were afraid; we’re supposed to man up, deal with it and get on with our lives. Old school. Let’s be honest though, at some time during our martial lives, hopefully we have the wisdom to recognise or admit that one or more from this wee un-wish list of fears will come, has already arrived, or is still lingering in the body. 1) Getting Old: With age, the fear of not being able to do what we were always able to do, can be disconcerting, frustrating, or even confusing. This can also introduce other emotions into the fold such as feeling ashamed, loosing face, and feeling not good enough. 2) Humiliation: For those competing in competition or combative sports open to the public, the fear of humiliation from forgetting a routine or getting beaten to a pulp in the ring is devastating that can result in damaged psyches and the same slew of emotions described above; shame, loss of face, plus feelings of failure and inadequacy. 3) Injury: Serious injuries can prevent us from training, which can lead to feelings of weakness that can compound fears of failures because we can no longer attain our goals. Then as we get out of shape, fears of not feeling good enough about ourselves grow. 4) The fear of all your self-defense training failing you in real life situations when you learn that you cannot defend yourself or your family during a real fight. Chi is the source of inner power and Chi flow is Chi at work. Fear not only affects Chi flow, but it also weakens the Chi. Working through fear will improve Chi flow and reduce the weakening of Chi. Though a healthy lifestyle, proper diet and physical training can improve one’s external power, it doesn’t make fear go away or make the inner power stronger. To strengthen the inner power, Chi, can only be accomplished by practicing proper Chi Gong. A key component of martial arts is resilience. By practicing Chi Gong a martial artist can increase one’s resilience from within and this would give a martial artist a better fighting chance to overcome fear and facing any new challenges with ease.

Is Samart Payakaroon the Best Combat Sports Athlete of All-Time? by Andrew Bryan There are relatively few people who can claim to be a world champion in multiple sports. Those that can tend to be combat sports athletes – purely because there is more overlap in skills between the two. We have fighters like Holly Holm, who held both boxing and a UFC title, then there’s the numerous kickboxing/muay thai cross over champions but perhaps Samart Payakaroon is the greatest example. Payakaroon might possibly be the best combat sports athlete to ever live, not because he was a champion in two sports, but because he is also uniformly considered the best fighter ever in one of them. Some would say Samart Payakaroon is the best combat sports athlete of all time. Samart Payakaroon’s career began in Muay Thai after being introduced to it by his brother Kongtoranee (who is himself a five division Lumpinee Stadium Champion). Samart is considered the best in a very old school way, he simply beat everyone he fought not named Dieselnoi. Muay Thai is such a competitive sport that undefeated fighters simply do not exist, whereas boxers can hide behind an undefeated record for over a decade, through carefully picked opponents, taking as little risk as possible – Muay Thai involves you fighting monthly against whoever happens to be there. As a result fighters do get good very fast as the best are always consistently competing with the best. So to have the long win streaks of Samart, a gainst the kind of names Samart beat is legitimately incredible. Perhaps his most legendary fight, against Dieselnoi, another all time great, was effectively lost media until it somehow resurfaced in the form of a VHS tape in a gym, and uploaded to the internet. This fight was much sought after for two reasons, one, it’s Samart vs Dieselnoi, come on. The second is that it’s one few fights Samart actually lost. Dieselnoi was almost unbeatable if your name wasn’t Wicharnoi. So to see how Samart would attempt to tackle such an opponent was intriguing. Samart was a fighter of such importance that a missing fight from his career was akin to the Holy Grail in Muay Thai. Samart’s style was built off careful, linear strikes like his frequently combination of the teep and jab, and a laser like left straight. His game was about off balancing and turning his opponent and shutting down their offence, not unlike Giorgio Petrosyan. Samart won the Lumpinee Stadium Championship at 102, 105, 115 and 126lbs, and was frequent recipient of fighter of the year and fight of the year awards throughout the 1980s. It was during the mid 80s that Samart saw himself making a career move, taking up professional boxing. There is a lot of overlap between Thai boxing and English boxing. The punching technique is the same, albeit with occasional differences in nuance brought about by stance. Thailand in particular has produced numerous boxing champions of varying quality, there are greats like Khaosai Galaxy and Srisaket sor Rungvisai – but equally there are a lot of fighters who pad up records against entry level opponents. Samart Payakaroon was unlike a lot of fighters in that he was actively competing in both Muay Thai and professional boxing at the same time, and ultimately got to the top levels in both. Samart Payakaroon won the WBC Super Bantamweight Title off Lupe Pintor and while defending it against Juan Meza we saw this iconic moment. Despite the constant claims of Muay Thai having no head movement, Samart Payakaroon delivers an incredible display off timing and defence against the career boxer. Then to immediately follow it up by dropping his opponent, it’s easy to see why Payakaroon was so well regarded. It’s fair to say that he was not the same level of boxer as Thai boxer. While Samart fought decent opposition in boxing, he was champion for a very short time and we never saw him compete against the top boxers of the 1980s. That being said what he achieved wasn’t some throwaway belt that everyone and their mum had won, he was a legitimate WBC champion in the 1980s back when title belts were still a more exclusive club. So the question remains, is Samart Payakaroon the greatest combat sports athlete? Last time I made the case for Giorgio Petrosyan on the grounds of his incredible longevity against a who’s who of fighters across multiple generations. Samart has a very different case, it’s not about longevity so much as it’s about sheer versatility. He won the big one in two sports, all the while being the best in the world at his main discipline, Michael Jordan couldn’t do it, and very few other athletes have even tried. For that, Samart Payakaroon could well be the best of all time.

As a general rule, strong style refers to ‘stiff’ offense in wrestling. Meaning that while an American wrestler like Stone Cold Steve Austin, would throw an open fisted punch while stamping his feet in an attempt to simulate a punch – a strong style wrestler like Katsuyori Shibata, would instead throw a legitimate forearm into your neck. by Andrew Bryan Copyright – New Japan Pro Wrestling In my article, ‘The Life and Times of Antonio Inoki’ I referenced his approach to Japanese pro wrestling, Strong Style. What actually is strong style? Today that is a question that is harder and harder to define, as professional wrestling has developed and cross pollinated significantly in the last 20 years. Strong Style can be a controversial topic. Some claim that it is needlessly dangerous. One particularly amusing take on strong style is the notion that it is only effective as a style if you acknowledge that the match is ‘fake’. The novelty comes from two people legitimately hitting each other as hard as they can despite the outcome of the match being pre-determined. For fans of hard hitting wrestling however, strong style is a purer expression of what pro wrestling is intended to be, and despite worries of injury strong style wrestlers simply don’t get injured at the same rates as more acrobatic, or WWE style wrestlers do. Today we will be discussing the history of strong style and shoot style wrestling in Japan, and how legitimate martial arts and performance merged to birth not only a new style of pro wrestling, but also MMA as a sport. The Beginnings of Shoot Style We have to begin with Shoot-Style Wrestling – which both as a sport and an artistic movement, is probably the most influential thing to happen to martial arts in the last century. For those who are still unsure as to why they are reading about professional wrestling on black belt magazine – professional wrestling has its roots in the British martial art Catch-As-Catch-Can or Catch Wrestling. While Catch Wrestling is a very real and very brutal grappling art – the nature of wrestling as a carnival attraction meant that over time wrestlers soon realised that there wasn’t much point in legitimately fighting each other every week, while also touring the country. The risk of injury and general wear and tear on the body made it a far smarter idea to simply ‘work’ the match. Two wrestlers would agree to a winner and would then essentially spar a match leading to that pre-determined outcome. At one point or another, one wrestler had the bright idea to hit his partner with a chair and from then on pro wrestling became far more about showmanship, and defeated the purpose of taking it easy on the body. One pioneer of wrestling in Japan was the German wrestler, Karl Gotch, a legend of wrestling with more moves named after him than you can shake a stick at. Professional wrestling and Japanese athletes is a match made in heaven. Many of the wrestlers that Gotch would train already came from martial arts backgrounds such as judo, sumo or karate. Those who are familiar with Rikidozan will know well that the sumo to pro wrestler pipeline is long and prosperous. This merging of skills was already resulting in something quite different from wrestling in the West. British wrestlers were known largely for their technical brilliance and submission moves – whereas American wrestlers were known for their variety of ‘moves’ such as powerslams, fireman’s carry drops etc. What was emerging in Japan, was the beginnings of what we know today as shoot style. There was still of course, a very strong influence from American style wrestling in Japan. With the JWA, as founded by Rikidozan, being a real melting pot of skills. The two main players in the JWA towards the end of its life were Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki. Two great wrestlers, with very different ideas, neither of whom particularly got along. The Founding of New Japan Pro Wrestling and the UWF It’s fair to say that Antonio Inoki was the trouble maker when compared to the far more diplomatic and political Giant Baba. Their ideological differences essentially came down to Baba believing that wrestling was more about telling a story, and Inoki believed wrestling should be a fight. While the wrestling in Giant Baba’s AJPW was certainly hard hitting – early New Japan was known far more for its punch. While the matches did tell story – there was less focus on ring psychology and narrative than what you would see in AJPW, and in truth, NJPW was considered the B promotion, possibly for that reason. Submissions were tight, strikes were hard and there were several instances of real life fights breaking out in the middle of what were supposed to be worked matches. Several of them involving the companies founder, Antonio Inoki, who was more than happy to slap someone if they were getting out of line or on his nerves. Karl Gotch vs Antonio Inoki at NJPW’s Debut Show. Copyright – New Japan Pro Wrestling New Japan was a breeding round for great shoot wrestlers such as Yoshiaki Fujiwara and Akira Maeda who were renowned for their excellent grappling skills. Yet New Japan was also a breeding ground for backstage drama that would make a cheerleading locker room proud. This caused a split from NJPW – and saw the founding of the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF) which took shoot style even further. Whereas you can tell old NJPW matches are in fact wrestling matches, matches in the UWF are sometimes down right hard to distinguish from legitimate fights. The UWF would produce several great pro wrestlers such as Minoru Suzuki, Masakatsu Funaki and Bart Vale. The more hardcore MMA fans will probably recognize all three of those names, for good reason. The UWF was created to be a more realistic alternative to AJPW and even NJPW. The wrestling looked real, the strikes were hard and it ended up being the progenitor of MMA as a sport. The UWF’s Successors and the Birth of MMA Unlike AJPW and NJPW which are active promotions to this very day, the UWF didn’t last long. It would ultimately splinter off into two main promotions. The UWFI, which was another short lived but very important shoot style promotion, and RINGS, which should be ringing a bell again for hardcore MMA fans. Headed by professional wrestler Nobuhiko Takada, the UWFI had a unique training program. Not only did it have professional wrestling training, with legitimate catch wrestling being taught by Billy Robinson himself, but it also had it’s own Muay Thai coach. It should come as no surprise that some of the wrestlers who were trained by the UWFI would go on to become mixed martial artists, the most notable example being the great Kazushi Sakuraba. Meanwhile there were two more shoot style promotions, RINGS, and Pancrase, which was founded by the aforementioned Minoru Suzuki and Masakatsu Funaki. Pancrase served as the first major mixed martial arts promotion, not only did it predate the UFC but had far more ‘complete’ fighters for the time. While the UFC was set up essentially to promote BJJ and featured single discipline fighters competing against each other in style vs style match ups – Pancrase was showcasing athletes trained in the art of Shooto. Shooto being the martial art created by Satoru Sayama (the original Tiger Mask) based off the pro wrestling teachings of Antonio Inoki and Karl Gotch. RINGS would itself eventually transform into an MMA promotion and would feature numerous shooto athletes. Early Japanese MMA is a sight to behold, not only because you can actually see fighters who were capable of both striking and grappling, something that the UFC didn’t really have in abundance until the 2000s – but because it also has some of the dumbest rules you can imagine. Rope breaks are about the worst part of professional wrestling – yet here they are in a legitimate sport. In Pancrase if you could reach the rope, the fighter putting on a submission had to let go. Also, because of its pro wrestling ancestry fights were contested without gloves and you weren’t allowed to strike with a closed fist. The most famous outcome of this was Bas Rutten working out how to palm strike his opponents as hard as possible. And It All Comes Full Circle Nobuhiko Takada, who headed the UWF would eventually dive in head first into MMA, playing a key role Pride Fighting Championships. Pride is probably the most influential MMA organization in the sports history. At its peak it was the top promotion, with the UFC being a distant second – with the likes of Cro Cop, Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva and the Noguiera Brothers competing there. Eventually Pride would merge with the UFC. Meanwhile the wrestling of New Japan and its ‘strong style’ would end up proving problematic. With the abundance of real mixed martial arts, Antonio Inoki sought to prove that his wrestlers were every bit as tough as MMA fighters. He started sending his fighters into MMA promotions to compete and more often than not they would lose. Not because they were lacking legitimate skills, but because they simply didn’t have the same level of experience in real fights than their opponents. This dangerously hurt the reputation of NJPW and ironically it was the influence of American wrestling, with larger-than-life characters and costumes that would ultimately bring NJPW back to the top. The likes of Hiroshi Tanahashi and Kazuchika Okada have kept NJPW at the top of the wrestling world today – yet they are quite different from Inoki’s ideals. So where does this leave strong style? It’s my belief that strong style as an art form proved to be very influential, but ultimately found its footing as another expression of pro wrestling. Whereas it used to be more about simulating a fight, in doing so it revitalized shoot style and eventually led to mixed martial arts. When these became more prominent, shoot style in a round about way became more like the rest of pro wrestling. It became more focused on telling a story, more focused on the psychological aspects of wrestling – but got their via the use of hard hitting, stiff offence. It became less about which fighter would win and more about which character was the toughest and who would prevail. There is a true irony that professional wrestling, an artform and sport built to save wrestlers from having to legitimately fight night after night – would eventually come full circle and lead to the founding of mixed martial arts, which has in turn injected new life into professional wrestling – and the cycle will continue forever. Copyright – New Japan Pro Wrestling

Like the Green Berets, the ninja operated in small bands in which each man was a specialist in some form of ninjutsu training. They had such a huge assortment of ninja weapons they were expected to master that it was only natural that some men became more adept at specific ninjutsu weapons. Nonetheless, they were still expected to be proficient in all the ninja weapons in their arsenal. They were highly skilled in the use of standard weapons like the sword, spear, and bow and arrow, of course. But it was the array of specialized ninjutsu weapons that made them such feared fighters. Ninjutsu Weapon #1: Shuko One was called a shuko . It was made of a small metal plate that slipped over the knuckles. It also had four spikes extending from the palm. Thus, a ninja could rake an enemy’s face with a front palm swipe or break his jaw with a blow with the back of the hand. It was also useful for gripping while climbing trees and walls. Whenever ninja started out on a mission, they invariably stuffed their pockets with tonki, a class of small weapons used primarily for escape tactics. It included a bewildering assortment of dirks, daggers, darts and throwing weapons. Ninjutsu Weapon #2: Caltrops Ninja used a particularly vicious item called the caltrop. When ninja were being pursued, a favorite trick to slow down the enemy was to strew a number of the four-pointed caltrops behind them. They were designed so that no matter which way they landed, one sharp point always protruded straight up. Since in those days the Japanese typically wore straw sandals, one step on a caltrop was usually enough to stop a pursuer. The caltrops were also spread around encampments or along castle walls and approaches to stop ninja spies from entering. Ninjutsu Weapon #3: Shuriken Shuriken were also an indispensable part of the tonki. They were star-shaped weapons held between the thumb and forefinger and tossed overhand or side-armed with a quick, spinning motion. Ninja constantly practiced throwing them at tree trunks, posts and other fixed targets. Accurate aiming and swift throwing eventually became second nature to them. Ninjutsu Weapon #4: Kyoketsu Shogei Another potent weapon was the kyoketsu shogei. It had a metal ring at one end of a cord and a double-pointed knife at the other. The end with the ring was thrown and wrapped around an opponent’s arm, after which the ninja pulled him close. They then cut down sharply with the curved knife edge across the enemy’s neck and followed through with the straight knife by thrusting upward into a vital spot. The ring could also be tossed around one leg so the ninja could pull their attacker off-balance and spring on him with the knife. Ninjutsu Weapon #5: Bamboo Staff An innocent-looking bamboo staff used by a seemingly helpless priest could be a powerful weapon when wielded by ninja. If attacked by a swordsman, they would suddenly stoop low and swing their staff along the ground with their right hand. Out would come a weight and chain that wrapped itself around the enemy’s leg. The ninja would then jerk him forward into the ground. Moving in quickly toward their quarry, they would slam the opposite end of the staff into the enemy’s head. Some bamboo staffs were equipped with small feathered darts at one hollow end and weighted with lead at the opposite end. Presumably going on the defensive by bracing themselves for a sword attack, ninja would suddenly flick their staff forward and let fly a dart in the enemy’s face. If the opponent ducked out of the way in time, the ninja would rush in for the kill, reversing their staff and clobbering the enemy on the back of the head with the weighted end. Ninjutsu Weapon #5: Explosives Interestingly enough, the ninja were also skilled in the use of explosives. They used smoke grenades, mines, and flashing balls to confuse their opponent while they escaped, as well as explosive arrows and firecrackers. Until gunpowder and firearms were introduced by Portuguese traders in the mid-16th century, the ninja were pretty much limited in the use of fire and smoke to signal fires. But they did develop a sort of gun made from bamboo that had a range of up to 60 feet. After the Portuguese arrived, the ninja also used derringers and other handguns. Ninjutsu Weapon #6: Bamboo Bows Arrows were a favorite weapon of the ninja, and they used all kinds, including explosive and poison-tipped ones. Their bamboo bows were small and light to make them easy to carry, but they were very effective. Much as American Indians shot flaming arrows into forts and log cabins, the ninja also had fire arrows. They used them not only to start fires but also to shoot into enemy ranks to frighten them and their horses. Part One: Ninja History 101: An Introduction to Ninjutsu Part Two: Ninja History 101: Spying and Assassination Part Three: Ninja History 101: Ninja Gear Part Five: Ninja History 101: Ninjutsu Training

As Heichichiro Okuse says, it was cunning and deception that gave the ninja the edge over their enemies. These traits were emphasized and sharpened during ninjutsu training. The ninja raised espionage to a highly developed art centuries before such training was given to cloak-and-dagger agents in Western countries. There were three main categories of ninjutsu training for espionage: toiri-no-jutsu, or the tactics of sneaking into an enemy's camp; chikairi-no-jutsu, or infiltrating enemy lines after the outbreak of hostilities; and ongyo-jutsu, or the ruses of escape. Ninjutsu Training Type #1: Toiri-no-jutsu The Iga school ninjutsu, one of the greatest ever developed, trained its members in 11 different toiri tactics for breaking into the enemy's camp. The first of them was called shikei-no-jutsu, or careful preparation for achieving one's aim. For instance, take a case where a ninja was handed the dangerous assignment of assassinating an enemy lord. The lord would be heavily guarded, both by samurai and his own ninja. It might be far too risky to attempt a frontal attack or a midnight break-in. With such difficult assignments, the ninja might fall back on cunning. In such a case, the ninja might proceed indirectly. He might, for instance, try to secure work at a local Buddhist temple. After winning the priest's confidence by hard and dedicated service, he would get the priest to recommend him to the lord as a servant. He would thus gain entrance to the lord's house through the front door, and when the chance presented itself, assassinate him. Katsurao-no-jutsu was a similar tactic. It involved sending secret agents for high official placement among the enemies. There were other counter-espionage practices developed for sending in spies and recruiting accomplices among the servants employed by an enemy agent. One of the more interesting aspects of the toiri tactics was the use of female agents, who were the feudal-age Mata Haris of Japan. Samurai and others in the employ of an enemy lord might be tempted with women or plied with liquor and money in order to win them over. Ninjutsu Training Type #2: Chikairi-no-jutsu The second category of espionage tactics was concerned with infiltrating enemy lines during battle. In such cases, the ninja acted in a role similar to that of the British commandos of World War II, sneaking behind enemy lines to disrupt their position and engage in guerrilla tactics. Geinyu-jutsu tactics involved such pleasantries as ambushing enemy soldiers, setting fire to their camp, stealing their supplies and setting false rumors afloat. In suigetsu-jutsu, ninja disguised themselves as enemy troops, mingling with them and causing confusion by any means possible. Joei-nin included ruses of sneaking into an enemy castle or camp at night when the main forces had left or when the troops were too exhausted to be alert. Hoka-jutsu was concerned with burning enemy installations, using as targets powder dumps, armories, warehouses, etc. It was important to set fire to as many places as possible at the same time to increase confusion. Ninjutsu Training Type #3: Ongyo-jutsu The third category involved escape. Here, the ninja gave full rein to trickery and stealth and gained the reputation of being superhuman. They were said to be able to disappear through walls, turn themselves into trees or rocks and live underwater like a fish. All of these had logical explanations, of course. Ongyo-jutsu was divided into two categories: those for hiding (inpo) and those for disappearing (tonho). The ninja were skilled at the art of camouflage. They would practice controlling their movements and holding positions for a long time so they might take on the appearance of a small tree or bush in the moonlight. In essence, they tried to give up their identity as human beings and become one with the object they were trying to imitate. Another intriguing aspect of this type of ninjutsu training was controlled breathing. They might so reduce their respiration rate that they would appear dead during a hasty inspection. This skill also allowed them to stay underwater for long periods and to breathe through reeds or bamboo shoots. Other tactics included blowing dust in an enemy's eyes or momentarily dazzling him by exploding flashing balls or firecrackers. The ninja were also taught to make use of any natural objects that might aid their escape. Nothing was considered too remote to be used, and special tactics were developed for all sorts of things. For instance, doton-no-jutsu was designed for hiding in or behind ground objects, such as ditches, mounds, holes, stone lanterns and statues. Carried to its extreme, doton-no-jutsu could also have its amusing aspects. For instance, during the war of the Imperial Restoration of 1867, a ninja hid his wife and mother from enemy troops by concealing them in a place where nobody ever dreamed of looking. He buried them up to their noses in sunken pots full of manure and then covered them with compost straw. Another tactic that could produce a chuckle when the ninja told tales of their exploits involved jinton-no-jutsu. This escape tactic involved the use of wit, disguises and small animals. Chased by guards, the ninja might pull a snake or frog out of their pocket and toss it at their pursuers, startling them for an instant. But an instant was all they needed to make good their escape. Did we overlook any obvious ninjutsu tactics? Is manure really the best place to hide your loved ones? Let us know what you think in the comments section. Part One: Ninja History 101: An Introduction to Ninjutsu Part Three: Ninja History 101: Ninja Gear Part Four: Ninja History 101: Ninjutsu Weapons Part Five: Ninja History 101: Ninjutsu Training

Welcome to Ninja History 101. During today's lesson, we'll be examining Spies and Assassins, Ninja Gear , Ninjutsu Weapons and Ninjutsu Training . But first, a brief introduction. Ninjutsu practitioners were called ninja, and they underwent rigorous ninjutsu training to become undercover agents of the powerful lords of feudal Japan. The ninja served as professional spies and hired assassins for their lords, who were constantly engaged in feuds with each other. The ninja excelled in a wide variety of mayhem. In some ways, they were the forerunners of Britain's World War II commandos and America's famed Green Berets. Like their modern-day counterparts, the ninja were skilled at infiltrating and working behind enemy lines. To achieve the skill needed to stay alive in such a dangerous profession, the ancient spies began their ninjutsu training early in life. Their remarkable ninjutsu training covered four general areas: ninja weapons, physical and mental training, poisons and special devices, and ninjutsu techniques for espionage and assassination. What seems so amazing to us is the careful thought and study that went into ninjutsu training. Ninjutsu training would almost certainly exceed anything given today to CIA agents or those of other espionage organizations. Great clans of ninja arose who developed the art and passed on its practices. By the time ninjutsu reached its height in the 14th to 16th centuries, there were more than 25 ninjutsu training schools taught by these clans throughout Japan. The sole purpose of the ninja schools was to produce a well-rounded murder machine. That they succeeded is shown by the remarkable range of the ninja's abilities. Truly, they were the ultimate weapon of their day. Part Two: Ninja History 101: Spies and Assassins Part Three: Ninja History 101: Ninja Gear Part Four: Ninja History 101: Ninjutsu Weapons Part Five: Ninja History 101: Ninjutsu Training

It's a testimonial to the ninja that Japan's 1964 Olympic team seriously considered using a number of ninjutsu training methods. Masaaki Hatsumi, one of Japan's few remaining ninja practitioners, describes the ninja of old as the perfect all-around athletes of their day — expert in running, jumping, swimming, climbing walls, long-distance hiking, throwing, etc. Of course, the ninja excelled in all the martial arts of their day, such as kendo, kyudo and naginata-do. They were also skilled in hand-to-hand combat, using wrestling and boxing techniques that were the forerunners of judo and karate. If a child were born into a ninja family, his ninjutsu training would begin during childhood. The art was handed down from father to son as a trade, and a number of great ninja clans arose. The secrets of those clans were closely guarded. The members of one clan would often be in hire of one lord and thus pitted against warriors in the employ of another lord. At such times, it always paid off to have a few secrets in one's bag of tricks that were not generally known to others. The ninja underwent rigid training to learn ninjutsu techniques at secret camps, usually set up in the mountains. The schools were scattered throughout central Japan, with most situated in Iga and Koga provinces. Daily ninjutsu training focused on becoming adept in the use of the sword, bow and arrow, spear and tonki. Close attention was also paid to wall climbing, river crossing and the use of special devices. They also learned how to become expert horsemen. Physical Ninjutsu Training The late Seiko Fujita, who claimed to be the 14th master of the Koga school of ninjutsu, said ninja could walk the 350 miles between Edo (now Tokyo) and Osaka in three days. To improve his walking speed and skill, a ninja practiced by leaning his body forward or to one side so he was forced to walk rapidly to maintain balance. Ninjutsu training also included walking with geta (wooden sandals) on ice to achieve perfect waist balance and silent treading. A ninja's sandals were specially cushioned with cotton cloth so he could walk and jump noiselessly. When walking around the side of a structure, a ninja pressed his back to the wall and stepped sideways to prevent detection. The ninja were also great second-story men. They were extremely adept at breaking into enemy castles and spent long hours practicing wall climbing. They also stressed leaping to be able to jump across rooftops and to avoid their enemies by hopping across chasms, over walls and fences, etc. Seiko Fujita claimed that ninja became such experts at leaping that many of them could jump more than 7 feet into the air — which would make them champion high jumpers even today. Mental Ninjutsu Training Ninja put just as much stress on the spiritual and mental aspects of ninjutsu training as they did on purely physical action. They had to have their wits about them at all times and work out complicated problems on the spot. They learned to sharpen their perception and insight, developing their instincts to a point that seemed almost superhuman. Heishichiro Okuse — perhaps the foremost authority on ninjutsu and the author of four books — wrote his last work on the subject, Hidden Ninjutsu: The Secret Thoughts and Strategies of the Ninja. According to him, they regarded nothing as impossible and scientifically applied brain power to every problem they encountered. He regards the nonphysical aspects of ninjutsu as the key to a successful career. One of the most interesting aspects of ninjutsu is kuji-kiri, or magical signs made with the fingers to assist them in self-control during moments of danger. Kuji, or the number nine, is said to be the most important number in Kikkyo (esoteric Buddhism) and Shugendo (mountain asceticism). In practicing kuji-kiri, there were 81 different ways the ninja could knit his fingers together. At the same time, he chanted Buddhist sutras, or maxims from the scriptures. The practice not only restored confidence and gave the ninja inner strength in moments of danger and desperation, but it was also supposed to hypnotize the enemy into inaction or temporary paralysis. It was something like the evil eye or the casting of a hex. Learn more in these posts: Part One: Ninja History 101: An Introduction to Ninjutsu Part Two: Ninja History 101: Spying and Assassination Part Three: Ninja History 101: Ninja Gear Part Four: Ninja History 101: Ninjutsu Weapons

Growing up as an Asian kid in Aurora, Colorado during the 80’s, was not an easy journey. Even in a great decade that brought us the Rubik’s Cube, Atari, breakdancing and the boom box – there was plenty of bullying and racism encountered by a young Asian kid. Was it racism? Was it bullying? Did it matter? It sucked, is the answer. Bullies often target kids because of their shyness (check), their different looks (eyes, nose and skin all checked) and their different customs (like the sticky rice I brought to school- check). Needless to say, I was a bully magnet. There was just no way to hide my face and because my family immigrated to America when I was four, we had little money to get the cool clothes (back in middle school, Izod shirts with the little alligators were so cool and you had to have the collar up to be a real prep). Yep, just paint that big bullseye right on my back. Or better yet, put it right on my flat nose. I heard all the jokes about my eyes. Kids thought they were being funny but inside, I felt it was wrong. Still, I let it go. The jokes were one thing but the physical bullying were where my brother and I drew the line. My brother ended up in a lot more fights than I did. He had a shorter fuse. He also had a nasty head and arm throw he learned from my uncle (a former member of the Special Forces unit that rhymes with heal). My brother used that move quite a bit, and it worked for him. For my last fight against a bully, I simply kicked the kid in the family jewels out of self-defense. But lets rewind this, like a Sony Walkman, and see how I developed that skill. Enter the Dragon “What was that?” was all I could think when I first experienced a Bruce Lee movie at the age of eight. Here was an Asian dude not taking any crap. Boy, I wanted me some of that. The way he moved, his confidence, his speed and his ferocity- I wanted all of that! He was muscular, he was dangerous and he was Asian; perfect. After months of begging to let me into a martial arts school (parents said, “no because we don’t have the money to pay for it.”) it turns out my dad was a black belt in Aikido. Aikido? What the hell is that? It didn’t matter, it was martial arts. My brother and I started training on Saturday mornings. We trained at seven in the morning and that was early for an eight year old who wanted to sleep in. My dad’s response, “what if you were attacked in the morning? You need to be ready?” Wise words from the sensei… I guess. Warm ups, break-falls, wrist locks, throws and meditation were on the menu. But where were my jump kicks, punch combos and the crazy cool kiai’s I witnessed in Enter the Dragon? Fast forward four years and I finally convinced my mom to take me to a martial arts school called Mile High Karate. It was her idea really; she found a coupon for two free lessons in the newspaper and asked if I was interested. Was I? Hell yeah! After my class, I was in love. Finally, here were the punches and kicks that I was looking for. Back fists, reverse punches and kicks…just like my idol Bruce Lee. This is it! Here was a place where I could escape the feeling of being different. The dojo was a place where it was okay to be Asian. In fact, I felt it was kind of cool to be Asian. With martial arts, I built my self-confidence. I think bullies can sniff out low self-esteem and low self-confidence and they often pounce when they smell it. I walked a little taller and looked people in the eye with my new found confidence, and you know what? The bullying diminished. It did not go away mind you (there was simply no way to hide the fact that I was different), it simply was less frequent. The confidence was a big boost to my life but bullies often liked to push the envelope. As kids, we are often told to talk to an adult if we are the victims of bullying. Well, where are the adults when you are walking home from school? Nope, the adults are not always there and then there is also the stigma of being a tattletale, basically a wussy. What about talking it out? This is something I tried and sometimes it worked but more often than not, it didn’t. How do you rationalize with a juvenile with issues? Sometimes mind games and verbal judo simply wasn’t enough. There were times when I needed to defend myself physically. Martial arts gave me the skills to protect myself when adult intervention and words failed. Live Your Best Life Through Martial Arts Bullies or not, my advice will always be to train martial arts – kids and adults. This will improve your odds of surviving bullies and many other life challenges. What art should you train? Any art will do. Find something close by so that you will continue to train. Find something low cost if money is an issue (there’s garage training and recreation centers). As long as you are training, your self-confidence and skills will improve (which are both potent bully repellents). Is training a going to stop bullies? No but it certainly helped me! My hope in writing this article is to one, shed light on the fact that kids get bullied and it is no fun. The more light we can shed on a dark subject, the faster it we can banish it. And two, to let anyone being bullied know that there are solutions and with empowerment through martial arts, life can get better. If this article helps ease the suffering of just one person, my time spent writing will be more than worth it. About the author: Dr. Conrad Bui (a former victim of bullies) is the co-founder of Tiga Tactics, a combatives consulting company. As a life-long martial artist, his credentials are as follows: 5th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and American Freestyle Karate, full instructor in Jeet Kune Do, sigung in Ba Gua Zhang Kung Fu, guru tua in Pentjak Silat Serak, sigung in Kuntao Silat de Thouars, guro in Kali, coach in Muay Thai and black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. He has competed in point sparring, Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He was also a bouncer in college and is currently a certified pistol instructor with the NRA.

Images courtesy of PFL When it comes to the world of combat sports, the Ali last name is synonymous with boxing. It’s pretty much royalty in the realm of The Sweet Science. In Biaggio Ali Walsh's next fight, he hopes to inch closer to pro. Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time, Muhammad Ali is a three-time heavyweight boxing world champion with 19 title defenses to his name. Ali’s daughter Laila is a two-division boxing world champion and went undefeated in 24 professional contests. The latest member of the family tree to step into the squared circle and make a name for himself is Nico Ali Walsh, Ali’s grandson. He’s 8-1 with 1 No Contest in his career. One member of the Ali family however, Biaggio Ali Walsh, is making a name for himself in a different space of combat sports. Biaggio is the brother of Nico and is currently 5-1 as an amateur in mixed martial arts (MMA). After splitting his first two amateur bouts, Biaggio was signed by the Professional Fighters League (PFL), with the plan that he turns professional in the league. Four straight knockout wins later, Biaggio is scheduled to compete in his fifth bout under the PFL banner, taking on Joel Garza Lopez at the upcoming 2023 PFL World Championship in Washington D.C. later this month. Should Biaggio leave DC with a win, it’s likely that he makes his professional debut next year. Speaking to the press during the 2023 PFL World Championships Media Day, Biaggio hinted at potentially making the jump. “God willing I put this guy to sleep in November, I’mma sit down with my coach and see what he thinks is next,” Biaggio said. “I like to listen to him, you know? I’m still a baby, he has so much more knowledge than I do.” The hard-hitting amateur currently trains at Xtreme Couture MMA in Las Vegas under the guidance of Eric Nicksick. Xtreme Couture MMA was founded by MMA legend and PFL commentator Randy Couture, and is home to world champion fighters such as PFL fighter and former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou, UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland, top contenders Manel Kape, Dan Ige, and many others. Biaggio himself, however, believes that he’s ready to compete at the highest level. “This is not a sport to rush in. But personally, if you were to just ask me individually, I think after this next fight, after I get the win, I think I’ll be ready to go pro.” Still, the former collegiate football standout maintains that he’ll defer to his coaches regarding his next steps. “Again, it’s not just me, I want to see what my coach thinks and pick his brain a little bit,” Biaggio stated. The first order of business for Biaggio and his team however, will be to get the W this coming November 24th. Don’t miss the 2023 PFL World Championship this coming November 24th, live on ESPN+ PPV.

Las Vegas, NV - UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Craig, held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, was a showcase of mixed martial arts prowess and strategic brilliance, culminating in a night full of surprises and memorable moments. In the much-anticipated main event, No. 9 ranked middleweight Brendan Allen faced off against No. 12 ranked Paul Craig in a high-stakes clash. Both fighters came into the match with impressive records, Allen at 22-5 and Craig at 23-4. In an intense and tactical battle, Brendan Allen defeats Paul Craig by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:38 of Round 3. Michael Morales and Jake Matthews went shot-for-shot for 15 minutes in the co-main event on Saturday. Morales defeats Matthews by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). Other highlights of the night included a strawweight bout between No. 9 Luana Pinheiro and No. 10 Amanda Ribas, offering a display of technical mastery and strategic depth. The middleweight matchup between Cesar Almeida and Christian Leroy Duncan, with Almeida being replaced by Denis Tiuliulin due to injury, also drew attention for its intense exchanges and strategic gameplay. The event was not just about the winners and the losers; it was a celebration of martial arts, showcasing the spirit, determination, and skill of all the fighters. The event left fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the UFC saga, as the outcomes of these bouts have set the stage for exciting future matchups and potential rivalries. As the dust settles on this thrilling night in Las Vegas, the UFC continues to prove why it is the pinnacle of mixed martial arts competition. Here are the detailed event results: Main Event: Brendan Allen defeats Paul Craig by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:38 of Round 3 Co-Main Event: Michael Morales defeats Jake Matthews by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Chase Hooper defeats Jordan Leavitt by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:58 of Round 1 Payton Talbott defeats Nick Aguirre by submission (rear-naked choke) at 0:58 of Round 3 Amanda Ribas defeats Luana Pinheiro by TKO (strikes) at 3:53 of Round 3 Myktybek Orolbai defeats Uroš Medić by submission (neck crank) at 4:12 of Round 2 Joanderson Brito defeats Jonathan Pearce by submission (ninja choke) 3:54 of Round 2 Jose Johnson defeats Chad Anheliger by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:49 of Round 3 Christian Leroy Duncan defeats Denis Tiuliulin by TKO (strikes) at 4:24 of Round 2 Mick Parkin defeats Caio Machado by decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Jeka Saragih defeats Lucas Alexander by KO (right hand) at 1:31 of Round 1 Ailin Perez defeats Lucie Pudilova by unanimous decision (29-27, 29-28, 29-28) Trey Ogden and Nikolas Motta ruled a No Contest at 3:11 of Round 3 Rafael Estevam defeats Charles Johnson by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

UFC Fight Night: Allen vs Craig, scheduled for November 18, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, promises an exciting lineup of bouts. The main event features top middleweight contenders, with No. 10 UFC ranked Brendan Allen (22-5) squaring off against No. 13 Paul Craig (23-4). Allen, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, aims for his sixth straight victory, while Scotland's Craig seeks a second consecutive win and a spot in the top 10 rankings​. The co-main event showcases welterweights Michael Morales (15-0) and Jake Matthews (18-6), highlighting Morales's undefeated record against the experienced Matthews​. Other notable fights include a strawweight bout between No. 9 Luana Pinheiro and No. 10 Amanda Ribas, and a middleweight matchup featuring Cesar Almeida and Christian Leroy Duncan, with Almeida being replaced by Denis Tiuliulin due to injury. Here is the Full Fight Card: Main Event: Brendan Allen vs. Paul Craig Co-Main Event: Michael Morales vs. Jake Matthews Undercard: Chase Hooper vs. Jordan Leavitt Undercard: Payton Talbott vs. Nick Aguirre Undercard: Luana Pinheiro vs. Amanda Ribas Undercard: Myktybek Orolbai vs. Uros Medic Feature: Jonathan Pearce vs. Joanderson Brito Undercard: Chad Anheliger vs. Jose Johnson Undercard: Christian Leroy Duncan vs. Denis Tiuliulin Undercard: Mick Parkin vs. Caio Machado Undercard: Jeka Saragih vs. Lucas Alexander Undercard: Lucie Pudilova vs. Ailin Perez Undercard: Trey Ogden vs. Nikolas Motta Undercard: Charles Johnson vs. Rafael Estevam The commentary team for this event is led by Brendan Fitzgerald, handling play-by-play duties. Providing color commentary are veteran lightweight Paul Felder and former bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz. The broadcast team also includes veteran octagon announcer Joe Martinez and Megan Olivi, who resumes her role as the lead correspondent​. This UFC Fight Night is set to take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas and will be available exclusively on ESPN+ in both English and Spanish. The prelims will start at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT, followed by the main card at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT

It's been nearly 50 years since the death of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, but his impact is still being felt today. Widely considered one of the most influential martial artists of all time, Bruce Lee's unique approach to fighting has influenced generations of practitioners and helped create an entirely new style of martial arts. Let's take a look at how Bruce Lee changed the world of martial arts forever. The Birth of Jeet Kune Do Bruce Lee was not a man who liked to be confined by rules or conventions. This was evident in his approach to martial arts, which he called "the art of expressing the human body." Rather than sticking to one style, Lee believed that the best way to fight was to borrow techniques from a variety of disciplines and combine them into a single, fluid system. This approach, which he called Jeet Kune do translated to the way of the intercepting fist , became his trademark and remained one of his lasting contributions to the world of martial arts. To this day, martial arts teachers have used his way to alter their courses and bring them to a whole new generation of students. The Jeet Kune Do Legacy Although Bruce Lee only lived to be 32 years old, his influence on the martial arts is still lives on. In addition to popularising martial arts in western culture, he also inspired countless people to take up the practice themselves. His unique approach to fighting which emphasised speed, agility, and practicality over rigid forms and rules paved the way for modern mixed martial arts (MMA) styles like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. Moreover, his philosophy that "the best fighter is not a boxer, Karate expert, or wrestler...the best fighter is someone who can adapt to any style" continues to be a guiding principle for many practitioners today. Bruce Lee's impact on martial arts is undeniable. He was a true pioneer who helped change the way we think about and practice fighting. Before Bruce Lee, martial arts was just a little genre of people, but after him, it became a way of life. Bruce Lee's movies were responsible for causing an increase in martial arts training and registration in the United States during the 1970s. The increased interest led to the explosion of more diverse martial arts styles such as Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and Aikido. Not only that, but there have also been major books published on Bruce Lee and his techniques, including " The Art of Expressing the Human Body" and "Tao of Jeet Kune Do. ” Representation for Minorities Bruce Lee's impact was not just limited to the martial arts world. He was also a major source of inspiration for minority groups who saw him as a representation of strength and success. In addition to being one of the first Asian actors to achieve mainstream success in Hollywood, Bruce Lee also fought against racial stereotypes and discrimination in the entertainment industry. His roles in movies such as "Enter the Dragon" and "Fist of Fury" challenged the prevailing notion that Asians were weak and subservient. Instead, he showed the world that Asians could be skilled and powerful. Bruce Lee's influence extends beyond the screen as well. He has been credited with helping to spread Chinese culture and values to the West. His 1972 film "The Chinese Connection" was instrumental in introducing western audiences to traditional Chinese music, cuisine, and language. In addition to all of that, this was the point that many adopted his Jeet Kune Do philosophy as a way of life. Bruce Lee's Influence on Media Bruce Lee’s influence on the media itself has been immense. He is widely considered to be the father of modern martial arts movies and has been an inspiration to countless actors and directors. His films have had a lasting impact on popular culture and have helped shape the way people think about martial arts today. From his humble beginnings in Hong Kong to his untimely death in 1973, Bruce Lee left a lasting legacy that has had a profound impact on martial arts and popular culture. He was a true pioneer who helped change the way we think about and practice fighting. His unique approach to fighting which emphasized speed, agility, and practicality over rigid forms and rules paved the way for modern mixed martial arts styles like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. Bruce Lee's Dedication to His Craft Bruce Lee was the type of martial artist that never let stunt doubles step in for him. This made him a role model to martial artists everywhere. He brought a new level of respect to martial arts and those who practiced them. His work in the film industry also inspired an entirely new genre which melded east and west cultures that is still wildly popular today. If you think about it, today we applaud people that do a couple of their own stunts. Bruce Lee would let his bones break and his blood flow, and would never let a stunt double take his place. In the 1970s, this dedication to the craft also led to a back injury. During filming, he was performing "Good Mornings." The exercise was made more challenging because it was done with extremely heavy weights. While he was exercising, he heard an audible "snap", and knew that something had gone terribly wrong. He had injured his back so horribly that the doctors thought that he would never be able to fight again, that too, if he was able to recover enough to live an otherwise normal life. Now, no one knows if it was his dedication or natural ability to heal, but Bruce Lee didn't just heal, he bounced back to his full potential! After that, he was able continue on with his career as if nothing had happened! The man has proved time and time again that he's a true legend. Something that most people can't even think about doing in their lifetime! All while he was dealing with the aftermath of the back injury, which was years and years of unimaginable pain, the man never let the world see his pain and continued to perform just as he would if he was 100% pain-free. What’s crazier is that he kept doing his job until the very last day, as he was rushed to the hospital while he was on set, recording the voiceovers when his condition worsened, and he eventually passed away. An Inspiration Lives On Not only did Bruce Lee make sure that he was representing minorities and fighting against discrimination, but he was also an inspiration to people all over the world. He showed that anyone, no matter their race or ethnicity, could be a skilled martial artist. He also proved that martial arts could be used for more than just self-defense; they could be used for self-expression and personal growth. His unique approach to fighting and his dedication to his craft continues to inspire people today! The Bottom Line Bruce Lee was a revolutionary figure in the world of martial arts. His innovative approach to fighting—which blended techniques from a variety of different disciplines—inspired generations of practitioners and helped create an entirely new style of martial arts. Even though he died over 50 years ago, Bruce Lee's legacy continues to live on through the lasting impact that he had on the world of martial arts.