9781422286722

M A R T I A L A R T S F O R W O M E N

WARNING

films such as Enter the Dragon (which featured the famous martial artist Bruce Lee), they attracted mainly male participants because of their macho image. In the martial arts, however, size and strength are not the deter- mining factors in who is going to win a bout . With two equally skilled players, the stronger one will have the advantage. However, if a begin- ner, no matter how strong or large, were to be pitted against a smaller, weaker, but more advanced student, the beginner would find him- or herself lying flat on his or her back, wondering what had happened. TIME, PLACE, CLOTHING, AND EQUIPMENT One of the advantages of the unarmed martial arts styles (as op- posed to armed martial arts such as ninjutsu ) is that their practice ( see pp. 19–25), any exercise is potentially hazardous for a beginner, who may not be aware of how far to push him- or herself. You should, as a matter of course, always consult your doctor before be- ginning a new type of exercise. He or she will no doubt encourage you, but may have special advice for you if you suffer from high or low blood pressure, diabetes, or if you are pregnant. Should you feel any dizziness, acute pain, or excessive tiredness while performing any of the techniques or drills in this book, stop immediately and seek medical advice. Although all the fitness techniques shown in this book are safe for an average fit person who has properly warmed up

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