Dancing with Fire's definitions

al Qaeda

A militant Islamist organization, formed by Osama bin Laden in the 1990s, that has adopted takfiri doctrines and has declared jihad against all Westerners and their Muslim supporters.

al Qaeda is most known for their attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

by Dancing with Fire January 16, 2011

Karate

Karate may be defined as a weaponless means of self defense. It consists of dynamic offensive and defensive techniques using all parts of the body to their maximum advantage. Karate practice is divided into: Kihon (drilling of stances, blocks, punches, strikes and kicks), Kata (pre-arranged forms simulating combat situations), and Kumite (sparring). In each category, the beginner is given instruction at the most basic level until the techniques become spontaneous. As the student progresses technically, he or she progresses physically as well, and advanced practices demand greater stamina. At this stage, the student becomes involved with more intricate and difficult katas and more dynamic forms of kumite. As the student approaches black belt level, technique, stamina, speed, and coordination become natural as a result of strong practice. It is at this stage that the serious student discovers that his or her study of karate has only just begun. The object of true karate practice is the perfection of oneself through the perfection of the art.

Karate is one of the most dynamic of all the martial arts. A trained karateka is able to coordinate mind and body perfectly, thereby allowing the unleashing of tremendous physical power at will. Therefore, it is not the possession of great physical strength that makes a strong karateka; rather it is the ability to coordinate mind and body. Upon developing this ability, even the smallest person finds that he or she has within himself or herself the power to deliver a devastating blow to any would-be attacker. In our everyday lives we often forget the value of exercise to both our physical and mental health. The practice of karate tones the body, develops coordination, quickens reflexes, and builds stamina. Also, the serious practice of karate develops composure, a clearer thought process, deeper insight into one's mental capabilities, and more self-confidence. In this, karate is not an end, but a means to an end. It is an activity in which advancing age is not a hindrance. Rather it encourages proficiency in the keen coordination of mind and body.

by Dancing with Fire January 16, 2011

Taliban

(Ar. Students) Islamic fundamentalist militants who came to power in Afghanistan in 1995 and were expelled from the country a few years later by American and native forces.

The word “Taliban” comes from the Arabic word talib, which means “student.” The organization was founded by Mullah Mohammed Omar, an extremely enigmatic individual who went into hiding in 2001 after the organization's fall from power. Members of the Taliban were originally religious students who developed a very conservative interpretation of Islam and the Sharia, or Islamic law. During Afghanistan's long and bitter civil war, members of the Taliban began a slow rise to power, and the group ultimately took control of most of Afghanistan, promising to put a stop to infighting between various bands of mujahideen, or groups of soldiers led by warlords, to make Afghanistan a safer place.

by Dancing with Fire January 17, 2011

Krav Maga

Krav Maga is a self-defense system developed by the Israeli army. In Hebrew, the Krav Maga literally means "contact combat." Developed by Hungarian boxer and wrestler Imrich Lichtenfeld in the 1930s, the technique was first used by Israeli underground paramilitary organizations such as Haganah. When Israel became an official country in 1948, Lichtenfeld was appointed Chief Instructor and Combat Trainer for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Since then, Krav Maga has spread, and it's now practiced in over 30 countries around the world. At first view, Krav Maga may look like a martial art, but it's actually a form of combat with no rules and no limitations. Martial arts such as Judo, Karate, and even wrestling are considered sports; Krav Maga, on the other hand, is a regulated form of combat. In fact, the point of Krav Maga is to take the enemy down as quickly as possible. Some teachers of Krav Maga explain it as "the art of going home alive," which means that groin strikes, choking, and headbutts are considered acceptable moves.

In addition to using their bodies to fight, practitioners of Krav Maga are taught to use the environment as a weapon. This means learning to use any object nearby, from bottles to baseball bats, as a gun-substitute. The objective of Krav Maga is to avoid injury in real-life scenarios, such as fights, street attacks, and violent encounters. Advanced students of Krav Maga learn to defend themselves from gun and knife attacks, multiple attacker scenarios, headlocks, and ground fighting. Most self-defense classes today teach some variation of Krav Maga. Military training in Krav Maga is more extreme, including manual killing techniques, defense against grenades, and disarmament of the enemy. All military and police offices in Israel are trained in Krav Maga, and so are many Special Forces Units around the world. In the US, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Marine Corps, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Anti-terrorism Specialty Team all learn Krav Maga as part of their physical training.

by Dancing with Fire January 18, 2011

Boxing

Boxing is often labeled as old-school in nature. The perseverance and mental fortitude required from a successful fighter is unique from other sports. When a boxer demonstrates courage and tenacity inside the ring, he is often labeled as a "throwback" to the golden days of boxing.

Boxing is an explosive, anaerobic sport. The act of throwing punches, round after round, while contending with an attacking opponent is a daunting task. It is perhaps the most physically demanding sport of all. The sport has been estimated as approximately 70-80% anaerobic and 20-30% aerobic. Anaerobic means to conduct an activity without oxygen. Anaerobic exercise, like boxing, stresses the muscles at a high intensity for short periods of time. As a boxer, one must punch, slip, and block with split second movements and reactions. A boxer must be prepared to fight with intensity, round after round. The body must be conditioned to throw the same explosive punches in the last round that you started with in round one.

by Dancing with Fire January 19, 2011

Cybering

Internet "sex" in chat rooms. Cybering + roles = roleplaying. Usually guys, fat chicks, or old men pretending to be women cyber when they can't get laid in real life.

M4F4RP: Hey sexy
DetailedRPGirl: Hehe hey
M4F4RP: Want to cyber?
DetailedRPGirl: Sure. What roles?
M4F4RP: You do hot sister brother rps?
DetailedRPGirl: Ewww. I'm not cybering with you. Bye.
M4F4RP: Wait!!
M4F4RP: What roles you into?

-DetailedRPGirl ignores M4F4RP

M4F4RP cries like a bitch.
M4F4RP hits up 30 women in the AdultChat but doesn't receive any responses.
M4F4RP kills himself.

by Dancing with Fire January 20, 2011

Kickboxing

Kickboxing is a martial art which was made for beating Muay Thai by Japanese boxing promotor Osamu Noguchi in 1950. Opponents are allowed to hit each other with fists and feet, hitting above the hip. Using elbows or knees is forbidden and the use of the shins is seldom allowed (except in Thai boxing, where the knee is also allowed).

Forms of kickboxing include:

- Pradal Serey (Khmer kickboxing) = A predecessor of Muay Thai

- Muay Thai (Thai boxing/kickboxing) = Strong emphasis on knee and elbow strikes

- Savate (French kickboxing) = Allows the use of shoes

- San Shou/Sanda (Chinese Kickboxing) = Takedowns and throws are legal

- Lethwei (Burmese Kickboxing) = Any part of the body may be used to strike and be struck

- Japanese kickboxing = Similar to Muay Thai, but different point system is taken

- Full Contact Karate (American Kickboxing) = Most of the time padding and in some cases body armour is used

- Shoot boxing = A Japanese form of kickboxing which allows throwing and submission while standing similar to San Shou

by Dancing with Fire January 20, 2011