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Answering the Question - How Can I Jump Higher?

2009-03-04T20:03:00.001+07:00

As someone who has a fairly decent vertical, I often get ask the
question by other athletes, how can I jump higher? In this article I
will go over some simple but helpful tips that anyone wanting to jump
higher can use to make that happen. To be honest answering the
question of how can I jump higher can get rather complicated depending
on who you are talking to, but I am going to break it down for you a
simple as possible.

Increasing your ability to jump higher can be done and be done in a
relatively short period of time, but there are some things that you
must take in to consideration.

1. It will take a lot of hard work and dedication. Not being
determined and consistent will indeed lead to a failure when trying to
add some inches to your vertical.

2. How you train. There are hundreds of different jump higher programs
out there that all have their own special way of training to increase
one's leaping ability. The truth is, many of these jump higher
programs are full of a whole bunch of unnecessary exercises that maybe
good for cardio but does nothing for your vertical, although there are
some really good programs out there that really give athletes exactly
the information needed to succeed in their training goals.

3. Nutrition is so important. Many people look surprised when they ask
me how can I jump higher?, and I tell them that what and how you eat
is just as important as the exercises that you do. When training to
jump higher you should be on a nice healthy diet that includes a good
amount of protein, fruits, vegetables, healthy carbs and a good
multi-vitamin.

If you are really looking to put on some serious inches, I would
honestly recommend getting a good vertical jumping program. Look for
one that is simple to understand and that has real credibility. A good
program can make all the difference in the world.

If you do not want to invest in any jump higher programs, here is a
simple little training that you can do to increase your vertical.

On Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays

- Calf Raises 3 sets of 25

- Donkey Calf Raises 3 sets of 25

- Leap Ups 3 sets of 12

- Squats 3 sets of 12

On Tuesdays and Thursdays

- Sprints 50 yards 4 times

Be sure to stretch before doing any of these exercises.

Hopefully this article helped you to answer the question of how can I
jump higher?

Pro and College Sports Venues Near Military Bases

2009-03-03T00:55:00.001+07:00

It's no secret that service members love sports: from NFL football to
NASCAR, service members, much like the civilian population, which has
a love affair with both college and professional sports. It's a fair
bet that wherever you are stationed this February, you'll be able to
watch the two best teams in the NFL play in the Super Bowl.

Professional sports teams appreciate the fan base they have in the
military and some clubs offer military discounts to service members.
And many of America's military installations are not far from stadiums
where championship sports are played.

Here's a sampling:

Hanscom Air Force Base: If you're lucky enough to be stationed at this
Massachusetts base, you're just a hop and a skip from Boston and
legendary Fenway Park, which is home to the Boston Red Sox. Fenway was
built in 1910 and is a charming place to watch a baseball game. The
park is nestled right into the city of Boston, so you can take a
subway car to the game and take in the atmosphere of the city.

Los Angeles Air Force Base: This is the only active-duty Air Force
base in the L.A. area. Football fans can easily visit the Rose Bowl in
Pasadena, where many classic college and professional football games
have been played. The stadium, of course, hosts the traditional Rose
Bowl college football game each Jan. 1, but it's also the home stadium
of the UCLA football team, which plays powerhouses like USC each year.

Naval Station San Diego: Sailors can head over to Qualcomm Stadium,
which is home to the San Diego Chargers football team and the SDSU
Aztecs football team. The stadium is owned by the city of San Diego
and has hosted a number of Super Bowl games. The stadium was built in
1967 and the Chargers are friendly and supportive of the military
community.

Fort Lewis: Soldiers stationed at Fort Lewis are close enough to
Seattle to enjoy all the city has to offer, including two new sports
stadiums. In the last several years, both the Seattle Mariners
baseball team and the Seattle Seahawks football team got new stadiums
after the old Seattle Kingdome was demolished. The dome was not very
well loved, and certainly a poor place to play baseball. The Mariners
now enjoy playing at Safeco Field while the Seahawks are settled into
their home at Qwest Field

Pearl Harbor: On the island of Oahu in Hawaii you've got Marines,
Sailors and Soldiers living relatively close to each other, and the
only sports facility worth talking about is Aloha Stadium. Long known
as the home of the NFL Pro Bowl, this one-of-kind facility is home to
the University of Hawaii football team and serves as the place for
just about anything you could imagine in the Honolulu area. Whether
it's a swap meet, concert or football game, service members will enjoy
a trip to Aloha Stadium.

Active-duty service members should present their military IDs and
identify themselves before they purchase sports tickets; there's
always a chance an organization has military personnel discounts.

Bow and Arrow: the Main Equipments You Must Secure to be Able to Play Archery Posted: Feb 12th, 2009 | Comments: 0 | Views: 12

2009-02-24T19:42:00.000+07:00

Archery has become one of the most well-loved sports. It is actually the art of shooting. But unlike with several sports that you need a ball to do the shooting and all, with this sport you won't be needing a ball but instead an arrow.

The main equipments one needs to be able to play Archery include a bow and an arrow. Generally, a bow is a weapon that projects an arrow while an arrow is a slender, straight pointed projectile made to be shot from a bow; usually with feathers at the shaft end.

Basically, there are two main types of bows. First type can be drawn by directly pulling the string and second type still needs a mechanism for its string to be pulled. Each type then can be further divided based on variations in the limb construction method.

A lot of people prefer using bows that can be drawn by directly pulling the string than bows that still need a mechanism for its string to be pulled. Mechanically drawn bows usually have other mounting or a stock such as the crossbow. Typically, they are not confined by the strength or power of one archer.

Arrows on the other hand, come in types too. Basically, arrows can be classified in terms of the material used. Normally, material used for the shaft is the determining factor. Materials often used for the shaft include aluminum alloy, solid wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber or carbon/alloy composite.

Arrows with shaft made of wood are known for being highly prone to distortion. Arrows with shaft made of fiberglass although are more easily produced to unvarying specifications are actually breakable. Arrows with shaft made of aluminum are known for being perfectly straight, durable, and efficient to use and so became the most favorite type some time in the 20th century. Arrows with shaft made of carbon fiber are very light and in the past have exceeded popularity of arrows with shaft made of aluminum. Finally, arrows with shaft made of carbon/alloy composite are more effective in projecting an arrow and so became very popular at Olympic Events.

Aerobic Exercise for Weight Loss Can be Fun

2009-02-18T19:26:00.000+07:00

The word aerobic literally means "with oxygen" or "in the presence of oxygen." Aerobic exercise is any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously for a long period of time and is rhythmic in nature. Aerobic exercises utilize oxygen as the major fuel for sustaining activity for relatively long periods.

In general, aerobic exercises are those activities that require large muscle work, elevate the heart rate to between 60 percent and 80 percent of maximal heart rate, are continuous in nature and are of 15 to 60 minutes in duration. An aerobically fit individual can work longer, more vigorously and achieve a quicker recovery at the end of the aerobic session.

Aerobic exercises fall in two categories:

Low to Moderate Impact aerobics – These include walking, swimming, stair climbing, step classes, light water aerobics, rowing and cross-country skiing. Nearly anyone in reasonable health can engage in some low- to moderate-impact exercise. Brisk walking burns more calories than jogging for the same distance because it takes more time to walk than jog that distance and poses less risk for injury to muscle and bone.

High-Impact aerobics – Activities that belong to this group include running, dance exercise, tennis, racquetball and squash. High-impact aerobics should be performed on alternate days. People who are overweight, elderly, out of condition or have an injury or other medical problem should do them even less frequently and only with clearance from their doctor.

Here are some of the many aerobic exercises you can do and because of the variety you have to choose from, it can not only take the bordum out of doing it, it can make doing it downright fun as well.

1. Walking
Walking is a popular form of exercise because it requires little in terms of equipment or facilities. Walking an extra 20 minutes each day will burn off 7 pounds of body fat per year. Longer, moderately-paced daily walks are best for losing weight.

2. Jogging/Running
In jogging or running, an individual is able to cover greater distances in a shorter period of time. Therefore, greater numbers of calories can be burned per time spent.

3. Choreographed Aerobic Exercise
Choreographed aerobic dance is a very popular form of exercise throughout the world. Aerobic dance helps in toning up the muscles of the body and many people find it fun to do as well.

4. Step Aerobics
Step aerobics incorporates the use of a step or bench typically about one foot wide and three feet long and about six inches high. Instructors use many moves that require participants to step up and down from the platform. This way, the activity will not be boring and tiring, but will be lively and motivating.

5. Water Aerobics
Water aerobics incorporates a variety of movements from both swimming and land aerobics to develop vigorous routines that are aerobic in nature. It utilizes the resistance to movement that water creates to elevate heart rates and also helps you if balancing yourself on land is difficult. It is a good way to lose weight.

6. Swimming
Swimming is a very popular form of regular exercise. Due to the resistance of water, the amount of energy required to swim a certain distance is greater than that needed to run or walk the same distance. In other words, swimming can burn more calories than running per time spent.

7. Stationary Cycling/Bicycling
Stationary cycling or bicycling are excellent forms of aerobic exercise when done continuously. Like swimming, cycling is a non weight bearing activity that builds muscular endurance and strength and improved flexibility of selected muscles of the legs and thighs.

8. Jumping Rope
Jumping rope can be a great aerobic workout as long as it is performed at a slow to moderate pace and is done continuously for a relatively long period of time (15 minutes or more).

The key to effective weight loss is through use of a healthy exercise program which is performed on a regular basis while following a healthy dieting & nutritional plan. Aerobic exercises are most popular group exercise in Cities of UK. Aerobic exercise is good for weight loss because it uses more calories than other activities and helps raise your metabolic rate.

This helps your body burn calories at a faster rate. It is an effective way to lose fat only if you are motivated enough to do it frequently. Aerobics only burns fat during the workout itself. So if you want encouraging results you need to be able to exercise daily and for longer periods using minimum Exercise Equipment

A Brief History Of Roller Derby

2008-12-17T22:09:00.000+07:00

Originally invented in the 1930's by Leo Saltzer the very first roller derby was seen in Chicago at the Coliseum in 1935 where roller skaters used a banked skating surface to simulate a cross country race watched by more than 20,000 spectators. At the time the craze was for marathon dance competitions which tested the endurance of the competitors over many, many hours of dancing. Marathon roller skating events at the time could last an unbelievable length of time, sometimes many months with full time staff and full time competitors.

The Early Years

From Chicago roller skating marathons spread out across the United States to many more cities with the track being dismantled and moved. The roller derby stayed in cities for many months before moving on. The roller derby evolved into a race between two teams with five members, one designated the 'jammer' who aimed to lap the opposing team members. Roller derby was ahead of it's time as women competed on the same terms as men, a first for any team sport. The track changed over time with the elevation being raised to forty five degrees and rails added for the safety of the competitors.

The first televised roller derby was broadcast in the 1940's and was instantly a hit. Over the next 20 years the game evolved into a sport with more body contact and similarities to American football. In the 60's the women competitors were seen as role models for independent women throughout the world. In order to accommodate the track in available basketball courts it was modified to be more portable. At this time the popularity of the sport was a t a high with hundreds of teams touring and competing all over the US.

The Decline in Roller Derby in the 1970's

From a high in the 1960's the popularity sharply declines and was dropped from national television in the 70's. High gas prices and transport costs took their toll. Many of the full time staff and competitors were laid off. Roller derby continued however with many part time leagues being formed who kept the sport very much alive. Several attempts to revive the sport were launched throughout the 70's with some TV revivals and the formation of the International Roller Skating League which lasted for ten years. TV only spectacles were also staged including the Roller Jam and the Roller Games.

Roller Games was created in the 1960's by a rival of Seltzer's Roller Derby league. It was a televised spectacle and an increasingly theatrical interpretation of roller derby. The flagship team was the Los Angeles T-birds (Thunderbirds) and lasted through the 70's 80's and 90's into the early years of the 21st century with many ups and downs in popularity.

Roller Jam was based on the original roller derby with skaters mainly using in line roller skates and was televised from 1999 - 2001. It evolves into a largely theatrical production which caused many skaters who felt that it should be focused on the original concept of a skating competition to boycott the show.

Roller Derby Today

The sport has increased in popularity today with many hundreds of largely all girl teams competing across the US. There are also some mixed teams and even some all male teams.

About 60 all girl teams are members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) which sets the rules for competitions between leagues. Travel teams compete in regional matches.. the WFTDA organises championships and publishes rankings of it's members.

The Old school Derby Association was formed in May 2007 and promotes the sport among it's members. The rules are based on the early versions of Roller Derby but also incorporates newer rules to accommodate the fast moving defensive game that exists today.

The sport is now worldwide with leagues in the UK, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Ireland, Canada and Germany.