By Danilo Fleming
 If you do any kind of martial arts sparring, you know that protective gear is of the utmost importance. Any man who has the stones to go into a sparring match without a cup on, won't have them for very long. There's protective gear like the heavily padded "foot gloves" that I wear when I'm teaching, so I don't accidentally do a spin kick and take someone's head off when they miss a block. But the protective gear I want to sing the praises of today are the martial arts sparring shoes.
Now, I use the martial arts shoe for two very simple reasons. The first is that after I did a series of practice bits against a wooden "sparring dummy", I walked out of the dojo on several bone-deep bruises in my feet. Now, bruises are the price you pay for any contact sport, including martial arts. Even a little bit of padding would've kept me from walking funny for two days. My friends and co-workers were making fun of my little mincing steps to avoid putting weight on the tops of
my feet from a particularly nasty bruise - almost a break in the bone.
The foot has so many small bones. And almost no meat. No fat. No protection. Poor bloodflow. At least mine do. Pain sticks attached to my ankles!
I guess I'm a slow learner. Two weeks later, I did the same practice drill and about pulped my big toe when I mis-judged the distance to the wingchun wooden dummy on a kick - instead of hitting it with the arch of the foot, I did a direct "full force kick" with the point of contact centered on the toe. The joint popped, the toe swelled up to twice its size, and only pure blind luck kept me from having a fracture.
OK, so kicking wooden dummies in bare feet is a dumb idea....
I went looking for things to save me from my own stupidity and found martial arts sparring shoes. Now, those sparring shoes are different from tourney foot pads. They're light enough that you won't develop compensatory habits to adjust for the weight...and while they don't offer as much protection, it's the difference between kicking a wooden dummy with your bare foot and kicking it with a pair of tennis shoes on.
On top of that, they also improve traction on the ground, and stability when doing routines and drills. Given how much I like Kung Fu styles, and how acrobatic they are, that extra traction was very appealing. While it's not fun to be thrown on your ass by a sparring partner, it's even less fun to do it on your own because you slipped.
Plus, to be honest, it was good to come home from a session in the dojo without feeling like I was being a sniveling, whiney brat because my feet hurt. Trust me, these things saved my marriage - my wife was making fun of my new "dance steps" when I was busy beating the crap out of my feet and whining about it when I had to take out the garbage.
Didn't I mention I can dance? That's for another article. She saw Dancing With The Stars and it was over. I don't know what hurts more, learning to tango or kicking that wooden dummy!
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NFL Football Betting Advice
By Albert Garcia
 The NFL has risen to the front of the line in popularity and one of the main reasons for its success is betting. NFL Odds can be found everywhere from newspapers, computers, and on the ticker on ESPN. The reason pro football is so popular is because there are only 32 teams in the league, teams play just one game a week and many games can be found on free television. Playing only once a week makes it much easier to follow a team since NFL is not an everyday event such as baseball and basketball.
This does create problems when trying to handicap NFL football, as the public is very knowledgeable about the sport. At most, there will be just 16 games a week and the NFL requires that all teams disclose their injuries during the week. The lines have gotten so sharp that the general public cannot dig deep enough to uncover angles that can consistently beat the books.
Following are three things to look for in NFL Betting that can help you consistently beat the books:
1) Do not put much stock into last week's performance. Momentum is not that big of an issue as in college football, since everybody in the league in a professional. Look for teams that have been blown out on the road to bounce back and put forth a much better effort at home.
2) Shop around for the best line, especially around the number three. Three points decide a large percentage of NFL games and thus there is a big difference between laying 2 1/2 or 3 1/2.
3) Injuries are one of the most overrated statistics in NFL Football. The exception to this is the quarterback position. Teams are loaded with depth and often times a line moves too much based on one player being out. If that happens look to exploit the line by taking the side with the injury.
Concluding this NFL commentary check out Doc's Expert NFL picks page. If you plan on betting NFL you'll also want to read our NFL sports lines page. Doc's sports handicappers resource is a must read for NFL wagering. Since 1971 Doc's Sports has been recognized as a leader and trusted name in sports handicapping information.
That being said, hitting 60 percent winners on side selections is outstanding, as few cappers are able to achieve this. Your best option is to bet more money early in the season, when linemakers are still unfamiliar with the strength of each team. Once the season moves into the second half, lines become sharp and you will see your percentage of winners drop. Playing underdogs is usually the best way to achieve this percentage because the public falls in love with favorites and their lines are slanted toward them.
NFL Football is the most bet on sport in the world and often the hardest to handicap. Here at Doc's we focus more on the college game because there are more games to choose from and often less information is made public. Nonetheless, picking your spots and using smart money management are the keys to success in NFL betting.
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Tickets to the Rose Bowl
By Percy Kinney
 Regardless of your fan affiliation, Rose Bowl tickets are always cherished when you get them. The Rose Bowl is one of those sporting events that simply reeks of tradition, and there are several reasons for its unique standing. For decades, fans in the Big 10 and Pac 10 dreamed of getting to the "big game" every year, and several of the greatest college football games of all time have been held at this event. Below we're going to discuss just what sets the Rose Bowl apart from other bowl games.
History
The Rose Bowl is the oldest bowl game in college football, and the first contest was staged in 1902. The game itself has always been only a part of an overall event, as the entire celebration is actually called the Tournament of Roses. The Tournament of Roses actually lasts several days, and it's a celebration of not only the holidays, but of academics and tradition in general.
In fact, from 1903 until 1915, the Tournament of Roses did not even include a football game. The first game, between Michigan and Stanford, was such a blowout (Michigan won 49-0) that the "premier" athletic contest was a set of chariot races. However, the football game returned in 1916 and has been the culmination of the Tournament of Roses ever since.
Setting
Although some would argue, most fans of college football consider the Rose Bowl the most beautiful and scenic stadium in the United States. The San Gabriel Mountains surround the stadium, and there's nothing more beautiful than watching the sun set behind the mountains as the lights in the stadium hit the field.
Even though the stadium holds over 92,000 fans, the setting is quite intimate, as there are simply no bad seats anywhere inside the venue. It was dedicated on January 1, 1923, and is one of the oldest stadiums still in use in the United States. The Rose Bowl has also hosted other historic events, including several Super Bowls and two soccer World Cup Finals - the 1994 men's cup and the 1999 women's event.
Stakes
Rose Bowl tickets still allow fans to see games that mean everything to fans nearly every year. Several national championships have been won and lost at the Rose Bowl, most recently in 2006 when underdog Texas defeated USC in a game that many have called the greatest ever played.
For more than 50 years, the Rose Bowl featured the champion of the Big 10 against the champion of the Pac 10, but the Rose Bowl did move into the future somewhat by allowing itself to be aligned with the BCS, which means that this stadium will host the "true" national championship game every four seasons. However, most years still pit the Big 10 against the Pac 10, and tradition is something that's held in high regard in Pasadena.
Overall, the Rose Bowl is truly unique, and Rose Bowl tickets are a chance to see history played out on the field live.
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The Continued Popularity of Fly Fishing
By Albert Garcia
 Since the earliest fisherman plucked fish from the water with their bare hands, anglers have found many different methods of fishing. Fly fishing is one of the oldest and has been in existence for hundreds of years. Believed to have begun during Roman times, the advanced methods of fly fishing are considered to have developed in Scotland and England. With improved reels, line and fly gear fly fishing has grown in popularity by leaps and bounds.
Originally, fly fishing was mainly used to catch trout and salmon, which are easily fooled by artificial flies. However, many species of fish are now being targeted by fans of sport fishing using dry and wet flies. Today the lines are heavier and larger in diameter. As a result there is a need for a larger reel that is required to hold that size of line. Anglers now research the local water life to determine the best colors and styles of flies that may be able to attract the local fish population.
The main purpose of fly fishing is to offer an artificial fly to the fish that will closely resemble an insect or bug that is native to the area. Curious fishermen may spend a lot of time researching the types of bugs that flourish in the region as well as spending time studying the types of fish and how they approach their victims.
Practice, Practice, Practice, It Takes A lot of Practice to Properly Cast Flies
For the fisherman switching from bait fishing to fly fishing there is a conversion period in which they must learn the difference. With bait casting, the weight of the lure and bait draws line from the reel, and extends out into the water. When fly fishing the line is cast into the water and the fly on the line follows the line into the water. It requires a lot of practice and concentration to place the line that is cast from the reel and having the fly land in the desired spot on the surface of the water.
The two main types of lures used in fly fishing are the dry fly that remains on the surface and the wet fly that is designed to sink once it hits the water. Other flies, called emerging flies partially submerge under the water, to duplicate the action of emerging insects from their larva stage.
Fly fishing requires the fisherman to adjust to local conditions as well as altering their technique depending on the time of day and time of year. It will take the fly fisherman a lot of practice and patience to develop the skills necessary to consistently catch fish.
Making Your Own Flies
After a fly fisherman has mastered the difficult techniques of fly fishing he may want to design his own flies. It is a wonderful hobby. A master fly maker can build up quite a collection. A beautiful as well as effective fly can be a rewarding creation.
Whether you create your own flies or become an avid collector, the art of fly fishing can grow on you and become almost an addiction.
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