© 2009 Universal Press Syndicate HOUSTON CHRONICLE BETTY DEBNAM —Founding Editorand EditoratLarge Saturday, June 20, 200 9 Gaining Strength, Inside and Out from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Mastering the Martial Arts Have you seen movies and TV shows These students demonstrate where the actors fight using martial arts their stance, or way of standing, at the Los Angeles such as karate? In real life,people use the Air Force Base Fitness Center. martial arts mostly to defend themselves. They are demonstrating the Even more important, martial arts give martial art of comba-tai. people the strength to avoid a fight. That Comba-tai (COM-ba TIE) is a can be even harder to do. mix of Asian and African ce disciplines that has developed The Mini Page talked to a team leader For over thousands of years. Air in the Houston KickStart* program to U.S. learn more about the martial arts. courtesy *The KickStart program was founded by actor ez, Chuck Norris to help kids grow strong in Juar Joe character through martial arts training. by What are the martial arts? photo When people talk about the martial The strength not to fight Healthy power arts (MAR-shuhl arts), they are usually Experts Experts say most people who fight are talking about the many Asian forms of say scared of something.When you are self-defense fighting.There are hundreds martial confident and know what you can do,you of different disciplines (DI-sih-plihns), arts are have the inner strength and courage to or styles. not about avoid most fights. The most common fighting. A good martial arts program teaches martial arts They are students to be strong in many ways. practiced in about Students also learn to eat healthy foods. America are NOT They develop strong bodies through taekwondo(tie-kwon- fighting. exercises and matches. DOE) and karate The most important thing martial arts A 10-year-old boy (kuh-RAH-tee). students gain is strength inside throws an Airman 1st themselves.Students learn self- Class instructor with a Martial arts have been practiced in judo move during a Asia for thousands of years.They were confidence,self-respect and self- self-defense class at invented as a way for people to defend discipline,or the ability to do hard things the fitness center at themselves against invaders. to become better or stronger. Barksdale Air Force Martial artists often do not use A martial artist learns not to give in Base in Louisiana. weapons.The artists fight using their when friends do the wrong thing.He or bodies.Today these arts are practiced for she can walk away when someone else is sport as well as for defense. trying to pick a fight. photo by Senior Airman Alexandra Sandoval (Released), courtesy U.S. Air Force from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Different Disciplines Styles Some terms to know Different Asian countries have Belts:Most martial different styles of martial arts. arts disciplines award In the Japanese arts,such as different-colored belts, karate,fighters stand firmly.They use ce or sashes,to indicate For many low kicks,and they use their open Air skill level. The colors hands. U.S. vary according to the Other Japanese martial arts styles discipline and school. include aikido (eye-key-DOE), judo courtesy A black belt usually (JUE-doe) and jujitsu (jue-JIT-sue). Reyes, means the martial artist has gained a In the Korean arts,known as Delos very high skill level. A red belt is often taekwondo,fighters start by standing Julius the highest an artist can get. Class up tall so they can raise their legs 1st quickly.They focus on kicking and high Airman Sensei (SEN-say): jumps. by The martial arts Chinese martial arts in general are This Edwards Air Force Base black belt photo instructor. This term called kung fu (kung foo). The Chinese instructor demonstrates a taekwondo usually applies to developed two general styles of martial jumping side kick. “Taekwondo” means “the instructors of the arts,short and long. way of the hand and foot.” Japanese disciplines. Shorter styles were invented for In the Chinese long styles of martial Dojo (DOE-joe): A fighting in urban ,or city,areas where arts,fighters might include moves such school for teaching there is less space.Longer styles were as flips.They are able to perform moves martial arts. invented for fighting in rural, or country, taking up more space. Gi (gee): The areas where there is a lot of space. Partly because of the influence of uniform Chinese short styles of fighting movies and TV,modern martial arts worn by include in-close and in-tight moves. fighters often include more gymnastics martial artists.It usually Fighters might strike and defend with moves,such as flips,into their consists of loose-fitting pants their elbows and knees.They train to disciplines. with a long shirt. This is a fight close to their opponents. Japanese martial arts term. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate TM TM B rown B asset TRY ’N N ews Mini Spy.. The s H ound’ Martial Arts FIND Mini Spy and Basset Brown are practicing karate in class. Words that remind us of martial arts are hidden in the block below. See if you can find: Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: • tooth DISCIPLINE, INNER, STRENGTH, SELF, DEFENSE, ASIA, SPORT, CONFIDENCE, EAT, HEALTHY, CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA, KARATE, • word MINI SAFE, KID, GIRL, BOY, KICK, HANDS, JUMP, BELT, SENSEI, • letter A DOJO, USE. KKAISAETARAKKID • pencil I GET A SO ISOJODESNEFED KICK OUT OF TSRCEBYHTLAEHCJ • heart • kite KARATE! • number 8 RP JEKLEINNERVHA • fish EOBUALFLSDNAHIP NR LOME SUTLRIGNA • number 7 GT LLYPMIESNESAN • letter Y TEFASECNED IFNOC • letter V HFENILPICS IDTAE TM Go dot to dot and color. Rookie Cookie’s Recipe Meat-in-a-Loaf Pan You’ll need: • 1 pound lean ground beef • 1 / 3 cup Italian bread crumbs • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce • 1 / 8 teaspoon pepper • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard • 1 egg • 1 / 2 onion, chopped fine ( 1 / 2 cup), • 1 (8-ounce) can optional tomato sauce What to do: 1. Mix together ground beef,Worcestershire sauce,mustard, onion, bread crumbs,pepper and egg in a large bowl. 2. Mold mixture into a regular loaf pan. 3. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes until top is browned. 4. Drain away any visible fat. 5. Pour tomato sauce over top and continue cooking for 10 minutes more. 6. Slice and serve.Serves 6. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate Meet George Lopez George Lopez stars as Eddie Serrano in the Nickelodeon TV movie “Mr.Troop Mom.” George,48, was born in Mission Hills,Calif.He worked as a disc jockey at a radio station in California before becoming an actor.He now lives in os./Nickelodeon Br Los Angeles. er rn He does stand-up comedy and has created comedy Wa albums.He has also been a commentator for the HBO sports show “Inside the NFL.”He loves to play courtesy golf. photo George co-created, wrote,produced and starred in a TV sitcom, or situation comedy,series called “George Lopez.”He has appeared in several other TV shows and movies,including the Disney TV movie “Naughty or Nice.” He was the voice of Papi in the Disney movie “Beverly Hills Chihuahua.” Four years ago,George had a successful kidney transplant. The kidney was donated by his wife,Ann Serrano. He has set up his own charity to help with educational causes.He has also done fund-raising for earthquake victims in Guatemala and El Salvador. from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page ©2009 Universal Press Syndicate from The Mini Page © 2009 Universal Press Syndicate ® Standards Spotlight: Mastering the Martial Arts TM Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’scontent and offer activities that will help your students reach them. All the following jokes have something in common. This week’sstandards: Can you guess the common theme or category? •Students understandthatphysical activity provides opportunitiesfor enjoyment,challenge,self- expression and social interaction. (Physical Education) Activities: Frank: How do chubby rabbits get fit? 1. Write the words “ Martial Arts” in the middle of apiece of paper.Now paste newspaper words that describe martial arts around the words.Besure to include words that show what you learn from Fiona: They do harerobics! martial arts. 2. Look through your newspaper’sads to find places where you could learn about martial arts.Circle every ad you find. Now list the types of martial arts shown in the ads: Chinese,Japanese,Korean, and others.Whichwould you like to learn? Farah: What do martial arts instructors like 3. Whichofthe martial arts shown in today’sMini Page uses (a) high jumps and kicks,(b) open to grill? hands,and (c) along style and ashort style? 4. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about how martial arts are part of the Olympics. Festus: Karate chops! Use these questions to guide your research: What types of martial arts were part of the historical Olympics? Whichtypes are part of the modern Olympics today? What martial arts are demonstrated at the Olympics but are not yet official sports? Write aparagraph discussing your research. 5. Write astory about yourself and some friends.Pretend you are studying one of the martial arts.