Abstract | HOMETHEATER

Krav Maga, the Modern Approach to Self Defence

February 23, 2021 Comments Off

Krav Mag a Self Defence system which originated in Israel. It is the official tactical combat system of the Israeli Army. The name roughly translates to ‘Close Combat’ all Israeli Army Recruits including Women, receive basic Training in Krav Maga.
Krav Maga emphasis the use of the body’s instinctive reactions, the kind of moves the body makes under pressure. This instinctive moves evolved as basic survival skills. These moves operate below or consciousness so are the fastest responses we can have, it’s techniques and counter assault moves on these instinctive responses meaning our self defence response is the fastest it can be.
It may well be the most suitable self defence system for women, as it was developed by the Israeli Army which is one of the few armies which conscripts. Because of this it developed it had a very strong emphasis on ensuring the techniques and moves were built from the ground up to be practical for female soldiers.
Is Krav Maga A Martial Art?
While in some ways the moves may look familiar Krav Maga differs from Traditional Martial arts in a number of key areas.
No Ritual
Many traditional martial arts are steeped in ancient traditions, ideas and concepts whose times have long passed. Ideas such has repeated bowing, kneeling, and supplication of e student have no places in the system. It is important to note that it is a modern system built on modern principals and values and as such respect for your training partner instructor and the law are still paramount.
Training Focus
Training focuses on only one objective, ensuring your safety, So all training exercise, drills and games are practical and based on real world situations. There are no ‘fancy’ moves seen in many martial arts and the movies.
Focus on Student
In many martial arts the focus is on the instructor, they must be revered and called by names such as Sensei or Sifu. But in this system the most important person in the class is the student. The instructors jobs is simple, teach the student how to protect themselves as fast as possible. The instructors is judged on one thing, how capable the students are.
Is There an Age Limit?
The System is designed for the life or death situations, as a result the defence techniques, training drills and are very adult in nature. It should not be confused with sports based martial arts which parents often seek to enroll their children in to build basic self defence and confidence skills. In general course participants must be over eighteen, however exceptions can be made in particular circumstances
Is it good for fitness
Classes can be a great workout. The training philosophy is that being fit is part of your self defence strategy. Classes generally begin with a ten to fifteen minutes warm up followed by lots of practical exercises and drills, classes usually finish with a high energy exercise designed to build the students ability to operate under pressure. All of this combines to make a Krav Maga class and ideal part of a fitness routine.
Krav Maga is a modern approach to martial arts for Self Defence and Fitness, it’s focus it to teach people how to protect themselves quickly in a professional environment and help with fitness.…

Consistency is Key

February 9, 2021 Comments Off

I recently attended a seminar given by a very famous martial artist. During the seminar, the participants partnered up and worked on drills that he demonstrated. One of his most impressive skills was his ability to land every kick in the EXACT same spot, consistently. My partner and I, both black belts with multiple years of experience in martial arts, struggled to merely execute the techniques properly, let alone to be concerned with consistency. And yet, isn’t consistency the key to success or failure?
defines “consistent” as:
1. Agreeing or accordant; compatible; not self-contradictory
2. Constantly adhering to the same principles, course, form, etc: a consistent opponent.
3. Holding firmly together; cohering.
4. Archaic. fixed; firm.
I really like the first definition, “not self-contradictory.” Consistency then means that if I am to be successful in martial arts, I must make a commitment to practice. If I fail to practice but still continue attending classes and seminars, then I become a phony. My teachers and I will know that I have failed to practice because my skills will wane. I will fail to be consistent and success will elude me. I will feel stress from the clash of my mental desire to be successful and my failure to practice.
However, if I spend time in practice, my skills will improve and my mental goals will be realized by my physical practice. My mind and body will become partners in seeking my goals and the stress from being contradictory will vanish. Once my mind and body merge, success will surely follow.
For example, when I reached a higher belt level in Tae Kwon Do, the practice time required to attain the next belt increased significantly. The bar was raised much higher from “intermediate” to “advanced” and I struggled during one of my tests. Although I passed, my teacher was disappointed and reiterated that I must understand the difficulty that was before me. I balked for a while and felt like quitting altogether, but I didn’t.
As in definition number four, I held firm. I became resolute in my decision to attain the goal of black belt and I eventually made it. It took three-and-one-half years to earn the belt, and earning it was the hardest task I have ever undertaken. Had I failed to practice consistently, I would have never made the rank of black belt.
However, will I ever achieve the level of success that will propel me to fame and fortune? I doubt it. As with anything, achieving a very high level of proficiency requires many, many years spent in practice and training. I will not achieve that level of technical success because I do not practice daily. I have chosen to move in a different direction and now consider my ultimate goal more of a “dream” that I may or may not realize. My mind and body agree and I am at peace with my decision.
Perhaps, though, you have a goal that is languishing that you have a deep desire to achieve. Do you want to lose weight, stop smoking, complete your degree, find a new job or spend more time with your kids? Consistency will help you realize that goal.…

Enter the Dragon – Review of Famous Martial Arts Movies

February 4, 2021 Comments Off

“Enter the Dragon” is the final released movie of Bruce Lee before his tragic death. Bruce Lee is recognized around the world as the ultimate exponent of the ancient Oriental art form of self-defense, which was a combination of the best techniques from Karate, Judo, Hapkido, Tai-Chih and Kung-Fu.
Bruce Lee suffered a tragic, untimely and mysterious death on July 20th, just a few days after he finished “Enter the Dragon”. He had completed almost 6 movies based on martial arts before his death. “Enter the Dragon” was co-produced by Warner Bros. along with Raymond Chow from China. Fred Weintraub and Paul Heller were the producers for Warner Bros. “Enter the Dragon” was directed by Robert Clouse and Michael Allin was responsible for the screenplay. The cast included Bruce Lee Williams, John Saxon Williams, Jim Kelly Han, Shih Kien Oharra, Bob Wall Tania, Ahna Capri Su-Lin and Peter Archer among others.
The movie is a vast display of Oriental heritage and culture, as most of the movie was shot in the Orient. This 98 minute classic was filled with masters engaging against each other in the display of the violent art form. “Enter the Dragon” portrays Lee as a top-of-the-notch secret agent and a former expert in mixed martial arts. He is given the job of taking part on a bloody martial arts competition in order to investigate the alleged criminal activities being carried on by the host of this brutal tournament (Shih Kien).
Nothing is surprising about the movie as we are habituated to see Bruce Lee playing the role of the ultimate savior. However, if we look from the Oriental art of combat point of view, there is enough excitement and surprise to lure the martial-arts-frenzy-audience. Lee is as usual brilliant in his performance. One look at his style and you will realize why he is still considered as the God of martial arts. John Saxon Williams, who plays the role of an American participant, is amazingly subtle when it came to pulling-off surprising stunts.
The rest of the cast was brilliant and played their part with aplomb to make this movie a huge success. Special mention has to be made of Jim Kelly, another American taking part in the competition organized by Shih Kien. He delivers a power-packed performance especially in the scene where is fights to the end against Lee. Bob Wall and Yang Sze provide good support in their roles as masters of the art. Ahna Capri and Betty Chung are good in their small roles while Angela Mao Ying displays her Hapkido skills when she confronts a group of Kien’s henchmen.
Michael Allin’s script was justified by Robert Clouse and his amazing directional skills. The result was an amazingly fast-paced action flick that was quite rare during the 70s.
Gilbert Hubbs’ photographic brilliance is exciting as is James Wong Sun’s art direction. Lalo Schifrin’s unique background score is an important aspect of the film.…

Martial Arts For Children – What Else Is Available Apart From Karate For Kids?

February 2, 2021 Comments Off

Martial arts are becoming increasingly popular in this current day and age. This is partly due to ever increasing crime rates and rising obesity levels. Martial arts are a great way not just in regards to self-defence but also with keeping fit. It is a great way for children to get involved with martial arts from an early age. There are many benefits associated with this such as keeping fit, being able to defend themselves against the school bully. Learning martial arts gives your children a new found confidence which can help them overcome many obstacles which they face in life at that early age such as shyness and even concentrating on their homework. It also enables them to learn a skill which they can carry on into their adult life.
The first step you need to take is to look for a style that will appear o your child. There are many to choose such as Judo, Karate, Kung Fu and many more. See what your child would have more interest in by taking him along to observe a few different classes. He may have a preference in a style which is more geared to high kicks and punching or he may prefer grappling and throwing. It’s not just for Karate for kids that is available you know.
One obstacle I personally came up against with my two daughters was the limited choice, but I do live in a rural area. If you live in a big city then the chances are there will be many to choose from and you can have a look at the various classes available to see where you think your child will best fit in. the smaller clubs and schools though in the rural areas do have their advantages though. They often are run by very experienced instructors with small class sizes which means more time is spent on each student resulting in higher ranking students in that style when compared to a large urban school in a big city.
It is paramount that you ensure the instructor is up to the job, you want to make sure your child gets the most out of it in terms of development and fun. Personally I find the large martial arts schools rather daunting for my kids. They often have anywhere between fifty and a hundred students, and in my opinion the children do not get the progress they deserve, whereas as mentioned the rural ones are the opposite.
I have martial arts to be hugely beneficial to my children. For instance it has helped my daughter to have the confidence to try new things. Before she started out in Karate she was a very shy girl and got spooked quite easily, but bow you cannot stop her, she has become something of a daredevil. The longer your child studies martial arts the more self-control they develop throughout their early life. There is so much more available than the usual Karate for kids that you hear parents talk about.…

Why Self Defense Tactics Don’t Just Involve Fighting

January 26, 2021 Comments Off

You could go to self defense classes every week and feel pretty confident about being able to take care of yourself but unless you have a set of effective self defense tactics, you could be in for a nasty surprise one day. Just because you know a few maneuvers doesn’t mean that you are any less likely to get attacked. A thug will not suddenly look at you and say to themselves ‘oh, that person knows self defense, I better run along’. No attacker knows the strengths of their victim, all they see is weakness. And no amount of martial arts techniques you have learned recently will save you from their clutches unless you have some plan of action. This is necessary to ensure that you don’t freeze when it comes to the crunch.
The first rule of self defense is to avoid placing yourself in a situation where you could be a potential victim. Being a regular member of a Tae-Bo class or practicing self defense four days a week at home doesn’t give you the right to walk down a dangerous looking street at night and expect not to get attacked. Martial arts techniques are nothing without some self-awareness to back them up. Avoiding scary looking shortcuts and being on constant watch when walking is essential because it could help you see trouble out of the corner of your eye. Most thugs are fairly open about their intentions when they are about to attack someone so a watchful person will spot them a mile away.
Staying confident is another effective feature of self defense tactics. People who attack others randomly in the street are generally cowards who will run away at the first sign of genuine resistance. Self-preservation is the name of the game for these creeps who will also flee if it is taking them too long to achieve their objective in case they get apprehended by the police. If you see two people walking, one who has their head up and shoulders back and the other with their head hunched down accompanied by small, scurrying steps, which person do you think is more likely to be attacked? The former target is confident and therefore troublesome while the latter is scared and easy meat for an attacker.
This confidence can be maintained even if confronted. Although some thugs like to stalk their prey, it is more common for the attack to be sudden. This usually occurs if the target is hunched down and petrified as in example B above. If they actually stop you and start with their threats, this means that they have not fully made up their mind. While they don’t know if you are proficient in martial arts techniques just by looking at you, they will be put off attacking you if you keep your ground and show no fear. If they decide on an attack, then it is time to unleash your bag of self defense tricks.
Self defense tactics don’t just involve methods of injuring your assailant, they should also act as a guide with regards to your behavior when you walk the streets. With just a few subtle changes in your demeanor and body language, you could change from being a ‘victim’ to being safe.…

Learning Guitar: The Best Tips, Tricks, Hints And Strategies

January 17, 2021 Comments Off

Do you wish you could play the guitar? Maybe you want to teach someone else. To really maximize your guitar-playing experience, you should know quite a bit. The following information can help get your guitar playing journey underway.

Take some time to master the basics. Do not try to learn too much too quickly. Learn a very basic song to start out with. Learn the proper finger positions. Practice your scales and chords. Know the basics before trying to learn complicated songs.

Don’t try to learn everything at once. You will be successful if you take your time and practice regularly. Set aside some practice time every day, and over time you will learn the skills you need to have.

Try to find a teacher to learn from. While learning the guitar on your own is doable, it can be beneficial to have another person around for observation. A good teacher will critique your style, and also offer suggestions for making yourself better. You can also get your questions answered by them which can help a lot.

Toughening your fingertips is necessary if you play the guitar. This will mollify the pain that you feel. Callouses can take time to build, so make sure you practice consistently. There are also products on the market made just for this purpose.

As a beginner on the guitar, it is important to become familiar with the names of all the different parts of the guitar. Being sure you’re able to know what the terminology is will assist you if you learn this from materials by yourself. Doing this will only make you a better, more intelligent musician.

Teach yourself to use different keys when playing songs. This can help you to properly manipulate the different chords. You will better understand music as well. When you understand music better, you become a better musician.

Purchase a metronome. Using metronomes is a great way to refine your sense of timing. You won’t have a problem keeping the tempo with a metronome. The metronome will help you figure out different chords and songs much easier than you would have been able to otherwise.

Chord transitions are very important while playing. You should take about fifteen minutes while you practice to make sure you can smoothly switch chords. Having the ability to move seamlessly from chord to chord helps you keep your music fresh.

Find someone to play guitar with. Try to pick someone who has a lot of talent. You may learn some techniques that are new to you. Playing with another can help you have fun learning. If you find someone who is also beginning then you can teach each other.

Realize when it is time for a break. While practice is very important, burn out should definitely be avoided. Remain motivated. If practicing has been a daily occurrence, don’t be afraid to let it go for a few days. This helps you rest for a while and come back rocking. Just be certain you aren’t taking too many breaks.

People of any age can learn to play the guitar. Always continue practicing and seeking new methods for making improvements. The more you’re able to learn about this, the easier it will be to play. These suggestions can help you learn guitar and impress friends, too.…

Why Language is Important

December 6, 2020 Comments Off

Imagine for just a moment that we developed a system of auditory symbols that also had visual conterparts, and let’s say for example, that there was an auditory symbol that sounded like this: “ahh.” This same symbol had a visual representation associated with it that we could reproduce for our eyes, and it looked like: “A.” Furthermore, we all agreed that we would use this set of symbols according to a set of basic rules, whereby we could use them independently or in various combinations to express concepts and ideas. Finally, we agreed that the sole purpose of these symbols was so that we could share our thoughts with others, and conversely, that they could share their thoughts with us. Well, that is language.
Language is the currency with we exchange ideas; thus, language is the single, greatest skill an individual can, and should, master.
Language is complex and constantly evolving. There are over a quarter of a million words in the English language alone! Even this number excludes the roots and derivatives of words. Mastering a quality set of vocabulary to the point that we can always articulate what we want to communicate is a journey that will take most of us a lifetime. It is estimated that most people average between 12,000 to 20,000 words in their vocabularies, with college graduates learning about 20 percent more. But, language is much more than just words.
Words are not just representations of “things” that are concrete. Words are much more powerful that that when in the hands of we humans. Indeed, we have the propensity to want to talk about “things” that are abstract, intangible, unthought of and not even in existence. We humans like to talk about everything, and as you know, we’re a gregarious lot!
That means words have to be able to convey anything and everything that the human mind can conceive. I am sure that your mind, like mine, is always talking, thinking, mulling, worrying, viewing the past-present-future, and fiddling with a multitude of ideas all at once. So, we are always finding ways to use our basic building blocks for language, words, to convey to others what is going on inside our “always turned on” minds.
Language is the fabric that allows cultures, with their shared sets of values, customs and history, to exist. It’s the “glue” that holds societies together and allows for mankind to evolve, grow and prosper.
Language is also, at the end of the day, a mirror that allows us to understand what we are thinking and shed some light on who we are as individuals.
Language is the key that unlocks our mind.…

Is Photography Really Art?

December 2, 2020 Comments Off

I was curious to find out what were some questions that are on peoples minds about photography. I have found that, “is photography really art,” is one of the most commonly asked questions. Is there a yes or no answer to this commonly asked question?
One widely accepted definition of art is the expression of creativity, imagination or both.
Isn’t everything you can see, hear and touch art? Music, furniture, landscapes, homes, toilets, people? Someone must have used their imagination to create those things right? Why is a colorful painting considered art but dried spilled paint may not be? The Mona Lisa, she is considered to be art by so many people but how about this picture of my grandmother. Is she considered art to you? She is to me.
Almost anything or anyone can be photographed. If you were to take a picture of a plain old pencil just lying on your desk would that be considered art too? You would have been creative enough to snap a picture of that pencil, who is to say it is not art?
As you can read there is no real answers in this article about this commonly asked question, just more questions.I can only ask you to think about what art really is to you. You are the only one who can define what art is in your eyes.
To me art is everything, even the very first thing I see when I wake up each morning. My perfectly white ceiling is simple and bright. The hardwood floor that I walk on to go and get my breakfast on has so much personality in each plank of wood that I step on. Our refrigerator is black and shiny which matches so well with the black, shiny microwave that is in our kitchen. These things please my eyes so they must be considered art to me.
My daughter Lily’s is the most beautiful thing that I have ever seen, Is she art? I created her with my body I think she is. She is the worlds best piece of art in my eyes. Is your child, mother or best friend yours?
On thing is certain, photography is a photographers tool to capture things that they see as art. Photography can display visions that are beautiful, interesting, creative, colorful, happy, sad, frustrating, big, small, pretty or ugly, perfect or weird, funny or serious, important or useless.
So is photography really art? There is no yes or no answer only the right answer for you.…

5 Reasons to Add Seminars to Your MMA Training

November 25, 2020 Comments Off

As a Martial Artist I am a big advocate of Seminar training. There are many reasons that attending seminars and workshops will help you quickly develop your training as a Martial Artist. You would be amazed how many instructors discourage you from attending seminars, while others will only encourage you to attend ones at your school or from your discipline. Seminar training can be beneficial to strengthen your training within your discipline as well as add new elements to your game. Here are the reasons I feel that Seminars are essential for an aspiring Mixed Martial Artist.
Community College of MMA Training
Whether or not you have ever been to community college, you will most likely understand the concept of it. Community College is a way for you to test the waters and try different classes to figure out what you like the most. It’s a smorgesh board of different curriculum options if you will. Martial Arts Seminars are the same way. In particularly, if you train in one style, you may not have the opportunity to train in different arts and see if there is something about that style that you like or could add to your development. For example, if you train at a Karate school, you may not do much boxing, or if you train at a Muay Thai school, you may do much grappling. Training in seminars will give you the opportunity to test the waters with different styles without having to make a major commitment.
Learn New Skills Many times the instructors who are hosting the seminar are certified under the person giving the seminar. For example, if your instructor runs a Combat Submission Wrestling school, then he or she is certified under Erik Paulson. Assuming the seminar is given by Erik Paulson, he will usually use that as an opportunity to pass along more new techniques or curriculum to your instructor and his/her student body, as well as refine current techniques and skills being practiced. If you are taking the seminar at the school that train at, you will be learning the same tricks, tips and techniques as everyone else. However, if you are going outside of your school, most likely you will be bringing new techniques back to your current school or training location. You can use this as an opportunity to pass along your newfound knowledge, or surprise your friends with the techniques during sparring sessions, which is what I like to do.
Barometer
Judging how you are advancing in your training is sometimes difficult. Many times when you join up at a school, you can never really judge how good you are getting. The reason is that everyone at your school is usually continuing to advance at the same time you are. As new people come in, you recognize you are better at certain skills than they are, but you usually dismiss it at “well, they are a noobie”. Going to seminars is a good way to evaluate your skill. You can evaluate how quickly you are able to pick up new techniques and skills. Also, many times not everyone attending the seminar is from the place where you train. Because of that you see how you compare to other from different places. Seminars are one of the best ways to evaluate your skills aside from competition.
Social Networking
No I am not talking about Twitter or Facebook or Myspace or whatever other Social Networking craze takes place in the future. I am talking about real life social networking. Going to seminars is a great way to contact and meet like minded people from all over the world. I have met and made friends in places like Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Delaware, Austrailia, England and more. It’s great because as I travel, I find that I usually have a place to train at. This is even more of a reason why I suggest you don’t just look for seminars in your area, but that you expand yourself and travel to different areas for your seminar training. I have taken seminars in Connetticut, Georgia, Las Vegas and of course Thailand. Get out of your bubble and meet some new people. You will tank me later.
Rejuvenation
Many times with my training I start to hit a rut. It’s usually around that time where I decide to head out for a seminar. After a seminar or some other training excursion I usually feel completely rejuvenated and refocused on my training. Sometimes it’s as simple as having someone point out the basics and fundementals again. Other times, it’s the feeling of learning something new which inspires you to be refocused. Either way, without fail whenever I come back from a seminar or camp training I always feel reinspired about my training. If you are …

Top MMA Clothing Brands For 2010

November 3, 2020 Comments Off

MMA Clothing has taken the world by storm over the past few years. There are more brands now than ever before, with many already established brands in other sectors taking an interest in the MMA market. This is good for the MMA fan as the market is flooded with top quality gear, fantastic designs at affordable prices. MMA clothing is a global multi-million pound industry and is growing every day. Zuffa who own the UFC have brought MMA to the mainstream around the world and are responsible for the growth of the industry.
In a fiercely competitive market it is good to have a little bit of history on the already established brands. Here are my top MMA brands for 2010 and a brief outline about the company and some of their top sponsored fighters.
Warrior International
Warrior International feels that their actions speak louder than words. Only the elite, most professional MMA fighters in the world are chosen to represent the Warrior name in competition. Warrior International does exactly as it says; provides tough, high quality clothing for the modern day Gladiator. Their clothing line is always on cutting edge of style and fashion and features designs that cross the spectrum – you’re just as likely to see Warrior hats and tees in the cage or the street as you are in the club. Quality is never sacrificed and Warrior is always after the best fabrics and materials to use in their designs.
Demand for Warrior product has grown to the point that International was added to the name as they are now truly a global brand.
Warrior fight shorts have a very subtle design and feel great on they are very popular and can be seen parading the streets as well as the cage. Their shirts have very bold designs and are made with exceptional quality. These shirts seem to be the brand preferred by many of the top MMA fighters!
Sponsored fighters such as: Brock Lesnar, Shane Carwin, Houston Alexander, Gabriel Gonzaga, Rich Clementi, Mac Danzig, Tyson Griffin, Heath Herring, James Irvin, Chris Leben, Joe Stevenson, Thiago Silva, Jeff Monson, Ed Herman and Sean Sherk.
Silver Star
Silver Star Casting Company, which started as a small Orange County boutique, has quickly become a major player in the global fashion and accessories industry. Founded in 1993 by Luke Burrett, today Silver Star is one of the most visible names in men’s and women’s fashion. With an unapologetic logo and bold graphics on a huge range of MMA fight Shirts, Shorts, Hoodies, Jerseys, Silver Star is infused with punk-rock sensibilities that push the fashion envelope. The creative team behind Silver Star are constantly taking the pulse of the streets to keep their products squarely on the cutting-edge. As a result, Silver Star is a favorite among trend setting celebrities who recognize its innovative style and originality. Silver Star shirts are renowned for their quality and funky designs. Many top fighters have a signature range with Silver Star and the brand can be seen on the backs of many top fighters.
Luke and his family run Silver Star fueled by the belief that if you live life like a champion, anything is possible. Hard work, determination and a refusal to take ‘no’ for an answer is what Silver Star was built on. The MMA athletes and members of the Silver Star family are reflections of this ideology, and are proud to wear apparel that is built for Champions.
Sponsored fighters such as: Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, Frank Trigg, Rashad Evans, Urijah Faber, Lyoto Machida, Manny Pacquiao, Jon Jones, Minotauro Nogueira, Rich Franklin, Rob Emerson, Thiago Silva, Clay Guida, Forrest Griffin, Georges St-Pierre and Rashad Evans.
Tapout
Tapout is the world’s leading mixed-martial arts apparel, gear and lifestyle brand on the market today. Tapout produces the hottest apparel for men, women and children. As the energy escalates around the MMA culture, Tapout is taking on a life of its own with an attitude so American and Arrogant that the demand for the brand has gone global. Tapout are also the exclusive apparel sponsor for Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter” through 2011. Tapout are the most instantly recognisable and front-running brand in MMA. Tapout was spawned in 1997 by owners Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis and Dan ‘Punkass’ Caldwell as a counterculture movement to produce and provide innovative merchandise for the mixed martial arts revolution. Tapout has since become a pioneer of the MMA movement and a $multi-million empire.
In or out of the cage, Tapout provides attitude and arrogance with brash, dynamic designs that will not succumb to the latest trend, but will always stay true to their original mission; taking MMA to the rightful place of world domination where it belongs.
As a MMA market leader, Tapout sets the trends instead of …