Rodeo Forty Years Ago

The trailer is unhooked and parked at the edge of the field in the trees. The horses have been unloaded, brushed down and are tied in the shade where they can relax until they are needed. The truck has been backed up to the arena fence, the tale-gate has been dropped and sits ready to provide seating to enjoy the early morning slack or afternoon performance of the rodeo.

People visiting and mingling with friends and family as they go about getting ready for events they are entered in. Little ones are excited to be part of the mutton busting and calf riding. Next up the generation ladder kids wait their turn to ride steers and team rope with a sibling, parents or good friends. Teenagers and adults alike are warming up their horses for calf roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing.

The younger generation hone their skills by swinging ropes at bales of hay and tying calves made out of half a tire with legs made of four sticks cut to the appropriate length. Watchful mentors giving advice and praise over the efforts being made.

The smell of hamburgers and onions cooking on the grill at the outdoor concession stand waifs through the air along with the aroma of strong brewed coffee. All mingling with the odours of the rodeo grounds.

The announcer has done his sound checks and the person acting as the rodeo clown for the day is finishing his face paint while running through his scheduled afternoon antics in his mind.

The stock contractor trucks arrived the day before to unload the rough stock and the local ranchers that are supplying the calves and steers have long since been and gone in the early morning hours. Their contribution of stock is safely penned in corrals located behind the arena.

Sounds from behind the chutes indicate that the bareback horses are being run into the chutes to await the cowboys who have drawn them. Soon the bareback rigging will be in place and horse and rider will explode from the gate when it opens.

The performance will soon start with a grand entry and introductions of the community leaders and organizers that have worked so hard in preparation of this day. Recognition will be given to the oldest and youngest person entered, local celebrities such as a student who has won a scholarship, rodeo royalty from another town, the timers, and the judges and pick up men.

For those who came, performed their best, and maybe, just maybe, were lucky enough to take home a little bit of the prize money; the luck of the draw was on their side.

This was rodeo forty years ago; and at the end of the day when the trucks and trailers were pulling out of the rodeo grounds to head home; there was a comfortable feeling of belonging.

Preparing For a Kickboxing Tournament

While kickboxing can be dated a couple of millennia ago, it has only been recently that kickboxing tournaments have become prevalent. Official kickboxing tournaments though have been plagued with an ugly past. Kickboxing practitioners who felt that they were being held back by the restrictions of full contact staged their own underground tournaments which led to ugly results. Injuries were common and there was no denying the rare yet occurring life threatening damages. Luckily, governing bodies quickly got wind and sanctioned protective padding allowing for a full contact sport, without the necessary risks.

When the dangers were highly decreased, more and more people had the desire to join the competitions to test the skills and guts. Bravery, that is indeed a required component, not because of having the courage to face injuries, but learning to conquer their fears amidst their adversary. Some people take kickboxing lessons and join competitions because they want to face their greatest fears and beat them.

But kickboxing is more than just beating your opponent, this is just a mindset for competitions and tournaments, in real life, experts and masters teach kickboxing as a means of self defense, and not for offensive purposes. If that is your reason for learning kickboxing, then don't do it. Kickboxing is also a very popular form of exercise program today. To some though, kickboxing is their sport and to a certain degree, their way of life. That's why many of these aficionados join kickboxing tournaments to test their skills.

But no matter how skilled a person is in kickboxing, it won't matter if he or she is not able to train properly for the tournament. Unlike team sports, kickboxing relies solely on the preparation of a single person to emerge victorious. Plus, the training level should be high as unlike boxing, kickboxing requires all physical aspects to be fit and ready as it involves strikes and motions from the feet.

Not only should a competitor be able to provide powerful strikes, he or she should also be agile enough to move smoothly to find its moment to strike. This would then include the conditioning of the mind. A kickboxer should be able to focus clearly and anticipate strikes from his or her opponents and use their own motion to their advantage.

This means that a potential competitor should then develop strength, agility, flexibility, endurance, stamina, and to clear their minds. This can be achieved through running, skipping, jumping, lifting weights, stretching and developing their techniques.

Another aspect that should be closely monitored is the diet. In preparing for a kickboxing tournament, a participant should cut fat intake, and get high protein and carbohydrates in their body for energy. Getting a good amount of fresh fruits and vegetables is necessary and don't forget to have as much liquids as you can.

SOS Gripz Riders - Eyewear For the Motorcyclist and Bicyclist

For more than a century, protective motorcycle sunglasses and goggles have reduced the glare and provided protection for eyes from the damaging sun, wind and debris, and have been used by motorcyclists. Bicyclists have joined this use by enjoying a bike for exercise, race for the challenge, for commuting to work, or just for having fun. They are joining the motorcyclist by adopting the motorcycle eyewear style with protective features.

The SOS Gripz Riders sunglasses feature a lightweight, shatter proof Duralite Polycarbonate lens that shields your eyes from the sun, wind and debris. They block out the full spectrum of harmful UV Radiation and notably reduce eye drying infrared radiation.

The Composite Shock Frames are formulated to hold their shape and hug your head even in the most extreme conditions. These frames incorporate wrap around styling that functions to shield your eyes from peripheral glare and brightness.

There are sixteen styles to choose from and these sunglasses come in a variety of lens colors, i.e: Clear, Yellow, Blue, Smoke, Orange or Smoke/Orange. Some of the SOS Eyewear Gripz Riders come with interchangeable lenses, some with padded temple tips providing air venting systems, nose bridges, and with or without adjustable elasticized straps, depending on which goggle or sunglass you choose. Additionally, the come with a micro fiber cleaning cloth and a neoprene style protective case.

Cleaning the lenses with tissue or paper towel (wood based products) will create fines scratches on the lens that will eventually distort their vision. Using the soft micro fiber cleaning cloth will keep your lenses clean and safe. Using the provided case to store the glasses or goggles in, while not wearing them, will help keep the lenses free from scratches.

With all SOS Eyewear products, the Lifetime Replacement Guarantee applies to insure your satisfaction and a reminder that you have selected the best.