Patent Application
20140363799
The present invention relates generally to methods, systems, and apparatus to provide students and instructors with mobile applications for Martial Arts training.
Many forms of Martial Arts are practiced and taught with students and practitioners of all ages. The most effective training occurs when an instruction can actually work with the student. The student will later practice at home what he or she has learned in class, usually by his or herself, relying on memory, and, in some cases, referring to a manual or handbook. There are also books and videos available for some of the more popular Martial Arts and some techniques and Katas can be found on internet web sites like YouTube. But little is available to help the student improve reaction times when called up to execute a defensive technique during classroom drills or promotion tests, nor respond more effectively during classroom sparring, or during actual street attacks. And further, manuals and videos do not help the student learn a new technique or Kata in a step by step manner while being able to freely maneuver about and have both hands free to strike and defend. Nor are there effective tools to assist the Martial Arts instructor in class. And so there remains a need to improve Martial Arts training method, systems and apparatus for the benefit of both students and instructors.
Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided to convey information to assist in Martial Arts training.
One aspect of the invention provides methods to computer-implemented access present data contained in files held in memory.
Another aspect provides the student with a computer-implemented disciplined approach to stretching during a practice session.
Yet another aspect provides a method to more rapidly bring the elements of a defensive technique or techniques to mind.
Still other aspects of the mobile Martial Arts training application provide computer-implemented methods, apparatus, and systems to hone the student's reaction time and mastery of fundamental, advanced, and sparring skills.
Computer-implemented methods provide graphical and/or audible representation of one or more defensive techniques, the methods further providing variable time based rates of presentation.
Some embodiments provide a tangible computer readable storage medium including program code for execution by a processor, the program code, when executed, to implement various Martial Arts training and/or instruction procedures. The methods include providing a graphical and/or audible representation of one or more defensive techniques. The graphical and/or audible representation visually and/or audibly conveys a series to time based instruction to the Martial Arts student to improve the student's reaction time to particular events.
a-b show a mobile device and user interface.
a-2b show file structures embodiments for use in a mobile application for training students in Martial Arts.
a-b show example interfaces for a stretching routine.
a-f show aspects of the mobile application to provide audible and/or visual information about Martial Arts techniques.
a-c illustrate the user interface associated with one aspect of the invention to help the Martial Arts student practice various techniques and improve reaction time.
d-h show the user interfaces for Martial Arts students and instructors to create and save new practice routines.
a-d depict the another aspect of the mobile application being used to help sharpen the Martial Artist's sparring skills.
e-f show how the mobile application deletes and/or renames previously saved practice routines.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of several embodiments of the present invention, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in the attached drawings.
Illustrative examples are shown in the above-identified figures and described in detail below. In describing these examples, like or identical reference numbers are used to identify the same or similar elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features and views of the figures may be shown exaggerated in scale or in schematic for clarity and/or conciseness. Additionally, several examples have been described throughout this specification. Any features from any example may be included with, a replacement for, or otherwise combined with other features from other examples.
It will be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit thereof. The present examples and embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details presented herein.
Although the following discloses example methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufacture including, among other components, firmware and/or software executed on hardware, it should be noted that such methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are merely illustrative and should not be considered as limiting. For example, it is contemplated that any or all of these firmware, hardware, and/or software components could be embodied exclusively in hardware, exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware, or in any combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. Accordingly, while the following describes example methods, apparatus, systems, and/or articles of manufacture, the examples provided are not the only way(s) to implement such methods, apparatus, systems, and/or articles of manufacture.
A mobile application on a handheld computing device (e.g., an Apple iPad™ iPhone™, and/or other tablet computer or smartphone) can enhance one or more aspects of Martial Arts training. The illustrative mobile device presented herein is an Android based smartphone.
a shows Motorola Triumph android based smartphone 1 having touch-sensitive screen 10. Home screen 10 includes status bar 11 and a number of application specific icons 12. Smartphone 1 has multiple controls of which menu key 13 and back key 14 are especially useful in the instant mobile application. Tapping Martial Arts training icon 19 activates the subject mobile application, bringing up screen 100 of
Screen 100 shows the main menu of the subject Martial Arts training application. Screen 100 provides the user with selectable functions 101-108 wherein each function provides a different aspect a Martial Arts training program. Eight functions are shown, but the number is not limiting as some functions could be combined while others could be divided into multiple functions. Additional functions can also be call up by tapping menu key 14 if desired. The illustrative embodiments provide various training for the Martial Art of Kempo Karate, but the mobile application is not limited to that art. The operation and structure of the mobile application discussed below could just as easily be applied to any of more than three thousand Martial Arts practiced around the world today.
Particular functions are selected by tapping its window, icon, button, etc. in a known manner. Back key 14 can be used to back up one screen during use, and to exit the application and return to home screen 10 of
Kempo Karate, like other Martial Arts, includes different type of kicks and punches, multiple blocking systems and techniques designed to defend against armed and unarmed assailants. The illustrative mobile application provides functions 101-108 to help the student master these skills. Each function can include a label naming the function, such as Stretching 113 of function 103 and/or a descriptive icon, such as icon 123 depicting a Martial Artist in the act of stretching. Icons can suggest something about the topic and allow pre-school children to use many features of the application.
As shown in
Data in one form or another is associated with each of functions 101-108; some as part of the mobile application's database, and others as files and preferences created by the user. The data can be stored in the phone's internal memory, on an installed Secure Digital memory card, or SD card, a connected external drive, on an internet based web site, in the user's so-called internet based cloud storage, etc. As used herein, SD card is a non-specific designation and can apply to any memory source associated with or in communication with the device, such as so-called Internet based cloud storage.
Data associated with the illustrative mobile application can be in the form of text files, Portable Document Format (PDF), bitmaps, image, music and/or video files, etc. (.txt, .jpg, .pdf, .mp3, etc.) located in directories, or folders in memory. The file structure of one embodiment is shown in
The mobile application can be adapted to other forms of Martial Arts. Some Martial Artists cross train several different arts and each art can have its own separate training application. For instance Aikido folder 206 and Krav Maga folder 208 can include data folders and files adapted specifically to the Aikido and Krav Maga Martial Arts.
Alternatively, a single Martial Arts training application can comprise a universal Martial Arts training engine adapted to operate in conjunction with any particular Martial Arts databases, as shown in
As will be discussed below, several of the functions 101-108 of screen 100 have associated student generated files, herein collectively referred to as user routines. The file structure of
Each Function 101-108 provides a different training aspect, each capable of standing alone as a separate mobile application. All functions are initiated in the function's 101-108 window.
Tapping Function 103 of screen 100 brings up Stretching screen 300 shown in
Screen 300 and other screens of the mobile application can also optionally display status bar 11 if desired by the user. Status bar 11 displays time, battery strength, phone signal strength, wireless connections, email and text messaging notifications and the like. It can be turned off if desired as will be discussed later.
Beach routine 320 is saved as text file 2131 in Stretching folder 213 within Routines folder 201 as part of Kempo Karate folder 207 of
Similarly stored routines can reside in Flash Cards folder 211, Advanced Techniques folder 214, Fundamentals folder 215, Sparring folder 216 and Notes folder 218 of
Beach routine 1311041447.txt file 2131 includes the name to appear as
Tapping Beach routine 320 begins the selected stretching routine, annunciating each individual stretch through internal or external speakers, attached ear buds, or a wirelessly connected headset using a text-to-speech engine resident in the device (not shown), or as pre-recorded voice files in mp3, etc. format. Tapping Beach routine 320 also brings up screen 330 having header 340 identifying which routine is being executed and specific stretch name 350. The stretching routine will continue to execute even if the display screen of smartphone 1 is turned off to conserve battery power and prevent inadvertent triggering if smartphone 1 is pocketed to free up the students hands. Each stretch is held for a preselected period of time before the next stretch is announced, for instance 30 seconds. Stretches ending in LR in Exemplary File 1 designate that that particular stretch is to be performed bilaterally, invoking the annunciation of “on one side” followed the preselected period of time later by “now on the other”. The LR designation is stripped from the stretch name before it is announced and displayed.
The preselected stretching time can be changed by tapping Settings Function 107 window of screen 100 of
The mobile application looks to Kempo Karate folder 212 of
Tapping Handbook Function 101 on screen 100, here repeated in
The topic windows of
The first line gives the name to be used in the topic window, here Knives, and the image file name of icon to appear, here knives.png, although other formats like .jpg or .tif, etc. can also be used. The image file can be located in Knives folder 240, or in Icons folder 260, as is the case here. The next line lists the number of different knife defenses held in folder 240 and appearing as indicia 528 on screen 500. The last line is a binary number identifying in which Functions 101-108 the folder is to be included. The number 110100 indicates that Knives 240 data is to be used in the Handbook 101, Flash Card 102, and Advanced Techniques 104 functions, but not in the Stretching 103, Fundamentals 104, or Sparring 106 functions.
Tapping topic window 520 calls up screen 501 in
The first line is the name that will appear in the item windows of screen 502, discussed below, here Stabbing Knife 2. The second indicate at what belt level the defense is taught, here 0 indicating that it can be taught at any belt level. In Kempo Karate, belt level of 3 would indicate that the technique is taught at the Orange belt level, and an Orange belt icon would appear in the associated item window of screen 502. The third line indicates how many actual or apparent steps are involved in the technique. As will be seen later, the number does not need to be a whole number. The final lines describe the actual technique.
Tapping item selection window 530 on screen 501 of
Tapping “Read Aloud” button 591 causes the mobile application to read the instructions audibly to the student, one line at a time. This is a particularly useful option as it allows the student to turn off the screen display and pocket or set aside the device while walking through the technique as a way of learning it without having to read the steps as though guided by an instructor. Tapping “Read Aloud” button also brings up screen 504 of
Advanced Techniques are generally multi-step techniques deigned to defend against armed and unarmed attacks. Each is relatively complicated and takes a significant amount of practice before the technique becomes second nature. The Advanced Techniques function provides means to help the student physically practice in an active and stimulating manner.
Tapping Advanced Technique window 105 on screen 100 of
The first line of the file is the routine's name, the second line its creation date, and the third line lists the total number of techniques included in the routine. The remaining lines list the names of a particular techniques preceded by an effective number of “steps” needed to execute the technique. The effective number of steps is taken from the text files describing each specific technique. For instance, the Stabbing Knife 2 line indicates the technique requires 4.0 “steps” to complete as read from line three of the knife2.txt text file 243 shown in Exemplary File 3 above. The effective number of “steps” is significant because a technique with 4 actual steps will take longer to execute than a technique with 2 actual steps. The value listed in “steps” is actually how much time the student needs to execute a particular technique and return to an on-guard stance relative to a how much time is needed to execute a typical single step. As shown above, the value is not necessarily the number of actual steps in the technique because some steps might be especially long or short.
Tapping “auxiliaries” routine 603 causes the mobile application to call up screen 610 having header 611 as shown in
The student physically executes each technique as it is announced, building muscle memory and improving reaction times and execution speeds. The mobile application keeps track of which techniques have been practiced and which have not, freeing the student to concentrate on the techniques, without worrying that any techniques have been overlooked. The display can be turned off and the smartphone pocketed, freeing the student to practice unencumbered.
The function is not limited to use by a single student but can be used simultaneously by two or more students. When used by more than one student at time, the audible output is directed to the devices internal speakers, or to external speakers by wire or wirelessly so that all students can hear the commands at the same time. This an especially useful option when the mobile application is used by an instructor in a class room setting. The instructor first creates a routine suitable for the skill lever of his or her students, as discussed below, and begins execution, directing the output to external speakers. The students then practice the techniques to the air, or work in pairs with one student attacking and the other defending. The instructor is free to observe the students, noting what needs to be worked on and what does not, without keeping track of what techniques have been called.
Screen 610 further includes control panel 613 to provide the student or instructor with control over the execution of the routine. For instance, control panel 613 can include rate display 614 showing the rate at which the “steps” are executed, and “Faster” and “Slower” buttons 615 to speed up or slow down the rate of execution.
Control panel 613 can further include time left display 616 showing how much time is left in the routine. The mobile application initially sums the number of “steps” for each technique and stores that sum. It then decrements that sum by the number of “steps” associated with each technique as it is executed. The time shown in time left display 616 is that decremented sum multiplied by the rate at which a single step would be executed. Thus, time left 616 automatically adjusts whenever the student speeds up or slows down the routine with rate buttons 615 to assure that the full routine is executed. Time left display 616 can be made to count down more smoothly by having the display decrement every second, correcting only when the rate in rate window 614 is changed.
Time left display 616 further includes “Longer” and “Shorter” buttons 617 to allow the student to spend more or less time practicing the routine executed. Lengthening or shortening the routine adds or subtracts steps from the running sum of remain steps, here by a value equal to 60 seconds divided by the rate in rate window 614.
Control panel 613 further includes “Shuffle” button 618 to allow the student to either execute each technique in the order it appears in the routine's text file, or to shuffle the order so that each technique will be executed in an unpredictable order to further challenge the student's reaction time. Control panel 613 further includes “Image” button 619 that instructs the mobile application to display an image of an attacker attacking in a manner for which the defensive technique is particularly well suited in place of technique name 612 (see
The mobile application bypasses Screen 600 of
Screen 620 of
The number of qualifying techniques 625 within applicable folders that fall within the desired skill level is included in list 622. The sum of the “steps” of those techniques is multiplied by whatever the current value for rate 614 (
The user adds the entirety of all the qualifying knife defense techniques in Knives folder 240 of
The student can also add specific techniques by tapping a category's icon, here Shaolin Defenses icon 624 to call up screen 630, here displaying list 636 of the qualifying Shaolin Defenses techniques as identified in header 631. The names and belts, for instance name “SD 12” 632 and its belt icon 633 populate list 636. Tapping a techniques window, for example the “SD 13—No Belt” window 634 adds that technique to the new routine with the number of times that the technique has been selected appearing as numeral 635.
Tapping belt icon 637 calls up Settings screen 400 so that the user can change the desired belt level on the fly to add categories and techniques from a higher belt if desired without changing the categories and techniques already added to the new routine.
The user may wish to cycle through the routine multiple times during a practice session and can add additional passes by tapping “Passes” window 638. Window 638 also display an estimate of how long the routine will take based on the total number of “steps” multiplied by the currently set rate.
The user taps “Return” button 639 to return to screen 620 and there taps “Finished” button 629 to indicate that all desired categories and techniques have been selected, bringing up screen 640 of
If saved, the routine will be stored in the Advanced Techniques routines folder 214 with the date based file name, such as 1305271453.txt with the date code meaning 3:53 pm, May 27, 2013. as discussed above, the name of the routine that will appear on screen 600 of
Tapping “New Name” button 645 brings up pop-up voice recognition window 646 to overlay screen 640 as shown in
The above example uses voice recognition algorithms and processes resident in smartphone 1, or other appropriate devices. Physical and/or software controlled keyboards can also be used as input methods. The user can toggle “Keyboard” button 492 on Settings screen 400 of
In one embodiment, the mobile application opens each of the folders in Kempo Karate folder 207 of
In another embodiment, a primary data array (not shown) is built when the mobile application is first started, said primary array having a first part comprising the names, icon addresses, and binary numbers of the folders in Kempo Karate folder 207; and a second part comprising technique names, belt levels, apparent number of “steps”, and the techniques text file address (for use in the Handbook function) on SD Card 200. The mobile application then builds a second, or qualifying, data array from the primary array each time a function is called that requires it, thus saving the significant time required to open and read stored files.
In still another embodiment, the primary data array is stored Kempo. Karate folder 207 on SD Card 200 as data_array.txt 222, as shown in
The Fundamentals function is initiated by tapping Fundamentals window 104 on screen 100 of
The Flash Card function in initiated by tapping Flash Card window 102 on screen 100 of
Tapping Sparring function 106 on screen 100 of
“Shuffle” button 618 of control panel 613 on Advanced Techniques screen 610 is absent as the function has no meaning since the order of the “attacks” is governed by a random number generator and multiple repetitions of the same attack will most likely occur before all the attacks in the routine have been cycled through. Tapping “Image/Text” button 719 replaces attack name 712 with an attack image 718 as shown on
Tapping “Create New” button 707 on screen 700 initiates the process of creating a new sparring routine, bringing up screen 730 of
The user may wish to rename a previously saved routine, or eliminate it altogether. Selecting “Delete” button 709 on screen 700 of
Tapping “Rename” button 708 on screen 700 of
The user may wish to create personal notes with respect to some particular teaching, class schedule or upcoming tournaments. Tapping Notes Function 108 initiates the note taking process, bringing up a list of previous stored notes, if any, for subsequent inspection, or jumping to a create note screen where the note is created either by keyboard entry or voice recognition as methods previously discussed.
Certain examples can include processes that can be implemented using, for example, computer readable instructions that can be used to facilitate mobile Martial Arts training applications for students and instructors. The example processes can be performed using a processor, a controller and/or any other suitable processing device. For example, the example processes and methods can be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer readable instructions) stored on a tangible computer readable medium such as a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), and/or a random-access memory (RAM), or accessed over the internet. As used herein, the term tangible computer readable medium is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable storage. Additionally or alternatively, the example functions and methods can be implemented using coded instructions (e.g., computer readable instructions) stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such as a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray, a cache, or any other storage media in which information is stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching of the information). As used herein, the term non-transitory computer readable medium is expressly defined to include any type of computer readable medium.
Alternatively, some or all of the example processes can be implemented using any combination(s) of application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)), field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), discrete logic, hardware, firmware, etc. Also, some or all of the example processes can be implemented manually or as any combination(s) of any of the foregoing techniques, for example, any combination of firmware, software, discrete logic and/or hardware. Further, although example processes may be described with reference to a particular order and/or structure, other methods of implementing the processes may be employed. For example, the order of execution of the functions can be changed, and/or some of the functions described may be changed, eliminated, sub-divided, or combined.
While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.
This application is a continuation of provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/956,360, filed on Jun. 6, 2013.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61956360 | Jun 2013 | US |
