Introduction I consider myself a martial artist, and I try to acknowledge both parts of that identify. Martial. Artist. The martial techniques are important, but I also appreciate the art behind the movement. The story that it can tell. I appreciate those that make me stop and remember the dual [Read More]
How discipline, movement, community, and joy open new pathways for growth Children who live with neurodivergence—ADHD, autism spectrum, sensory processing challenges, anxiety, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and many others—often navigate a world that feels like it was not designed for them. Traditional learning environments may move too fast or too unpredictably. Social [Read More]
Throughout the long arc of Chinese martial arts history, certain names rise from the dust of time and settle into legend—names invoked with reverence, pride, and awe by practitioners across the world. Among the most celebrated of these heroes stands a constellation of warriors known collectively as The Ten Tigers [Read More]
Martial Arts Safety Governance Ensuring the best possible success for your Business A Trifecta of Success for a Martial Arts Business While there are a number of different definitions within the Martial Arts Industry on what elements of business are needed in order to become a successful school owner, I [Read More]
As the seasons turn and the holidays remind us to slow down, I find myself deeply thankful for something that has shaped every corner of my life: my Kung Fu. Not simply the forms, the conditioning, or the sweat earned on wooden floors, but the entire living path that has [Read More]
Introduction A conversation regarding influential martial artists would usually mention names like Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris. If the discussion was concerning historical figures, names such as Ip Man, Gichin Funakoshi, or even Helio Gracie may be mentioned. If I directed the conversation towards swords, you might bring up Miyamoto [Read More]
When the Ming dynasty faced one of the most dangerous threats to its coastal stability, it was not an invading army from the north or a rebellion rising from within. It was a relentless wave of maritime raiders known as the Wokou pirates—a coalition of Japanese swordsmen, ronin, smugglers, warlords, [Read More]
Iron Body, Iron Mind: Robert Downey Jr.’s Martial Arts Journey Through Wing Chun, Recovery, and Reinvention 1600 words Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most recognizable actors on the planet—an icon who helped redefine modern cinema through his charismatic, razor-sharp portrayal of Tony Stark in the Iron Man and [Read More]
The Kwan Dao—also written Guan Dao, Kwan Tou, or Kwan Dao—is one of the most iconic and culturally charged weapons in the Chinese martial tradition. Its sweeping blade, heavy iron ring, long wooden haft, and unmistakable profile make it stand out immediately on any weapons rack. Yet the Kwan Dao [Read More]
Expanding your Martial Arts Business Purchase market share or grow organically Is it time to grow the Business I once wrote a MA Success Magazine article about on the probable consolidation of the Martial Arts industry, which I wrote before the full onset of the COVID pandemic. We had seen [Read More]
Origins of the Bladed Legacy Among the many Filipino martial systems that have survived the centuries, few carry the battlefield-tested authenticity and brutal practicality of Dekiti Tirsia Siradas Kali (DTSK). Born from the Visayan islands of the Philippines, particularly the island of Negros Occidental, the art traces its roots [Read More]
Martial arts has long been recognized for its physical advantages—strength, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, coordination, and self-defense skills. Yet the most profound transformation often happens beyond the physical body. Martial arts is a discipline that shapes not only how practitioners move, but how they think, respond, and feel. The emotional and [Read More]
The role of character coaching in martial arts and how athletes progress through the three levels of sports participation is a concept that can easily be overlooked or miscommunicated. These three levels are often forgotten when someone—or their child—first begins a sport. The expectation of each level, however, is implicit. [Read More]
The Battle of Red Cliffs—also called the Battle of Chibi (赤壁之戰)—stands as one of the most iconic and consequential military engagements in Chinese history. Fought during the winter of 208–209 CE, it was a decisive clash between the northern warlord Cao Cao and the allied southern warlords Sun Quan and [Read More]
the Art of Reading the “Shark Bump” You’ve drilled the techniques. You’ve conditioned your body. So much so that your techniques are polished gold and your body black and blue. You can feel the 崩す, Kuzushi (Unbalancing) in a grapple and see the opening reveal itself as your [Read More]
To Release Four Hands “Just when you think you know the answers, I change the questions” – “Rowdy” Roddy Piper. To Release Four Hands describes a moment of perfect symmetry. It is when you and your opponent are locked in a contest of equal intent, equal energy, and equal timing. [Read More]
The era of the Three Kingdoms stands as one of the most dramatic, romanticized, and culturally influential periods in Chinese history. Spanning roughly from the late second century to the late third century CE, this epoch witnessed the fall of the Han Dynasty, the fragmentation of the empire, and the [Read More]
To Become the Enemy: The Art of Strategic Empathy “In order to conquer him, I have to think like him, smell like him, look like him. I gotta become the gopher.” – Bill Murray as Karl Spackler from the movie Caddyshack Spackler’s line echoes a deeper martial arts and psychological [Read More]
Introduction I make no excuses for my love of the Karate Kid movies and the spin off tv show Cobra Kia. I can watch them during any holiday, even Halloween, and found a connection my life. I acknowledge that Halloween may not be the first lens through which we view [Read More]
The Book of Fire – To Become the Enemy “We suffer more often in imagination than in reality”. – Seneca This isn’t just battlefield wisdom; it’s a lens for training, competition, and life. Fear often masquerades as caution, and clarity in strategy dissolves illusion. In martial arts, in tournaments, or [Read More]
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