Any able-bodied person with a functioning brain is capable of mastering their art if they stick with it. This is because your brain can store almost limitless information and memories. According to research, “the human brain consists of about 86 billion neurons. Each neuron forms connections to other neurons, which [Read More]
There are countless articles and guidelines for being a good martial arts student as well as being a good instructor. But what do we know about being a good partner? Many martial arts rely on partner work for not only sparring, but also for practicing self-defense and basic drills. A [Read More]
DISCLAIMER: This article describes an advanced training technique that should be approached with caution. Toughen Up! As martial artists, one of the most important things we need to do is to “toughen up” or “condition” our hands. This can be accomplished in many ways and must be done progressively. One [Read More]
Ah, the venerable heavy bag! Is there anything else that says “this is a real fighters’ gym” more than the presence of a heavy bag dangling from chain? It is just so basic an item that its absence is immediately noted. Due to its versatility, it deserves its special place [Read More]
My best boss has never stepped foot in the corporate world, where I’ve worked for nearly twenty years. This person was my Sabumnim, my master instructor from the taekwondo school where I trained for five years. I’ve never worked in a formal leadership role in my day job. Nor have [Read More]
“What would you do if someone was drunk and in your face, and a whole lot bigger than you?” My instructor grabbed the front of my uniform in his fist, and shook me slightly to emphasize his point. Standing a foot taller than me and outweighing me by about 100 [Read More]
We’ve all seen it in a movie or on television: an athlete “blows out their knee” and is never heard from again. Most people assume the felled athlete smoothly transitioned into another sport or hobby without realizing how difficult, lonely, and frustrating injury and recovery can be. Life doesn’t stop [Read More]
Introduction Some ancient Chinese warriors were exceptional jugglers. Warriors of the past greatly relied on their mind-body skills and not fancy technology. Intense training in juggling and martial arts went hand in hand for some of these ancient Chinese warriors, since the expert ability to manipulate the world around them [Read More]
I have been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 2011. In 10 years, I have earned a purple belt and two stripes. I often beat myself up for this. I tell myself I should be further along and compare myself to the training partners who received their blue belts at the [Read More]
As martial artists, we spend a lot of time pursuing increased speed, strength, and highlighting ideal technique selection. These pursuits are time well spent, certainly. The other end of the spectrum, that of the slow and contemplative, is often left solely as the domain of the novice. This is truly [Read More]
Have you practiced qi as a part of your training yet? This is a short essay on a topic that deserves a few volumes of books, which would cover medicine, ecology, diet, exercise, social studies, and meditation, among many other subjects. I have oversimplified and skipped many elements to help [Read More]
Have you practiced today? Outside The Studio Or Dojo Martial art skills are taught in a dojo or studio and the lessons are integrated into our being every day by how we live our lives. Besides fighting skills and exercise, it forms our thoughts, teaches us morality, and gives us [Read More]
Have you practiced today? Breath work, mindfulness, and meditation are generally the same, but each has its own focus. Breath work concentrates specifically on learning how to maximize the strength and efficiency of lung capacity for physical endurance. Mindfulness is just being present in whatever you are doing. Examples of [Read More]
In episode 393 of the Whistlekick Podcast, “The Problems with the Way Self-Defense Is Taught,” Jeremy Lesniak talked about different exercises and training scenarios that he uses to test and develop the real-world self-defense skills of traditional martial artists. Here is a great example: A group of students is divided [Read More]
Open Your Hips: Intermediate/Advanced Routine Tight hips, and the resulting lack of range of motion, is a nightmare of the modern world. We sit most of the time during the day, we drive a lot, and we tend to spend our free time also in a sitting position. Luckily for [Read More]
The year is 1981 and I’m sixteen years old. My aunt Annette is cutting my hair in her kitchen in Saugus, Massachusetts. Suddenly she stops and addresses me in a tone only children with Sicilian relatives can understand. “David, what have you been doing to your head?” Clueless I reach [Read More]
Don’t Skip The Stretching Stretching is important for training in any sport. We all know the importance of it. As martial artists, we usually stretch before class. Stretching alone increases flexibility and range of motion. When possible, stretching with a partner – using his/her body weight – is an advanced [Read More]
As martial artists, each of us will inevitably face an illness, injury, or surgery that will knock us so far down that the evil little voice in our heads will whisper, “This is it. You’ll never train again.” Turn to the internet for solace and you may begin to feel [Read More]
I just got home exhausted from a great Taekwondo class, feeling pretty good about myself. I worked hard and I’m not as sore as I usually am. Not bad for a 53-year-old man! After a quick shower, I settle down in my chair and it’s time to wind down a [Read More]
How Using Indian Clubs Can Improve Shoulder Mobility Many of us live a sedentary lifestyle. We sit at a desk, drive, and watch TV on the couch. Many suffer the upper crossed syndrome, a posture where your head leans forward, your shoulders round, and your muscles become too tight and [Read More]
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