We were just kids who wanted to wrestle. It’s hard to believe where we all are today. It seems like a different world. As we progress through our journey in martial arts, we face many obstacles such as learning curves, harder techniques, and tougher opponents. The young men in this picture faced obstacles over the … Continue reading Keep your head up.
Martial Arts
Building a Legacy
I know it's been a few months since my last post, so I wanted to touch base. I haven't given up opining—quite the contrary. I have had numerous things on my mind lately, much of which I am eager to share with you in the coming months. In my last post, I mentioned that I … Continue reading Building a Legacy
Pull the trigger and eat the frog.
Judo coach Hap Wheeler always has words of encouragement for his students as they maneuver through techniques against unwilling opponents: “Pull the trigger.” I hear him say this phrase in my head often when I hesitate to do something. My last post was about fear and how to use it to do new things and learn … Continue reading Pull the trigger and eat the frog.
Are You Using Your Fear Properly?
If not, here’s how you can make the most of it. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - … Continue reading Are You Using Your Fear Properly?
Jedi Lifestyle: 3 Ways to Use the Force
Other than a few random sheltered individuals, most people know who the Jedi are. Who doesn’t love master Yoda and even have a special place in their hearts for Darth Vader, the Jedi who was led astray by his anger and the dark side? What if the Jedi were real people? Who might they be? … Continue reading Jedi Lifestyle: 3 Ways to Use the Force
The Books You Read Are Safe…
Do they reveal things about you or the world around you that make you pause to remember, reflect, or regret? If the answer is no, then what you are reading is safe.
Training through the years.
This was me as a fresh white belt at my first seminar with Gustavo Machado, my head instructor. As I near ten years on the mat in Jiu Jitsu, plus the many more in Wrestling and Judo, I can't help but think about this year and what it will be like. I have never tired … Continue reading Training through the years.
7 New Year’s Resolutions for Martial Artists
Commit to being more disciplined This year, be more disciplined in your training. Jocko Willink said, “How do you become better? There is only one way – The way of discipline.” This might mean doing more reps during class. You might get there early and do solo drills. Make every move count. With every new … Continue reading 7 New Year’s Resolutions for Martial Artists
Quitting: Should I walk away?
Have you ever felt like quitting? Whether it’s a martial art, a marriage, or a job, we’ve all felt like giving up the fight at some point in our lives. So what do we do when we face the temptation to walk away? Why people quit. Some do it because of the stress involved in … Continue reading Quitting: Should I walk away?
Even Elvis Had a Black Belt
Photo credit: http://www.elvispresleyindex.com.br/2014/05/elvis-e-o-karate.html Being the good parent that I am, I recently made my children watch all of the Karate Kid movies (except the one I dub as Kung Fu kid for reasons I might reveal in the future). I hadn’t seen some of them in their entirety in many years. As we watched, it … Continue reading Even Elvis Had a Black Belt
The Philosophical Fighter 