A Great Michigan Camp
This weekend, I attended the Annual Michigan Modern Arnis Camp in Southgate (outside of Detroit). I had a phenomenal time reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, and of course, the training was phenomenal. I went into this camp wondering how my hip would…
400 Day Countdown to 60!
The 400-day countdown to my 60th birthday begins on August 7, 2023. Some may ask, “Why on earth are you doing this?” and “What are you doing during this countdown?“ The simple answer is that I am goal-oriented and need a goal RIGHT NOW. The…
Friday Recommendation #13
Given the overwhelming gravity of yesterday’s post, I’ve concluded that today’s post requires a touch of humour. So, brace yourselves for a hilarious ride! Check out the video below! If you are not able to view this video, go to here. Captain James T. Kirk,…
Is There A Connection between El Niño and Increased Crime?
Some people who study how countries interact with each other have noticed a connection between a country having fewer people and the chances of war. They believe that a country is more likely to start a war if: 1. It is going through a catastrophic…
Friday Recommendation #12
If you are not able to view this video, go to here. Sensei Ando begins this video with a highly entertaining story from his teenage days. Based on this episode, he learned several life lessons. All are wise lessons that originate from an act of…
The Vital Triad: Leg Strength, Balance, and Stability
A long-time cliche in boxing is that “the legs are the first thing to go.” And so it is for martial arts and life in general. While we can’t fight against Father Time, we can slow aging by regularly exercising our legs. Martial arts combine…
Friday Recommendation #11
Okay, okay, okay (in Joe Pesci voice), I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted a podcast or video recommendation. The readers of this blog are familiar with what I’ve gone through in the last year or so. Anyway, it’s time to post my…
A Freaking Lesson Learned
Hard-earned lessons are the ones that stick with us the most. They are often born out of mistakes, failures, or stupidity. These lessons are typically difficult to learn and often require a lot of effort, time, and energy to understand and process. Hard-earned lessons can…
Self-Defense Tips for Deaf Individuals
Introduction I have been wearing cochlear implants since 2013. They are amazing and a vast improvement over hearing aids. But they are not the be-all and end-all. I often can’t hear people coming up behind me, and when I’m walking, I often don’t hear cars…
Crappy Hip to Bionic Hip: My FMA Footwork Reboot
Introduction While their stick, knife or machete hypnotizes many students, they often overlook the importance of footwork. In this blog post, I will explore the importance of footwork in FMA. Further, I explain how FMA footwork is my main barrier to returning to teaching. In…
