Phenomenal Houston Modern Arnis Camp
What can I say about last week’s Houston Modern Arnis Camp? I had a phenomenal time training and teaching. The last time I went to Houston was pre-COVID-19. In addition, I missed last year’s camp since it took place three weeks after my right hip…
Video of the Week 2: Footwork
Last week, I focused on the driving side of the equation and stressed that, for driving purposes, one should have the same side foot forward according to the hand holding the stick. In other words, holding the stick in the right hand, you should have…
Inaugural Video of the Week: Stick and Foot Position
Here we go! This is my first actual video blog post. I’m sure there will be some kinks/trouble-shooting to work on. This should be an exciting experiment! As mentioned in the video, I will make this available to the public for the first 3 or…
Sparring or Free Play?
Sensei Jesse Enkamp has a great video on the issue of sparring versus free play. It’s a worthwhile watch. Martial artists often discuss the concepts of free play and sparring. On the one hand, free play, characterized by a less structured and more exploratory form…
Top Ten Tips for Watching Martial Arts Instructional Videos
Introduction With the rise of digital learning, martial arts enthusiasts have unprecedented access to a wealth of instructional videos. Nowadays, we can access videos through online platforms, streaming videos and DVDs. I have a huge collection of videos dating back to the 1980s. Over time,…
My Favorite Boxing Movies
Whenever folks ask me about my favorite boxing movies, I tell them I have two in mind. The first is “Rocky II.” My other all-time favorite boxing movie is “Raging Bull” starring Robert DeNiro. Below is the trailer for “Raging Bull.” In my mind, this…
Five Great Ways to Get Popeye’s Forearms!
There are five great ways to get Popeye’s forearms without lifting weights. You only need sticks for the exercises demonstrated below. The following methods will leave you feeling like you have Popeye’s forearms! (1) Squeeze the sticks One exercise is to do the controlled version…
Navigating Between Too Much Or Just Enough
Some of you know I am a huge football fan in addition to martial arts. After all, it’s hard to avoid watching football in Ohio. I have clear memories of watching the 1970 Cotton Bowl game between Notre Dame and Texas with my father. I…
The Present and Future Rage Wave
Conversation with a School Teacher A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a school teacher who will be retiring this year. She teaches the younger grades. I don’t want to reveal too much about her to protect her identity. During our conversation, I…
Will AI Result In Increased Violence?
No, I’m not talking about futuristic scenarios such as the rise of Skynet. I believe that AI’s short to medium-term threat is a bit more ordinary. The threat of violence from AI comes from its potentially destabilizing nature. If you are not able to view…