Back To The Drawing Board
As many of you know, one of my goals for my 60th birthday is to perform 60 push-ups on that day. To that end, I’ve been doing test push-ups. Until yesterday, I was progressing. Unfortunately, I regressed, going from 38 last month to 36 yesterday….
Going Into The Martial Arts Hibernation Season
Do you expect to train on the same martial material year-round? That approach will lead to burnout and stagnation. The intelligent approach is to vary your training throughout the year. Changing routines is relatively easy for martial arts competitors. For example, they can spend the…
Friday Recommendation #22
If you are not able to view the video, go here. In short, I highly recommend this video. This video starts with Jesse demonstrating Naihanchi/Tekki Shodan and explaining that it contains elements of Wing Chun. Beginning with that kata, Sensei Jesse and Sifu Kevin Lee…
The Difficulty of Teaching Structure in Martial Arts
Teaching martial arts involves more than just physical techniques. One must teach structure along with techniques. I have found that teaching structure is much more challenging than a martial art’s physical techniques. But what is structure? Structure includes stances, footwork, positioning, body posture and much…
Friday Recommendation #21
October 30th marked the 49th anniversary of the “Rumble In The Jungle,” one of the most famous fights in boxing history. There is no doubt in my mind that the 50th anniversary next year will result in numerous articles about this fight. In this epic…
Inside The Martial Arts Bubble
Not everyone is inside the martial arts bubble. A recent self-defence class at Durham College/Ontario Tech University drove this home. I was teaching a basic ground defence to the participants to a group of 5 to 6 students. I explained to the participants that, after…
What A Phenomenal ArnisFest!
Wow, what can I say about the 25th ArnisFest, which occurred this past weekend in Mooresville, Indiana? It was a phenomenal event filled with great instruction, training, friendships, and making new friends. In short, I’ve been blessed to have attended two great camps this year….
Why I Avoid FMA Discussion Forums
In short, too much backstabbing, negative energy, and other bullshit percolating on these forums. I’ve seen some of this behavior in person and online. I became cautious about participating in these forums several years ago and have not participated much. Until recently, I posted on…
Friday Recommendation #20
Quick background: Sonny Sison produced the well-known FMA documentary “Bladed Hand” several years ago, which was widely acclaimed. He has long been involved in the entertainment industry. As evidenced by the interview below, he has studied various styles of FMAs. The interview touches on topics…
More Trouble Ahead for Martial Arts Schools?
When we thought martial arts schools could rest easy after the pandemic, we now realize that potentially tough times are ahead. Jeebus, what now? In short, interest rate hikes. First, before we discuss interest rate hikes, there are already some troubling signs for consumers in…
