Sputtering to Life
My hopes of ramping up my private lesson teaching schedule from 0 to 60mph ran into reality last week. In a way, this mirrors the North American and European economies. Both are sputtering back to life after a year of COVID-related lockdowns. Rebooting economies isn’t…
Inching Toward Normal Life?
“Wow, are we inching toward normal life?” That thought was running through my head while I taught last night’s Zoom class. As readers of this blog know, I’ve been teaching Zoom classes for nearly a year. After a long winter and spring, it was time…
4 Ways To Set Up Your Opponent
How do you set up an opponent? There are several methods of setting up your opponent for a finishing shot. In the video below, I demonstrate four ways of setting up your opponent. If you are not able to view this video, click here. In…
Friday Recommendation #10
This is a short one, clocking in at 11 minutes or so. This video does a fantastic job of discussing live training and some associated myths. Sensei Iain is straightforward and non-judgmental on this topic. If you are not able to view this video, click…
Friday Recommendation #9
How many of you have run into martial artists who acted as though they knew it all? The hell with them, right? While that may be a justifiable reaction, many of us have gone through a period where we knew it all. This terrific podcast…
The Absurd Ban on Outdoor Recreational Activities
One of the absurdities of the current “stay at home” order in Ontario is a ban on outdoor recreational activities. This flies in the face of the current COVID-19 science. The risk of being infected with COVID-19 is much lower outdoors than indoors. Ontario’s medical…
Pandemic Solo Training
Pandemic Solo Training? Hell, yes, it can be done! While it is true that FMAs are geared toward partner training, there are also tons of solo training possibilities during this pandemic. Forms and stick shadowboxing (carenza) come to mind. However, I have more than those…
Friday Recommendation #8
If you are not able to watch this video, click here. This is a nice complement/counterpart to my blog post earlier this week. What do you think when you hear “McDojo?” Most of us consider this to mean martial arts schools that are unworthy by…
Just Do Your Freaking Thing
I’ve been pondering the importance of ignoring what Professor Presas once called “the barking dogs.” He often said, “Ignore the barking dogs and do your thing.” There are many naysayers out there who espouse absolutism. They fail to recognize what is true for themselves, and…
Friday Recommendation #7 – Maija Soderholm Interview
This is a fantastic interview between Dean France and Maija Soderholm. If you are not able to view this video, click here. I am usually reluctant to recommend lengthy podcasts. Between family and work, most readers won’t have time to digest a 2-hour podcast. I…
