“It’s a Pain in the Ass.”
How many of you have described a task as “a pain in the ass?” When confronted with an unwanted task, people often approach it in one of two ways: Disclosure: I have been guilty of buying into the above excuses. It’s human nature. But what…
Look in the Mirror. You Are Your Own Worst Enemy
“You are your own worst enemy” is a lesson I learned in the 8th grade. While in the 8th grade (1978), I played for the U.L. Light Junior High School football team in Barberton, Ohio, a town of 28,000. Our rival, Highland Junior High School,…
5 Reasons to Challenge Yourself
You see a mousetrap; I see free cheese and a f*****g challenge! -Scroobius Pip Pretty funny! However, Mr. Pip does have a point though. Life is full of challenges, and a mousetrap may seem an irresistible challenge to an adventurous mouse. In looking back at my life,…
The Geezer Phase of Being A Martial Artist
Last Friday, I had back-to-back private lessons with a pair of brothers. As always, I was active with them, pushing them hard and expanding their martial horizons. I had a lot of fun with them. However, the aftermath was brutal. My right hip became quite…
Even “Perfect” Folks Struggle!
How many of you have been in a martial arts class and felt your partner was perfect? Or that a classmate seemed to have it all together? I would wager that we have had those thoughts about another person. But, as most of us know…
Mixing It Up!
Yet Another Project! One project I have undertaken lately involves my practice of the Modern Arnis Empty Hand Anyos. Like most martial arts, we perform our anyos in a more or less standard way. While the execution of the forms may differ, there are similarities….
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…
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…
