I’ve had young guys come in the gym trying to exert their physical dominance or display their machismo. You might say they are looking for a fight. One day, you realize the muscles weaken, the speed slows, and the hairline recedes. You can’t be the young lion forever. But, if you train correctly and focusContinue reading “Fighting Without Fighting: 3 Details You Should Know.”
Tag Archives: Martial Arts
Playing Not to Lose Until You Learn How to Win.
Have you ever felt like a loser because you just couldn’t win at anything? Here is an idea you can try to start winning, but it will take time, learning, and a willingness to lose in the short-run. I played the game Connect Four with my son the other day. After he lost several timesContinue reading “Playing Not to Lose Until You Learn How to Win.”
What is a Martial Arts Master Called?
We could address the question above by attempting to define what we consider a martial arts master, but that is a rabbit hole into which I am not prepared to climb. Instead, let’s ask a simpler question. What do you call your head instructor or person leading the class? In some cases, it might beContinue reading “What is a Martial Arts Master Called?”
Let Us Live… and Buy a T-shirt.
Mark Twain is quoted as saying, “Most men die at 27, we just bury them at 72.” I would argue that most people have not truly lived, regardless of their age. At the end of your life, and it could be sooner than you think, what proof will you have to show that you lived?Continue reading “Let Us Live… and Buy a T-shirt.”
Readings: Malcolm Gladwell’s “Blink” and Jocko Willink – The Bigger Picture in Combat.
“When you go into combat mode, you see less.”
Moving Mountains: The Meaning of Kuzushi
If you ever spend much time training in Japanese-based martial arts, you might hear the word “Kuzushi.” I recently had a revelation about this interesting term. On a coaches’ forum, longtime Judo coach Richard Riehle posted that one of his favorite kanji in Judo was 崩し or “kuzushi.” He noted that these are the charactersContinue reading “Moving Mountains: The Meaning of Kuzushi”
Survive. Then Thrive.
I had a newer student who tried to submit me any time we rolled. It’s fairly typical behavior when someone comes in with little or no previous training. The name of the game is to submit your opponent, right? In Wrestling, the new kid rushes in like a bull and in Judo, the new guyContinue reading “Survive. Then Thrive.”
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Japanese Jujitsu: A Comparison
My main martial arts experience is in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), but I usually attend The Greatest Camp on Earth every summer. The camp is set up primarily for Judo, but it also has instructors for a few classical or Japanese Jujitsu (JJJ) styles. My first exposure to the older systems came at one of theContinue reading “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Japanese Jujitsu: A Comparison”
Why Complicate Teaching?: What I Learned from my Students.
Due to having back surgery, I have had to let a few upper-level students teach my classes. Usually, I hate relinquishing control, but in this case, I didn’t have a choice. After class one night, one of my assistants messaged me. He had a revelation about teaching while filling in for me, one which isContinue reading “Why Complicate Teaching?: What I Learned from my Students.”
You Only Live Once (Chasing the Will-o’-the-Wisp)
Sitting in a political philosophy class in college, my professor noticed many students on their phones, texting or surfing social media. We then took a detour from Plato and Aristotle for the rest of the period. Instead of political theory, we discussed something more permanent, yet forever fleeting. That class was the first time IContinue reading “You Only Live Once (Chasing the Will-o’-the-Wisp)”
Joshua Clements Writes 