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Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

Avoiding Fear Is Avoiding Your Potential

Published on November 24, 2025

This past weekend, the martial arts association I’m a part of hosted a tournament for 500+ local and out of state competitors.

…And I don’t think a single one of them wasn’t nervous about competing.

From the outside looking in, as a spectator, it might seem as though many of the people who stepped into the ring were, in fact, without nerves… but, I can assure you, it’s almost never the case.

What happens is the competitors feel the nerves… and then get into the ring anyway.

Which is precisely what courage is: feeling fear and doing the thing anyway.

And it’s so important to remember this—especially when we’re confronted with a fear-inducing opportunity in our lives. Because while choosing to be a spectator will dissipate the fear… it also dissipates the courage you stand to build.

See what happens when you choose to step into the fear is you challenge and flex your courage muscle which, by and by, increases your fear tolerance and ability to manage your physiological response.

…Something that’s undoubtedly correlated to what’s required for you—us—to live and lead your—our—best lives.

Illegally Parked Car

Published on November 23, 2025

The other day, a mom came into the martial arts school I teach at and asked if she could speak with me.

I told her, “Absolutely” and after a few minutes of welcoming new clients in, saying goodbye to those leaving, answering quick questions from both on their way, handling a few transactions, and solving a few problems—I signaled her in the lobby and walked her into an office.

When we sat down, she smiled and told me that she came in with a hot head and was ready to yell at whoever she could corner in an office. She explained that there was a car parked illegally in the lot that was causing chaos during one of the school’s peak class transition times—which was frustrating not just in itself, but because it wasn’t the first time.

…But, she continued by saying, after watching how calmly I managed the chaotic busyness in those few minutes inside the school—her anger was gone. She told me that it gave her perspective on the circumstance and reminded her that while it was frustrating, it didn’t have to create frustration and anger inside her—her daughter made it safely to class, the illegally parked car was moved, and everybody continued on with their day safely.

It was such a refreshing conversation and just an excellent reminder to not only maintain perspective, but to always deploy calm as a strategy for problem solving. The opposite almost always only becomes another compounded problem that needs solving.

What Lessons Do You Take Out Of Martial Arts Into The World?

Published on November 19, 2025

…Is one of the questions I fought over yesterday. My answers came quick and felt surprisingly solid once written. Each borrowed from another great human who came before… being shared with you today so you might borrow and share them into other corners of the world.

1. Be the change you wish to see in the world. This is a lesson drilled into me by the head master himself. He preaches constantly how important it is to lead the lifestyle you’re promoting. If you’re teaching discipline, be disciplined. If you’re teaching health and fitness, be healthy and fit. If you’re teaching respect, be respectful. And so on. We need to be who we want our students to become.

    2. Never underestimate the power of a small group to make change—for it’s the only thing that ever has. Helping one student with a single martial move can be discouraging when we hear about influencers influencing millions from a single post… but, it’s only because the perspective is wrong. It’s not about comparison, it’s about gift giving. It’s about doing what good you can with what you have. It’s about starting somewhere and committing.

    3. Life grows in proportion to courage—be bold. I’ve stepped onto some of the biggest sport martial arts stages in the U.S.—and I nearly crapped my pants each time. Which is precisely what courage is: feeling fear and doing the thing anyway. So many doors have opened for me since then. The same with the courage it has taken to publish these writings daily or speak publicly or do something insane physically. Life grew for me after each step taken into the realm of fear.

    Answering Tough Questions

    Published on November 18, 2025

    Today I completed a questionnaire to help a fellow martial artist with a research project which explores the correlation between tournament participation and personal growth in martial arts.

    It took me about an hour to complete and let me tell you… it challenged me mentally in the same way a one-hour sparring match would’ve challenged me physically. Answering these questions was tough—like many things in martial arts—which is precisely why we do them.

    …Because on the other side of tough things… is a tough(er) self.

    Here are some of the questions I fought over:

    • What has been your biggest challenge so far in your training?
    • What is your proudest moment?
    • Was there ever a moment when you felt like quitting? What made you stay?
    • How has martial arts changed you—mentally or emotionally?
    • What lessons do you take out of martial arts into the world?
    • How do you compare yourself to others, whether in class or at tournaments?
    • How do you push yourself past mental and physical limits?
    • Has someone ever changed your mindset at martial arts? If yes, explain that experience.
    • How do you measure progress, beyond belt rankings and trophies?
    • What does the word respect mean to you in martial arts?
    • What role does teamwork play in martial arts?
    • How do you handle conflicts/disagreements with teammates/instructors?
    • Where do you see yourself in martial arts, 5 years from now?
    • If you could look back at your past self, what advice would you give?
    • How do you think martial arts will continue to shape you, physically, mentally and emotionally?

    …When’s the last time you pushed yourself to honestly answer tough questions? Maybe it’s something you might consider doing today?

    Going From Reading To Riffing In A Public Speaking Setting

    Published on November 17, 2025

    Most of my part-time martial arts instructors, at the end of a class they teach, will read a typed out “Mat-Chat” to the class as a way to connect the physical training to the mental/character development.

    Some of the more senior instructors and masters will look at the “Mat Chat” topic and then riff on it based on what comes to mind for them in those moments and from their extensive experience.

    How does one get to the point of being able to “riff” on topics, off-the-cuff, and do it in a professional setting to paying clients in a way that’s confident, yet concise and provides a high enough value?

    Simple: by investing enough time, energy, and effort into the topic. Eventually you’ll absorb enough of the key points and ideas that you’ll be able to speak freely about them without the prompt of the pre-written words.

    If you want to be able to do better than just regurgitating what’s on the paper, you’ll have to do deeper dives that extend beyond the paper itself. If you only ever read the paper, of course that’s all you’ll be able to talk about because that’s the only source you’ll have to pull from.

    …You have to expand your sources. You have to interact and examine more closely the material. You’ll have to be more curious and intentional with the topics at hand. You’ll have to do more inner work that’ll allow you to unpack and relate personal experiences. You’ll have to go above and beyond.

    …That is, if you want to be able to do something that’s above and beyond what the rest can/would do.

    Being Busy Is A Choice

    Published on November 17, 2025

    Dear busy person,

    It’s good to remember that being busy is a choice. And that you don’t have to do everything during the day that you do…

    …When, in fact, you choose to do it all because each task outweighs the consequences of not doing it (otherwise, why do it?).

    …And if that’s true, then why do it all with resentment? With anger? With upset? With anxiety? With rage?

    …If it’s true that doing each task is your top choice for things to do in that moment because it outweighs the consequences of not… why not do it with joy? With presence? With humor? With care? With grace?

    Why not try to really enjoy your busyness rather than try to hastily get to the busyness finish line (is there even such a thing)? Don’t you think busyness is precisely what life is made up of? If not that, then what? And if life isn’t experienced in the bulk of the everyday, then when?

    …Something to reflect on throughout your day today. :)

    In The Smallest Of Corners In The World

    Published on November 16, 2025

    How nice to walk into a quaint, quiet café and sit with two or three other customers… with one owner of the café serving you and the other owner sitting with a customer in a booth having a relaxed conversation.

    No sense of urgency. No there-just-to-get-a-paycheck. No resentment in having to serve or do the work. No tapping feet or staring at the clock. No doing the bare minimum or avoiding ways things could be made better.

    …Just a couple regular folks, making an honest living, by providing goods and a service that’s worth more than the money it costs, while doing it happily, in the smallest of corners in the world…

    …Precisely where a few people could really use it and, as far as I could tell, really appreciate it.