Tag: Martial Arts Inspired

“I Can’t Do That.”

Published on August 26, 2026

Yesterday I tested one of my seven-year-old martial arts students for her next colored belt.

When I asked her to do push-ups, she reflexively said, “I can’t do that!”

And I, just as reflexively, responded with, “Say, ‘I’m going to try my best’ instead.”

And as she said it, you could see her body language update in real time.

“I can’t do that” elicited a frown, slouched shoulders, a hunched back, and a defeated plop on the mat before a single push-up was even attempted.

“I’m going to try my best” resulted in furrowed eyebrows, focused eyes, straightened posture, and an incredibly clean, full range-of-motion, off-the-knees push up.

We didn’t stop after just that one, of course, and I encouraged her to do as many more as she could on her knees for a designated amount of time.

…I wanted to make sure she had a chance to really give the exercise a good effort so that she knew she was capable of more than she thought—even though I think she had already surprised herself after that first off-the-knees rep.

Here’s the thing: as it is for kids, so too should it be for us adults.

We might not blurt out, “I can’t do that” anymore. But I can tell you right now, we all have encoded that exact message into our lives using alternate words.

“I’m too busy…”

“I’m too old…”

“I’m too out of shape…”

…Decoded? “I can’t do that.”

Maybe it’s not that you’re any of those… maybe it’s just that you’re telling yourself that you are.

Maybe you just need to tell yourself you’re going to try your best… and go do exactly that.

Improve Your Initial Strikes

Published on April 12, 2026

In self-defense, the initial strike is pivotal.

If you can surprise the assailant and land a clean shot to the face (i.e. gouge the eyes) or groin (i.e. knee to the nuts) for example—every other strike that follows becomes exponentially more effective. Why? Because they’re going to be blinded or debilitated in a way the stops them from blocking or protecting.

If you telegraph the initial shot and/or don’t land for whatever reason, every shot that follows will become exponentially less effective. Why? Because the assailant will raise their guard and rapidly shift to a heightened defensive awareness.

In the same way, the way we start our tasks or days or weeks can exponentially improve or hinder everything we do that follows. Get the headspace right? And the tasks takes care of themself. Get the morning right? And the day takes care of itself. Get the meal prep right? And the week’s eating takes care of itself.

…Get it wrong? And everything that follows gets exponentially harder.

…And life is hard enough as is.

Stop Thinking Yourself Into Limitations

Published on February 21, 2026

I looked into one of my instructor’s martial arts classes the other day during a jumping jack set and I saw:

An 85-year-old holocaust survivor two-stepping and arm raising as close to a jumping jack as she could.
A walker-bound stroke survivor, arched heavily as she stood, releasing her arms intermittently a few inches above her arm supports to mirror along.
A middle aged dad sitting in the lobby doing mental jumping jacks after having 1/3 of his colon removed via emergency surgery just a week earlier—there for the community, contribution, and vibes.

…What I didn’t notice as much were the twenty or so others doing picturesque jumping jacks, in rhythm, without so much as a squint.

Which is merely to say: never forget that, like a tree, your ability to inspire branches outward exponentially the deeper the roots of your troubles and adversities dig down.

People tell me all of the time how they’re “too old” or “too out of shape” or “too busy” to do martial arts classes.

When really, the only thing making them old, out of shape, and busy… is their mindset.

“Do You Feel That…? That’s Proud.”

Published on December 3, 2025

One of my martial arts students lost his belt a few weeks ago because he was hitting people and being unsafe in various situations.

Yesterday, he finally earned it back.

And right in that moment of elation while he was hugging it and looking to his guardian’s face for cues on how to feel and act… she pointed to his chest and said, “Do you feel that? That’s proud. You’re proud of yourself for doing so much better at managing big emotions and being safe.”

Naming the emotion, especially for kids who are navigating whirlwinds of complicated ever-changing emotions, is one of the fundamental first steps in helping them understand how to act and respond to what’s otherwise unknown, unidentified, and unclear.

…And so it is for adults.

Because what happens when there are big unknown, unidentified, and unclear emotions is that we start busting at the seams with energy that we don’t know how to direct—and we start reacting (mindlessly) instead of responding (mindfully).

But big emotions aren’t something to fear—it’s the very substance of what gives our lives vibrancy. We simply need to learn how to better identify what it is we’re feeling so that we can respond (not react) in ways that are proven to help.

For example:

Feeling anxious/overwhelmed? Go for a walk and/or do mindfulness/breathing exercises.
Feeling angry/frustrated? Create a relationship boundary or stand up for what’s right.
Feeling stressed? (Re)prioritize rest or engaging in hobbies you enjoy.

How are you feeling right now? Can you name the emotion? Do you know how to direct the energy of the emotion in a constructive way? Try doing this at least one time today.

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?

“If They’re Half Ready… They’re Ready.”

Published on October 9, 2025

Over the past year and a half, a martial arts friend of mine went from one martial arts school… to four.

And it all started when he was challenged to open a second location at a mastermind meeting. When asked why he hadn’t done so already, I remember him questioning—amongst other things—whether or not his people were ready to take on that responsibility.

And one of the responses from the people in the group was… are they half ready?

To which he replied with… “Half ready?”

To which their reply was… “Yes. Half ready.”

To which he paused and waited blank faced for their more complete explanation…

The mentality offered was that you can only prepare yourself up to a certain point to do a thing without actually doing the thing—possibly only into the ballpark of around 50%.

The other 50%? …Comes from experiential learning that can only ever come as you’re doing it.

…And running into unforeseen problems, handling unexpected requests, managing variables you didn’t even see coming… and trying, failing, learning, growing, regressing, building, falling, standing, crying, laughing, mistaking, succeeding, stumbling, stepping, slipping, gripping—clawing—your way forward one day at a time.

Yeah… that’s where the other 50% can only ever come from.

Remember this when you’re questioning whether or not your ready to do that next big thing.

Ask yourself: …Am I half ready?