I have a special affinity for forms (kata, hyung, etc.), and many times I find myself running through forms in my mind. Visualizing your form in your mind and going through each motion can be very beneficial and I highly recommend everyone try this with all your forms. However, visualization Continue Reading
Inspiration
Different Learning Styles: What Works for You?
While I am very grateful and privileged to have had the education I did growing up, occasionally I’ll learn something new in my adult life that I wish I would’ve been taught back in my formative years in school. Credit scores, applying for a job, filing your taxes, renting an Continue Reading
Break Your Goals Down in Small Steps!
Oftentimes if we have a big project on our to-do list, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and dwell on the amount of time and energy you must dedicate in order to get it done. Whether it’s something like a thesis, a needed renovation, or even just cleaning the house, if Continue Reading
Happy New Year! Go Eat Your Vegetables
As we cross into 2023, many people will be making New Year’s Resolutions. Most of the time, these resolutions are long term habitual goals. Some will dedicate themselves to going to the gym everyday, while others will try to quit a bad habit, while others may try to go on Continue Reading
How to Avoid Injury: The Necessity of Strength Training to an Active Lifestyle
Over the past few years I have received several comments asking why I’m in the gym all of the time. Originally my fitness journey started because I had injured my knee in college when I was preparing for my Cho Dan test. The full recovery story of that is for Continue Reading
I Failed a Test: 3 Takeaways for Growth in the Martial Arts
In June of 2009, I was set to test for my Cho Dan Bo Blue Belt (Black Belt Candidate Rank) in Tang Soo Do. I was very excited to take this test, but during the test itself, something didn’t feel quite right. About half way through the test, I started Continue Reading
Hidden Benefits of Individual Sports
Everyone always talks about the advantages of team sports and how they develop a lot of life skills for kids later on. Don’t get me wrong, I completely agree with this sentiment and fully encourage and support team sports. However, I feel as though individual sports sometimes get overshadowed by Continue Reading
Strength Training and How it Can Improve Your Martial Arts
You may find yourself having a regular training routine: you go to the dojang two or three times a week, you get a good sweat in, and you feel like you’re in shape. Not that one can’t get in shape just by doing classes, especially for those who are brand Continue Reading
Finding The Secrets to Good Technique: A Story About Jump Kicking
When I reached the rank of green belt in Tang Soo Do around 15 years ago, my instructor took out the student manual and read to us the expectations for brown belt. He made sure to emphasize the following point: Must be able to demonstrate jumping techniques. In particular, the Continue Reading
Repetition: A Key to Growth
In my Filipino martial arts class, we practice a variety of striking patterns and a series of blocks against general attacks, usually with sticks but can be translated to empty hand or knife. We drill in these patterns and all their permutations; when we do a High Low High attack Continue Reading