If you have been exposed to any kind of martial arts, the bow is one of the most iconic gestures you will see in some form or another. It may seem like an odd ritual or some mystical exchange to those who don’t train in martial arts in the West, Continue Reading
Philosophy
What Your Stance Says About You
Anyone who has ever trained alongside me or taken a class taught by me, knows that I value stances a lot. While stances are a crucial fundamental and having a good foundation is critical for the development of good technique, that is not totally why I emphasize stances. I emphasize Continue Reading
Practice What You Preach
In the martial art I practice, Tang Soo Do, “Do” means a way of life. We’re much more than just an activity or sport; our Grandmaster said one of the main goals of training in Tang Soo Do is to become a better person. Therefore, our art has codes and Continue Reading
Imposter Syndrome Part 2: Duty as an Instructor, and Leading by Example
This article is less of a “part 2” than an addendum to David’s incredible Imposter Syndrome article, however I feel this is an important perspective to discuss. The nagging thought of “am I good enough?” David talked about not only impacts students, but instructors as well. As students, we looked Continue Reading
Training and motivation in martial arts
There are times when you can find yourself in a rut, so to speak, in terms of getting yourself to the dojang to train. Motivation can be hard to find when you have work deadlines to meet, family obligations to fulfill, and the weather outside is horrid. It can be Continue Reading
Prioritizing Good Technique Over Memorization
Disclaimer: My direct students are all university students, and as such, they are at their prime physically and have a mature yet sponge-like brain that can absorb things quickly. I understand that I teach in the most ideal situation, and some of what is mentioned will not apply as much Continue Reading
Why It’s Important to Pronounce Terms Correctly
After training for some time, you may feel more confident in speaking the commands of whatever style you train. However, as someone who is fluent in Japanese, reciting commands does not necessarily mean being coherent in everyday speech. I have heard and been to dojos where, while the commands were Continue Reading
Sharpening the Mind in Order to Sharpen the Body – Why Education is Important to Martial Arts
Often times in popular media and entertainment, the physical aspects of martial arts are highlighted to the detriment of all else. The focus is always on what kind of fancy flips and spin kicks they can perform as they look flashy and impressive. What they don’t often show is how Continue Reading
Manage Your Expectations with Your Effort
As a young 3rd Dan that had just started a college club, I was very hard core with the technical aspects of class as well as attendance expectations of my students if they were to train. I was very strict and often told them that if they did not come Continue Reading
How Do You Feel About Sparring? If You’re Intimidated by it, Read On!
How do you feel about sparring? While some people absolutely enjoy getting to spar, others absolutely dread it when the instructor says that it’s time to put sparring gear on. Some even get to the point where they are absolutely terrified. Why is this? And what does that mean for Continue Reading