Ways to Train When You’re Sick or Injured
Training is at least 50% mental and 50% physical. If you’re truly down-and-out sick, then just let yourself be sick. No sense resisting the sleep yo…
Ways To Test Your Art: Triangulating on Life and Death
I want to get as close to the original martial art as possible without actually putting myself, my training partners, or my students in mortal danger.…
Four Strategies for Getting Over Technique Repetition Boredom
There is certainly something ingrained in our culture to get bored easily in repetition (I see this in myself and students). Our minds are hungry for …
Managing Safety in Martial Arts
Swinging a steel sword at someone, even a blunted one, seems risky. That's because it is. How can we keep practicing it—often rigorously—for a lon…
10 Steps for Running a Successful Study Group
A study group is a group of peers devoted to helping each other get better in a particular martial practice. If you don’t have an experienced and sa…
The Answer to Failure is: “Do It Again!”
In its simplest form, practice is about identifying challenges, understanding them, solving them, and training through them. Then repeat. If you’re …
How to Keep a Training Journal
For many years I have kept a training journal. This is a log book of personal practice goals, training plans, progress toward those goals, and a ticke…
How Noticing Your Students Outside Class Can Make a Profound Difference
There are many moments in our lives where we reveal that we care, whether that is through our interest or our frustration. When a peer or mentor sees …
Four Ways to Get Back to Enjoyment and Out of Criticality
Practicing does not always mean "working on". It’s important to give yourself time with passions and skills in your life to just simply indulge in t…
Three Focuses for Effective Solo Practice
Even if you’re part of a vibrant school or club and have lots of training partners to practice with, keeping a daily rhythm is an essential part of …