kent nelson

Kent Nelson on evolving martial arts / teaching culture

—Kent Nelson talks about martial arts culture Continuing our interview from this summer, we talk how the teacher/student relationship is evolving and how it changes how to manage a martial arts business. Even maintaining a more traditional environment—and sorry to always use this example, but having students sweep the floor is the classic—the mere fact[…]

Do they have the whole system? Who cares.

It doesn’t matter if they have the whole system. They just need to make you better than you were When searching for a teacher of a specific art, prospective students have an image in their head, and a natural question is, “does this person have the whole system?” They are thinking tiger-emblazoned sleeveless gis, catching[…]

Bill McGrath on Power

Bill McGrath on power generation [sg_popup id=”1″ event=”onload”][/sg_popup] After this week’s video with Archie Luz on how to throw a harder body shot, I thought I’d release this interview clip of one of the hardest-hitting people I know, Tuhon Bill McGrath. While I admire Archie’s power and movement, he’s a beast of an athlete and[…]

Guro T Kent Nelson

Kent Nelson on Learning & Teaching

Kent Nelson on learning, teaching, and being a pioneer in the digital space [sg_popup id=1] Finally had some time to film and sit down and talk with Kent Nelson on learning by himself, figuring how to teach, and what works for him. We talk his learning history, distance learning via seminars, and how he pieced[…]

muay thai

Stop talking about yourself, ask about them

Stop talking about yourself! Learn about prospects by asking questions. You may be an expert in martial arts, but you’re not an expert in what a prospect wants. Too often this is the pitch, “Here we do xxx under yyy’s lineage” and then an implied question is left hanging that I guess is, “(please) would[…]

teep foot jab heavy bag

Practice what you can, when you can

Practice to make the most of your training situation Our preferred practice methods may not always be available to us as conditions change: partners become unavailable, facilities downsize, our own schedule alters—any number of reasons may signal changing the focus of our practice may be more useful to our growth. Here’s today’s video on practicing[…]

bow to your sensei school formality

School Formality – whatever your decision, stand by it

School Formality is a tool or road block depending on how you use it Many people expect a certain ritual in their martial arts. Ritual brings focus, and for parents especially, it warms their heart to see their kids lined up in uniform being a little more formal than in their daily life. Even adults[…]

social martial artist

The Social Martial Artist. It’s okay.

The Social Martial Artist — I’ve become what I used to make fun of — and couldn’t be happier So back when we were training harder, we all remember the people who would hang out and talk more than get their reps in. Like getting weaker, fatter, or less tough (not that I was EVER[…]

shawn zirger jkd

Cross Training, Shawn Zirger, and the Fighting Arts Collective (Toronto)

Cross training doesn’t have to be the typical Muay Thai, BJJ, FMA, yoga mix Shawn Zirger shares his perspective about the beautiful space he’s created at FAC Toronto Shawn speaking about his space One thing I love about Shawn and many of the people I meet doing this project is the independent spirit while still[…]

bruce lee everything works

Everything works. Nothing works

It’s not the art, it’s who’s better that day I was going to write a totally different post, but saw something on Facebook/YouTube that got me diverted. Imagine that?     Adam Chan, the creator of this video, states himself that it’s just one idea, one possibility, and that it’s not bullet proof. Enough said.[…]