2019 marks my 24th year as a student of Kenpo Karate, my 21st year as an Instructor and my 19th year of managing AKKA Independence. In that time I have seen numerous students come and go and have heard every excuse under the sun as to why someone “quits” studying martial arts. Ultimately it boils down to […]
With the new year and coming off of a two week break it can seem a challenge to get back into the swing of attending class and training. The path of least resistance is to just give up and say “Why bother?” BUT…here is why we bother…so we can become the best version of our […]
Your black belt test, in any style of martial arts, is your Olympics. From the first day you stepped on the mat, you began preparing for your test, whether you were aware of it or not. On the day you test for your black belt, you want to be at your absolute best, your peak; […]
From my teacher, Mr. Rick Gibbins; a memior in parts from his time as a mugger in the women’s self defense program Model Mugging… https://medium.com/@jimischi/breaking-my-silence-a-muggers-point-of-view-introduction-1b7d76562280
If you have every been to the Grand Canyon you know what I mean when I say it’s majesty is awesome! BUT…did you know only 1% of visitors to the canyon go BELOW the rim. Most stand and look out into the abyss and marvel at its immensity and grandeur. Nothing wrong with that…it is […]
Ryan Stewman, the key note speaker at Combat Con Live in New Orleans posted this today, powerful… “Remember this: In order to advance the ball with speed and precision, the QB must take 3-5 steps backward. In football, the leader of the offense regularly drops back 5 yards or more in order to get clear […]
Living like a warrior means embracing the inevitability of hardship rather than fleeing from it; for the identity of a warrior is not destroyed by adversity…it is strengthened through it. Bill Perkins As martial artists challenge is an integral part of our training…because that is how we get BETTER. The techniques are actually metaphors for […]
1. Do not be concerned with form. Do not be concerned with the ways in which form manifests. It is best to forget your own existence. 2. Your entire body should be transparent and empty. Let inside and outside fuse together and become one. 3. Learn to ignore external objects. Follow the natural way. Allow […]
13 years ago I got a phone call from Mr Gibbins telling me Mr Packer had passed away. After I hung up the phone I sat there and cried. He once told me that he thought I really had the right personality for this gig of being a martial arts instructor. Over the years I […]
Actually I have personally always believed in Commitment but hiking Grand Canyon last weekend concretized it a bit more for me. As my wife said, “There is no chicken exit” There is a saying (and a sign too) “Going down is optional…Coming up is mandatory” From the stories I heard and my own experience it […]