The world is full of people trying desperately to "look" smart. Everywhere you turn, there are experts, self-proclaimed gurus, and internet intellectuals offering their two cents on every topic under the sun. But here's the harsh reality: most of these people are operating out of ignorance, not intelligence. The need to appear smart is a powerful force that traps many in a prison of false certainty. They cling to what they think they know, fiercely defending their limited perspectives as if...
1 day ago • 6 min read
The Gift of Failure October 13th marks an unusual yet profound holiday: the International Day of Failure. What began in Finland as a celebration of mistakes, missteps, and missed opportunities has grown into a movement that teaches us all a powerful lesson—failure isn’t something to be feared. Instead, it’s something to be embraced, learned from, and ultimately, celebrated. Yet, in our hyper-success-driven culture, most people view failure as a mark of shame. They’re haunted by the things...
2 days ago • 6 min read
Have you ever wondered how martial artists can break boards, bricks and bottles? Breaking is a common exercise in martial arts to demonstrate the unification of body, mind, and spirit. It is an opportunity for the practitioner to display how he can hone his complete focus to one specific task. It is what takes the theoretical to the physical, and you can see this with any true expert of a particular art. It's why when we see some athletes doing the near-miraculous that leaves us with our jaws...
3 days ago • 7 min read
The Art of Not Quitting:Only By Going Too Far Can You See How Far You Can Go Most people quit too soon. They hit a bump in the road, a moment of frustration, and suddenly it feels easier to walk away than to stick with it. This is why most people aren't successful—because they give up just as things get hard. If you've ever been tempted to quit when the going gets tough, you're not alone. But here's the truth: Only by going too far can you see how far you can go. There's a saying I often like...
4 days ago • 7 min read
The Gift of Problems:Why Most People Suffer and Only a Few Succeed Everyone has problems. No one is immune. Yet, most people do everything in their power to avoid problems. They’ll distract themselves, blame others, and make excuses. But here’s the harsh truth: avoiding problems doesn’t make them go away. In fact, it makes things worse. It keeps you stuck, frustrated, and powerless. And the reason so many people suffer in life isn’t because they have problems—it’s because they refuse to...
5 days ago • 6 min read
The Reason Why "Iron Sharpens Iron" Being a warrior is about more than winning. Have you ever felt like you’re constantly battling shadows on the mat, easily taking down opponents who barely put up a fight? What if I told you there’s a more powerful, transformative approach that could elevate not just your training, but your entire life? This is where the concept of steel-manning, rather than straw-manning, comes into play. What Doesn't Kill You... Let’s dive into why embracing the challenge...
6 days ago • 3 min read
In the 80s, I spent countless hours in the dim, smoke-filled atmosphere of the billiard hall, University Cue, honing my skills on the 9-ball pool table. To many, this was just a pastime—a way to pass the hours after school. (Sometimes, instead of school,😜) But for me, it was much more than that. This may have been the first time outside of scouting that I diligently pursued learning a skill for no other reason than I wanted to. And I remember the day I took it seriously, it was the day I...
7 days ago • 5 min read
I got to be honest with you. When I was younger, I was terrified meeting people. I was the introverted bookworm for much of my childhood and as a young adult. Enjoying a good book I would prefer losing myself in a book, playing around on my computer or shooting pool by myself than going to a party or picnic. And the idea of reaching out and introducing to myself to somebody. Hell no! Thank God I found hapkido and was introduced to a progressive system to overcome fear and worry, and to build...
8 days ago • 4 min read
The other day, I found myself on the sidelines again, watching class instead of training. Recovery mode, not training mode. It's one of the challenges of being on the mat in my 50s—my body doesn’t always agree with my mind’s desire to keep pushing. But there’s a silver lining to this enforced downtime: I get to observe, think, and reflect. That day, there were seven black belt professors on the mat during the noon class. At the end of class, warriors still at play Seven highly skilled,...
9 days ago • 6 min read