Episode 16 - Mining Junk - Are forms worth mining for techniques?

Forms are windows to the past. They can show not only a fighters techniques, system, and series of counters, and counters to an opponent's counter. They are a fascinating anomaly. Are they worth the mining for these techniques and sequences within? Today I'll discuss my thoughts on this, and hopefully shed some light on this facet of Chinese martial arts training.

Episode 15 - What is Xing Yi Quan?

Forrest Chang and I discussed at great length a style of Chinese boxing known as xingyiquan. I thought I would add a follow-up explaining what Xing Yi Quan is, and share with you some of the history I uncovered while researching another project. Listen and find out more...

Episode 14 - Are Chinese Martial Arts Still Relevant? A Conversation with Forrest Chang

Are CMA (Chinese martial arts) still relevant in modern times? Are they worth saving? Over the winter, I had a chance to sit down and have a conversation with Forrest Chang of the Chinese boxing style known as xingyiquan. Forrest and I discuss the issues plaguing Chinese martial arts styles often referred to incorrectly as Kung Fu. We tackle this topic, what produces better results, along with current CMA disruptor and MMA fighter Xu Xiaodong, the Shuai Jiao paradox and other changes happening in Chinese martial arts.

Episode 09 - “I’m thinking of choking you…” - Pontificating over a hot mocha.

A direct quote from one of my students as we were rolling during their private lesson today. Thinking out loud while enjoying a hot mocha. Join me for some fun and insight into this quote.

Episode 03 - Why Did You Stop Teaching Forms?

Forms were libraries of fighting techniques, a method of transmission for passing of knowledge, not the be all and end all of martial arts.

Join Max and I in this episode where we discuss forms (Kata, Tao Lu) training in the martial arts, and why I stopped teaching them in my classes.

Episode 02 - How to Start Martial Arts

How do you start martial arts training? How do you overcome fear, the intimidation, and avoid pitfalls of getting injured, ending up in the wrong school, or selecting the wrong teacher.

These are all extremely important factors that can make, or break our efforts to get trained and reap the benefits martial arts has to offer. One bad experience can cause some people to quit and never go back.

In this episode, I tackle these questions and offer tips to keep you safe, and help you start out on the right foot.

Episode 01 - Hitting Plateaus in Martial Arts

Hitting plateaus in our training comes with the territory. There is no avoiding them. The longer we train martial arts, or any sport/activity that requires long periods of intense practice, we are destined to hit these stale periods in our progression.

Over the years I have hit many of these, the longer I trained, the longer some of these lasted. Join me as Max catches up with me training behind the school to ask how I deal with these roadblocks.

I'll share with you my methods for dealing with these, shortening the time I’m stuck in them, and making the best of them as we go.