Do you know how to hook punch with power… and not injure your shoulder? I didn’t! I admit it… I once tore my shoulder throwing wild hooks—too wide, too hard. During rehab, I swore I’d never throw a hook again. But over time, I realized the problem wasn’t the hook punch, it was my lousy…
Author: Ando Mierzwa
Ando Mierzwa is a martial arts teacher living in Los Angeles, CA.
One Drill for a Better Straight Punch
Time for a little straight talk about straight punches. Whether you’re throwing a traditional reverse punch, a boxer’s 1-2, or an old fashioned palm heel, there is one big mistake you want to avoid… letting your elbow flare out. Why is flaring your elbow a problem? First, flaring your elbow gives away power because you’re…
Spirit First, Technique Second
Fighting spirit. We all think we have it, right? But could you be losing your spirit little by little even though your skills are getting better and better? Here’s why I ask… We just held a tournament at Dawn Barnes Karate Kids, where I serve as Program Director. The tournament brings out the best in…
#37: Spirit First [Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #37 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Spirit First.” As martial artists, we all train to be smart and skilled. But when it comes to self-defense, that may not be enough to save your life! You still need fighting spirit! Inspired by the instruction of Shotokan Karate founder, Gichin Funakoshi,…
Self-Defense Tip: Finish the Fight
In my video, How to Take A Punch, I talked about how calling “time out” every time you get hurt during training can build a bad habit that might get you killed in a real fight. Well, there’s a flip side to that. You might be building the same bad habit even when you’re winning!…
The Truth About Fancy Kung Fu Moves
People love to make fun of Kung Fu. They see a guy with a long beard and silk pants hopping around, practicing fancy Kung Fu moves, and say, “That stuff won’t work in a real fight.” It’s not just Kung Fu, of course. People criticize Karate, Silat, Filipino martial arts… basically, anything that isn’t a…
Fight Back Against Back Pain!
Back pain is a serious issue in the martial arts. If you want to keep throwing punches and kicks at the age of 40, 50, and beyond, I’ve got a quick tip to help keep your back strong and your strikes powerful. If the video doesn’t load, you’ll find a summary below. But really, this…