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…
Author: Ando Mierzwa
Ando Mierzwa is a martial arts teacher living in Los Angeles, CA.
#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…
Kicking Drill for Sparring and Fighting
Are you kicker? If so, I’ve got a kicking drill that’s going to make you a better fighter on the mats, in the ring, or on the street. If the video doesn’t play, you can find a summary below. Happy kicking! The Problem… Many martial artists throw solid kicks, but then let their foot fall…
Secret Martial Arts Techniques
I was a Boy Scout. As a young lad, I loved wearing the uniform, lining up in rows, reciting the Scout Law, and earning patches. It’s no surprise that I eventually signed up for Tae Kwon Do, which is basically Boy Scouts with kicks. It was in the Boy Scouts that I was first introduced…