Karate is stupid. Kung Fu is a waste of time. Tae Kwon Do is a joke. Insults like these are nothing new. Even before the rise of MMA, traditional martial arts were the punchlines to a thousand jokes. Karate is only good for kids. Kung Fu is just dancing. Tae Kwon Don’t. Shoto-can’t. And let’s…
Author: Ando Mierzwa
Ando Mierzwa is a martial arts teacher living in Los Angeles, CA.
How to Meditate Without Losing Your Mind
Learning how to meditate can be confusing. As a martial artist, I have been exposed to more styles of meditation than I can remember. Some I found to be helpful, some bordered on insane. My first meditation teacher, however, wasn’t a martial artist at all. He was a man by the name of René Descartes….
#29: Meditation Tips [Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #29 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Meditation Tips.” Meditation is a powerful way to change your life, but many people turn away from meditating because they think it’s too difficult, too complex, or just too weird. I understand completely! With so many different schools of thought about meditation out…
3 Questions to Be a Better Martial Artist
You want to be a better martial artist. But what exactly does that mean? Earning a new belt? Winning a tournament? Learning a new kata? Throwing higher kicks? Feeling safer in a crowd? Many students don’t know what “better” means. They don’t know how to measure progress. They lack a clear idea of what success…
Karate Ground Fighting: Tekki Shodan Bunkai
Naihanchi or Tekki Shodan is one of the oldest and most popular katas in karate. It’s also one of the most unusual. Over the years, I’ve been told the techniques were designed for fighting in alleys, on boats, on horseback, working as a bodyguard, or—my personal favorite—defending yourself while standing on a rice paddy. Hey—believe…
How To Land More Punches In a Fight
Learning how to punch is one thing. Learning how to land punches is another. In this video, I explain how to land more punches whether you’re sparring or in a real fight. The good news is that the secret to landing more punches comes down to fixing just one bad habit… …the bad news is…
#28: Lessons from Getting Beaten Up [Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #28 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Lessons from Getting Beaten Up.” If you’re a dedicated martial artist, you know what it’s like to get battered, bruised, and beaten up. It may sound a little crazy, but that’s actually a good thing! Here’s the honest truth—some things in life can…