I vividly recall those days when I used to train tirelessly, pouring what I believed was 100% of my energy into every punch and kick, only to later realize that I was far from reaching my full potential. I would strike the bag or pads with all the intensity I could muster, convinced that I was giving it my all, yet barely budging the pad holder.   It was baffling. I was exhausted after every training session, drenched in sweat, and yet I couldn’t fathom why I wasn’t making the progress I expected. I dedicated myself to training diligently, often being the first to arrive at the gym and th ..read more

Are you afraid of failure? I don’t think failure itself is what holds us back, I believe it’s the fear of failure that holds us back. President John F. Kennedy stated himself, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  However, with all respect to the president, I believe that you are more concerned with what the outcome will be. The little voice in our head, telling ourselves a bunch of lies. You’re going to fail, people will laugh, or you will be called a fake. These are stories we tell ourselves regularly.  Whenever I face a challenge that has fear associated with it, to me ..read more

I want to discuss something that will hold you back from moving forward in your training. Sound effects please… and that is: self-doubt! In all seriousness when you first start training you take everything in like a sponge. You are excited, you listen to everyone’s advice and you don’t really question much of what anyone is telling you other than how to execute the technique to the best of your ability. You are obsessed with learning everything the correct way and you are all ears to what everyone is telling you so you can get better.  Then, all of a sudden you notice your progress has st ..read more

PMA…. That’s what separates those that succeed at the top from those that are just kind of ehhh. Everyone handles winning just fine, everyone wants to believe they have what it takes to pull off a victory.  What about when you are down by points, or your competition seems to have an edge on you?  I’m going to bring it a little closer to home, what about your training partner? You have been training together for a while and one day he seems to be on point with his technique or his conditioning while you are slacking, running out of gas, tired, dropping your hands, getting hit with sho ..read more

Have you been looking for better results in your training? Do you feel like you are falling short? Can’t figure out why? There is one thing that will help you achieve your goals consistently and more efficiently. I know that if you don’t develop this one thing, then you are sure to continue to always fall short. You will make excuses and be more likely to quit and/or feel frustrated since you are not getting the results that you want.  That one thing? Habits! Habits are what will help you achieve your goals consistently. Notice how I didn’t say faster? That’s because there is no shortcut ..read more

I want to talk to you about mindset. If you are anything like me and have been exercising or training for a given period, then you probably have had one of those days… Uhm….one of what days?  There are many days.   What I’m talking about is you plan your workout for the next day, get your clothes ready, get your meals ready, write it in your schedule for the day and you are pumped. Your inner voice is saying, Yeah! I’m going to kill it at training tomorrow! The next day comes and suddenly, due to unforeseen circumstances, you miss your training session. GRRRRRRRRR!  Now you ..read more

I used to think that all fights were won on the night of the event… That all the running, sparring and pad work was just part of the process to get to the actual work – meaning the fight itself. I did not realize until years later that all of the training is the work and the fight should have already been won by weigh-ins. I have come to learn that if you are not in fight shape 7-14 days prior to a fight, then you’re not in fight shape. There is nothing more that you can do within this small window of time to get in any “better” shape. You can’t run, spar, strength train, or do more pad work t ..read more

Tired of being stuck? It’s been six months and you haven’t learned anything new or progressed in your training. You ask yourself begrudgingly, now what? Take a break? That’s an option. Try a different sport? Again another option. Something that you must keep in mind is that martial arts is a lifelong journey, it’s not a 1-5-year process and you are equal to Master Shifu or Bruce Lee. Did you get that?  Kung Fu Panda pun there lol…eh moving right along.  America has been sold this 5-year commitment and I get a blackbelt mentality with martial arts. I’m here to call BS on that. Unfortu ..read more

Pain is not always a bad thing.   Pain can be a great motivator. Pain is what will make you get off your butt and get you to accomplish your goals in life. Pain will make you continue moving in a certain direction until you get to your destination.  The problem however, is that we like to live in comfort. We will tolerate a little discomfort – but as soon as it’s too much, most people will tend to quit whatever it is they originally set out to do.    Think about it for a moment, what happens at the beginning of each year?  New Year’s resolutions, right? Everyone starts ..read more

Hey, I’m in a hurry because I’m already a few minutes late, trying to weed through traffic to make it to the gym on time for class… This is a typical scenario that we have all been in. Or, you think to yourself one of the following: Ehh, I can be a few minutes late, it’s okay; I hate jumping rope anyways. Shadow boxing is stupid and it’s a waste of time. Who wants to punch and kick in the air anyways, why can’t I just walk in and start training? It takes time for me to get ready, wrap my hands, stretch, do jumping jacks and whatever other voodoo ritual I have before training. Warming up is stu ..read more