How do we cultivate a martial mindset? People are struggling right now and our industry has been one of the hardest hit. For instructors who’s sole ambition and aim was to run a full time martial arts facility – these are exceptionally testing times. We can of course, move our classes online, but nothing will ever replace the feeling of training at a gym or academy with people, and let’s face it – we teach martial arts, we require physical contact! I’ve spoken to a lot of people over the past year or so, both personally, and through the blog and chats for the podcast and I have to say – things ..read more

It’s Friday and this time I’m speaking with a sales samurai! I have some big plans for the blog coming up including lots more content so make sure you subscribe to our channels so you don’t miss anything such as: New Posts Interviews 5 Minute Martial Arts Feature Lots more! Today I’m chatting with John Molyneux, a Karate black belt with experience competing in Lethwei too! John is an expert in sales and marketing and has just released his own book – Sales Samurai Master: Get your black belt in sales. We discuss John’s history in the martial arts, competing in Lethwei, and how you can overcome ..read more

Here are 5 tips to keep your zoom classes fresh. Hopefully the end is in sight guys! It’s been a long old road this past year or so, from the first initial months of moving our academies online, to those wonderful few weeks where we could re-open in some capacity, to then having to close again! Zoom has been a godsend for many and thanks to technology many of us have kept our academy doors open – through the virtual world! I know I will never take for granted the atmosphere in my academy again and cannot wait to get back open and see everyone. Although the end is hopefully in sight – we are no ..read more

Today I am interviewing Casey Marshall A.K.A. The Body Engineer. It’s Friday so that means interview release day – I hope you’re all excited! Casey comes from a martial arts family, and her father is a good friend of mine and honorary coach at my Empower Martial Arts Academy. David Titch Marshall used to be a professional kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter before he got old… but the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree with Casey! Casey has competed in martial arts from a young age in all sorts of categories including MMA and weapons. If it’s martial arts related – she’s there! She’s now transla ..read more

Did you know we’re on YouTube and Podcasts now? Hey everyone and I hope you’re all keeping safe and well at the moment! It’s certainly been a testing time for the martial arts industry, but the way we have come together to help and support one another is awesome! It’s also given many the chance to get projects set up that would otherwise have been postponed…again! This can certainly be said for myself for instance! During lock-down I have re-released Martial Masters Volume 1 available now on Amazon in paperback form, and I can now happily say that Martial Masters Volume 2 is now written! 16 in ..read more

We are back! We are back everyone and so is Martial Masters! It’s been a crazy time recently with my academy having to close again due to the Covid-19 pandemic so I have been busy organising my academy and it’s online presence for my members! I’ve also been super busy with some other projects we’ll get on to in a moment! But firstly *drum roll please* MARTIAL MASTERS VOLUME 1 – IS BACK AND NOW AVAILABLE! Back in 2016 myself and good friend Lucci Del-Gaudio published our first book Martial Masters Volume 1. This was an important book for us, showcasing the lives and careers of 15 top martial ar ..read more

Well last weekend was a pretty crazy one with my Empower Martial Arts Academy Lincoln team! A 24 Hour Live Virtual Class – all for charity. Like many other instructors around the country, and indeed the world, the Covid-19 pandemic hit hard! I was forced to close my academy down in a matter of days and move it online. My system is a kind of mixed martial art style with a lot of close quarter training from my previous experience – something that is hard to do online and shadowing for any prolonged period of time! I, along with the vast majority of martial arts instructors, had to adapt. We mov ..read more

Today I’m writing about Simon Gray’s new book Suck It Up Or Go Home and his time in Senshusei Yoshinkan Aikido course in Japan. Whenever I write about Aikido, I’m always slightly careful with what I type. For a long time, it was a huge part of my life. I began training at aged 9 and stopped training when I was 23 after achieving my 3rd Degree Black Belt. I spent a month in Australia training full time as a dojosei or live in student and loved it! However, I also cross trained in MMA, combatives, boxing, jiu-jitsu etc and saw some of the shortcomings of Aikido. In the martial arts world, Aikid ..read more

Let’s face it, if you study any form of martial arts, there is an element of break falling involved. Traditional arts place heavy emphasis on the need to break fall such as Aikido or jiu-jitsu, but these principles can just as easily be applied to MMA or Thai Boxing when being swept or taken down. Break falling is one of the most crucial aspects of martial arts to learn, especially as a beginner for a number of reasons. Safety first The first and most important reason to learn how to break fall safely is obviously safety! In most martial arts, traditional or sport based, at some level you will ..read more

The ability to generate explosive power quickly, and efficiently is arguably one of the most important aspects of the martial arts. From quickly sending out a powerful low leg kick, retracting it and following up, to sending out a mystical chi ball from 10 feet away – explosive power is crucial. Disclaimer: I’m kidding about the mystical chi ball… Though given current circumstances an social distancing… Delivering the big knockout punch is ultimately what many martial artists aim for. Whether this is for one hit stopping power for self defence, or K.O power for competition, explosive power is ..read more