#123: How to Build Courage in Martial Arts [Video Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
1w ago
Welcome to Episode #123 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Build Courage in Martial Arts.” Many people worry that they won’t have the courage to fight back against a real-life attacker… and that includes martial arts students! It makes sense, really. You can build strong muscles and practice cool moves all day long, but when fear strikes, you might still find yourself curled up in a ball and frozen solid. Don’t let that happen to you! In this episode, I’ll share some tips to help you face your fears and build your courage… no matter what threats come your way. (Believe me—you’re n ..read more
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#122: Yin or Yang: A Tale of Two Black Belts [Video + Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
2M ago
Welcome to Episode #122 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Yin or Yang: A Tale of Two Black Belts.” There are many paths to choose from in the martial arts… but how do you know if you’re on the right one? Wait—there’s actually an even bigger question to think about— Should you be following in someone’s else’s path at all? Don’t get me wrong—I’ve been blessed to train under several amazing teachers over the years, but the fact is they all believed in different things! One says do this, one says do that. As a student, it’s been confusing (and frustrating!) to seek advice from teachers I re ..read more
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#121: Hero Worship in the Martial Arts [Video + Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
3M ago
Welcome to Episode #121 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Hero Worship in the Martial Arts.” We all need teachers and role models in the martial arts… but can following a leader become harmful at some point? Is it possible to show a teacher too much respect? YES! If we’re not careful, our humility as a student can be transformed into hero worship. Once that happens, it becomes impossible to maximize our skills and build true confidence. And without true confidence, your ability to defend yourself is greatly diminished. Be careful! It’s happened to me… don’t let it happen to you! In this ..read more
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#120: Use It or Lose It [Video + Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
5M ago
Welcome to Episode #120 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Use It or Lose It.” Some people say martial arts is like riding a bike… I don’t! I say use it or lose it! The fact is that no matter how hard you train, you can’t practice everything all the time, which means some skills will always end up being neglected. But wait—the situation is worse than you think. Unfortunately, a lack of time is not the only reason you will see your hard-earned skills slipping away… not by a long shot! So, consider this your wake-up call. In this episode, I’ll break down the three major reasons (and a few ..read more
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Will Your Self-Defense Techniques Work in a Real Fight?
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
6M ago
You hear it all the time in the martial arts—“That move won’t work in a real fight!” But does anyone really know what they’re talking about? Here’s my judgment about all that judgment! You can watch the video below or scroll down for the transcript. Keep it real, my friend! That Won’t Work in a Real Fight! Howdy! Ando here from Happy Life Martial Arts. You know those martial arts moves that make everybody laugh at on the internet? The ones that make people say, “That move would never work in a real fight.” Well, you can hear those same comments in actual martial arts schools. One time, I was ..read more
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#119: Lighten Your Load – The Double-Weighted Error [Video Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
10M ago
Welcome to Episode #119 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Lighten Your Load – The Double-Weighted Error.” The art of Tai Chi Chuan is often criticized (or even mocked) in modern martial arts circles. Of course, much of that criticism comes from people who have never researched or practiced the art whatsoever! Typically, the critics have only seen Tai Chi Chuan students being defeated in competitions and then concluded that the art’s strategies and techniques offer no value to a serious martial artist. NOT SO! To be fair, many teachers of Tai Chi Chuan prefer to practice the philosophica ..read more
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#118: How to Get More from Your Martial Arts Practice [Video + Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
11M ago
Welcome to Episode #118 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Get More from Your Martial Arts Practice.” You train hard… but are you getting everything you can out of your martial arts practice? Probably not! Don’t worry—in this episode, I share three practice tips that will pay you back with BIG results. At least they did for me! No, they’re not magic. No, they’re not quick ‘n’ easy. But if you’ve ever felt stuck in a rut, these might just be what you need to hear… and do! Especially if you’ve ever felt like QUITTING martial arts completely, this episode is for you! Before you walk ..read more
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#117: Bad Advice in the Martial Arts [Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
1y ago
Welcome to Episode #117 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Bad Advice in the Martial Arts.” You get a lot of advice as a martial arts student… you probably give a lot of advice, too! But is it possible that all of that good advice is actually bad advice? In this episode, I’m examining five pieces of popular advice that might not be helping anyone. In fact, these teaching clichés might be making your life harder! Here are the five suspects— Relax. Don’t use so much muscle. Leave your ego at the door. Stop doing the same technique–try something different. Don’t give up. Any of these soun ..read more
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#116: You Got This! Confidence in the Martial Arts [Video + Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
1y ago
Welcome to Episode #116 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “You Got This.” Confidence is a tricky commodity. If you have too much—trouble. If you have too little—trouble! Especially in the martial arts, place too much faith in your skills, you might wind up dead. But place NO faith in your skills, you might also wind up dead! With those high stakes in mind, let’s discuss the effort to find the right balance between confidence and humility. Along the way, we’ll look at the Dunning-Kruger effect, belt tests, self-defense demos, and a few tips to get more out of your training. (For all you B ..read more
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#115: How to Be a Good Judge in Martial Arts and Life [Video + Podcast]
Sensei Ando
by Ando Mierzwa
1y ago
Welcome to Episode #115 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Be a Good Judge.” Are you a good judge or a bad judge? In the martial arts (and in life!), I’ve definitely been both. But as I get older, I’d like to think I’m getting better at passing judgement. Whether we’re talking about fighting styles, techniques, and training methodologies or art, food, and people, how can we be sure we’re making the right decisions? Is there a way to see the world clearly and avoid making mistakes? In this episode, I’ll share some mistakes I’ve made as well as some strategies to maximize success in ..read more
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