The Benefits of Taking a Break on Learning & Productivity
Western society is a often characterized with a spirit of ambitious go-getting. The people who are often thought to make the most of life are the ones who set goals and work diligently toward them. You see this in the martial arts too, especially with regards to the belt system. As a white belt, a student looks to learn all the techniques on the yellow belt system. Once they have developed the required proficiency at those techniques, they’re tested and usually promoted. Lather, rinse, and repeat until life takes you away from the art or you get bored. (more…)
7 Useful iPhone Apps for Mental & Physical Health
I have had an iPhone 4 for over a year now and up until recently had hardly any apps on it. After hearing about how useful they can be, I decided to explore what ones might be helpful for maintaining mental and physical health. Of course, I preferred if they were free, but I found myself intrigued by a few of the ones that required payment. So in this post I’ll review 7 of the ones that I thought people who strive for a healthy lifestyle would find most useful.
1. Clear (Productivity App)
Price: $2.99. This remarkably simple app makes it easy to make and track lists, whether it’s to-do lists, grocery lists, goal lists, etc. It makes cute little sounds as you add and subtract things from your lists, making it that much more satisfying a process. According to studies, making lists helps us organize our minds, which can in turn help us learn better (or so I was told in my 1st year university psychology class). Clear is really intuitive and easy to use, though you may find that the very act of making these lists makes it so that you don’t actually have to rely on them as much (as is the case with me).
How to Keep Boxing Gloves Clean & Smelling Fresh(ish)
Boxing gloves are one of those things that tend to start smelling bad over time. They are a breeding ground for bacteria when you sweat in them regularly. Over time it can get really bad, so bad that other students will avoid sparring with you. Don’t be “that guy” (or gal). There are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening, so do yourself and your sparring partners a favour and follow them so no one has to suffer:
1. Don’t leave them in your bag! Your warm, dark, damp training bag is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. If you just leave your gloves in your bag after each sparring session, you’ll find your gloves getting stinkier and stinkier, especially in warmer weather. If you do nothing else, take them out of our training bag when you get home. This tip is also offered for uniforms in our article ‘Odour Management for Martial Artists.’ (more…)
3 Healthy Breakfast Recipes for Active People
Nutritionists have emphasized the importance of breakfast for years and yet so many people who want to improve their health and well-being still have meals full of empty calories, or worse yet, skip breakfast. One of the best things I got out of reading about the “Zone” Diet system was that it helped me put together a few breakfasts that are just right for me in terms of my activity level.
These power breakfasts are all quick and easy to make. They’re nutritious and give me plenty of energy for my day, and because they have a good balance of carbs and protein, I don’t get hungry an hour or two after eating. You can easily adjust amounts and make substitutions based on your own personal tastes too as they’re very flexible recipes. (more…)
How to Minimize the Psychological Impact of Injuries in Martial Arts Classes
Injuries happen in the martial arts. It’s not stamp collecting. They’re bound to happen sooner or later. At our dojo, we’ve been very fortunate in that we’ve had very few injuries occur in the 6 years we’ve been in operation. But when they do happen, it’s important to minimize their psychological effects in the dojo.
When a person gets injured it serves as a reminder that what we do has its risks, and this “reminder” can act as a virus that spreads negativity and doubt throughout the class and to those who witness the event. Students become more cautious in their performance of techniques, and this “cautiousness” can cause them to move in ways that actually lead to the very injuries they fear. (more…)
6 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Force It in Martial Arts Training
In Jiu-jitsu, as in many martial arts, the goal is to develop great technique so as to use one’s energy with the greatest level of efficiency for maximum effect. Jiu-jitsu literally translates to mean “the art of pliancy or flexibility.” When students get stuck on a technique though, sometimes they will try to use power to force it to work. This not a good approach if your goal is to become a better martial artist. Water is often used as analogy of how we should train in the martial arts. It finds the path of least resistance and flows around its obstacles. Bruce Lee himself said: “Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way round or through it.”
There are a variety of practical reasons for not trying to force your way through martial arts techniques. Here are 6 examples from my own experience: (more…)
Can Older People Do Jiu-jitsu? Just Ask Rick…
Every so often a prospective student emails me and asks me if it’s realistic for an older person to take up Jiu-jitsu. Most of the time the people asking are in the 40s and overweight or out of shape. I’ve always said that it’s possible for anyone of pretty much any age and physical condition (provided doctor’s approval) to start training, but it was only after Rick Karnowski started training with us, that I had the perfect person to point toward as proof. (more…)
Dealing with Less-than-Ideal Ukes in the Martial Arts
Last year I wrote a post about how to be a good uke (training partner). But what happens when you have to work with someone that’s a less than an ideal uke? Depending on what the problems are with the person, there are different approaches you can take to help fix or minimize them. I’ll characterize a few types of less-than-ideal ukes and offer solutions for dealing with them in this post.
Inexperienced Uke. Sometimes you’ll have to work with people who are new to the dojo and need a lot of understanding and guidance as they train. They may not be the most fun for you to train with when you want to go a little harder or work on more advanced techniques, but it’s important to help them take those brave first steps into the world of martial arts. Everyone has to start somewhere. You likely received guidance and encouragement when you first started. If you didn’t, think about how much better it would have been if you had and try to make the experienced better for your uke. They will appreciate it more than you can imagine, which helps add to the general positive atmosphere of your dojo. (more…)
10 Things You Can Do Outside the Dojo to Become a Better Martial Artist
1. Train Your Balance.
Improving your balance helps your kicks, throws, takedowns,
stances, and many other techniques in the martial arts. Try
standing on one foot while you put your shoes on and tie
them, one foot at a time. While you’re waiting in a
check-out line or for a bus, you can also train your
balance simply by standing on one foot. If you’re going to
do this, however, try to do it inconspicuously, unless you
don’t mind people thinking you’re a bit strange! Below are some extra tips for training balance. (more…)
We're proud to announce that Lori O'Connell Sensei's new book, When the Fight Goes to the Ground: Jiu-jitsu Strategies & Tactics for Self-Defense, published through international martial arts publisher Tuttle Publishing, is now available in major book stores and online. More about it & where to buy it.