The Complete History of McDojos (pt. 1) and The Complete History of McDojos (pt. 2) are excellent articles discussing the perils of the martial arts industry. There are many opinions and some very fierce positions about the variety of issues. My story… I started Taekwondo back in 1981. At the time I didn’t know it […]

During a Haidong Gumdo (Korean sword) seminar led by Senior Chief Master Marshall Parnell, he commented that his job isn’t to make students the best swordsman that he can but it is to help them learn to drive their car better. My school has loved the hard physical training that develops the spirit in addition […]

The following is an email from a Twin Ports Gumdo (Duluth, MN) student, Mrs. Amy Ojard, who tested for her World Haidong Gumdo Federation Chodan at this weekend’s Spring Seminar. Mrs. Ojard is also the Athletic Director at Lakeview Christian Academy in Duluth, MN. ———– Master F., First of all, thank you for your passion […]

Recently I had a call from a Mom wanting to put her child into Taekwondo classes. She said that he needed to learn more discipline because he had “anger issues”. She went straight to asking the costs and such. When I found out the child was 5 years old, I politely informed her that we […]

Learn to Speak or Teach Better in 30 Minutes The concept presented within the article holds true for learning and developing any martial arts skills, also. Your training MUST be more than mere practice and repetition. If you are not applying deliberate practice to all of your training, you are WASTING time and energy. I […]

So, how is your training going? Good? Frustrating? While everyone plateaus during their training, in all kinds of topics, one of the reasons is often overlooked. Many students develop good technique and then move on to something new. This development serves them well…for the most part. As frustration starts, the student struggles to figure out […]

I tried three times to write something wise to help deepen the understanding of what is presented here. I stopped after I remembered being told that I talk too much. I will leave everyone with this though – It isn’t enough to just practice the technique! You must spend time developing the understanding. Without understanding, […]

Back in the early 1980s, I came across two things that changed my thoughts about what I should be doing in life. The first one is from an adventure series called “Ninja Master” by Wade Barker. This is a brain candy series that didn’t have a lot of story but was a fun read. What […]

Having some really cold weather here in Minnesota provided the opportunity to do some searching for more lessons to learn and bring to my students. I found this article “The Big Secret to A Successful Career” on LinkedIn and thought that it not only fit how to be successful in a career but in martial […]

This fits something that was mentioned during our 2014 cuts. Martial artists and athletes give 100% during their training. Every workout is just as tiring and draining as the last. They train so hard that it always “seems” there is no progress. Without the discipline of their art, they would miss the progress that they […]