Review of 30 Day Blogging Challenge

Hello Dear Friends.

Interdependence

Today I am putting together a review of the 30 Day Blogging Challenge by Sarah and Kevin from Sark emedia.

Firstly, I took on this challenge simply because I wanted to get into the habit of writing daily, rather than specifically blogging or looking for traffic for my business.

Secondly, I have completed this challenge on a platform that doesn’t give the best resources to grow and improve the blog in the style you are taught over the course of the challenge.

Never the less, I have given an account of the 30 Day challenge and how it has impacted me during this time.

What I learned

No matter how busy you are, you can always write. If you have a platform set up to showcase that writing, then all the better.

A supportive and encouraging environment has been the key to completing the challenge for me... 

Hence, I highly recommend Sarah and Kevin for their support, comments and equally their guidance, tips, tools and resources for blogging and a host of other online related activities.

With so much shared freely, you wonder how they make a success of it...

 

Now you know

Light bulb moments

The use of mind maps and outlining, to get your ideas and information out and written quickly revolutionised my blogging. (Thanks Sarah & Kevin)

Again the editorial calendar was awesome for knowing what was coming, rather than having to scramble around on the day.

With sheer determination, anything is possible... The type of working day I have has meant that most of the posts have been written quite late into the night when I have been tired and could think of 100 other things I would rather be doing. But I pushed on through...

So I know, post 30-day challenge as I piece together all the reasons for my resolve to get to the end. I’ll have ammunition to get through any other challenges on the writing and marketing front I’m faced with in the future.

What I’ll do differently

Set up a word press website where I have much more scope for engaging with the audience and adapting the site to suit that function.

Write daily, but blog less... Twice a week ought to do it and spend the rest of the time marketing, promoting and maximising the potential of those posts.

Give more support and encouragement to those around me on the same journey. Because I had so much from this myself.

And you can find all the tools you need to maximise your blog posts here.

What I found out about myself

I was able to give it my all... I was compelled to. The difference a real supportive environment made to me. This includes not only Sarah and Kevin but also all my fellow 30-day blogging challenge participants who supported through likes, comments and shares.

I thoroughly enjoyed the writing process. This gave me the most pleasure.

I can do this... I was determined to complete, though not always certain I could.

As a direct result of taking the challenge, I am going to set up wordpress websites in two niches and grow and improve them continuously.

 

This time around

A new chapter

Well, I have got the taste and am now certain I can do this. It has been a ‘real’ challenge. And in the end, has only left me with yet another challenge... This time, a long-term challenge; to build something I love... Long-term, solid, online and done right.

Please leave a comment or ask any questions in the box below.

See you on a website or blog post soon.

Thanks for taking the time

The Future of Martial Arts... One Man’s view

Hello Friends,

More of a good ramble, than a post you’ll learn a great deal from. But a good ramble can do wonders sometimes... Especially if you are already on the same wavelength.

It's All Good

Rationale

We are in the age of reason, of rationalisation... We have traditional martial arts clinging onto history and purism. 

On the other hand, we have modern martial arts throwing everything into the melting pot.

It is not a case of which is better, it’s a case of different purposes.

Our needs as a race have changed drastically from what it was and so have our martial arts needs.

Experience

I love the traditional elements of martial arts... But my first 4 years of Martial arts were taught to me by my friend Simon... Before eventually joining the club he belonged to.

So, how interesting it was to see first-hand how we interpret things differently. My friend Simon had been a member for several years before I met him and I found that some of his teachings were identical to that of the club, some similar, but with his own twist on things.

But then there were a number of things I’d learnt from Simon over the years which were what he felt, based on his years of training were the better ways to do things.

In my experience since, I have found this tendency to be consistently the case. And that is human nature... We are creators, we will continue to create and adapt to suit our needs.

I said in my last post which you can find here... The traditional art is hard and repetitive. But I believe it will give you a foundation like no other.

A foundation you can then build upon whatever martial art-form you want, knowing it is built on solid ground and will stay up... 

Solid foundation

Individuality

Good character or good manipulation skills... Which is better? It depends on the situation.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion...

Popularity, mainstream or confined, secret, mysterious.

We are all individuals but even in its purest form, martial arts endured individuality for hundreds of years and so with the secret out in the open... Martial Arts is big and bold enough to outlast and endure all forms of modern life’s evolution of its art.

The essence or the heart of the art will still remain.

The future

Just because we have worked tirelessly to adapt this art doesn’t mean we won’t be back at some time in the future trying to restore it to its original condition and call it classic.

So I think the future for Martial Arts is a bright one... One where it will sustain its hold on our fascination of it and maybe even a greater hold in future as we adapt it to suit our needs completely.

 

Yes, that will mean more people taking part in martial arts, over a longer period of time...

Bringing us ever closer to my adopted take on it... “Martial Arts... The way of life” by so many authors, including Douglas L. Wong.

Please leave a comment or ask me a question in the box below.

Thank you for taking the time

Martial Arts – Too much like hard work

Hello Friend,

Just a simple reminder, if you are feeling a little overwhelmed with it all. Or some aspects of your martial arts are not going well, and you are tempted to throw in the towel.

Have a read of this...

Work, work, work

Benefits

It is worth reminding yourself of the benefits you get from martial arts. There are some benefits which may be unique to you or your situation. But there are some that I would call universal benefits which apply to all who take part:

If done right, it is a mind, body and soul experience, in which all three aspects grow in the process, self-defence, confidence, health (fitness, flexibility and strength), stress release and the social side where you’ll meet like-minded people and form life-long friendships in most cases...

A few good reasons why to continue. Wouldn’t you agree?

Motivate me

Is there any motivation from you or the sensei or school/club you belong to?

You can answer on your part yourself. But for the sensei and the martial arts club you belong to... 

You will need to ask the question. Let them know how you feel and ask how others have coped with this stage of their growth in the club. The answers are there, if you ask.

Just to give you an example, my wife is a student in the class I teach and one day she shared with me that she loved the session we had today and it was so much better than the boring repetitive session we normally had...

So, I said to her, I can understand you feeling that way, but sometimes you need the right perspective... Because those boring repetitive actions are the foundation of martial arts. But, you make it what it is...

She asked me to elaborate, so I did, by saying, even now, when I do those kick’s, the thought going through my head is not ‘oh not again’. But rather ‘can I do this any better than last week, can I kick faster, higher, vary the technique slightly in mid-flow in order to get it to connect just right on the spot I want it to on my opponent?

With the latter thoughts, you’ll remain excited about your martial arts because you can always improve your best...

Instantly, the look on her face changed and it was a moment for both of us. I then asked, “Have you ever looked at it like that?” “No” was the answer.

This led me to think that if the sensei’s wife feels like that. How do others feel?

Reasons

Your own reasons in the first place... I recommend that you write down your reasons for doing martial arts in the first place, remind yourself of those reasons regularly and add to them as you grow within the art... This will give you focus and eliminate boredom, which can set in if you ‘don’t’ know why you are there.

Payoff

What is the long-term payoff for being involved in martial arts? Again it is different for all. But, universally. A life of spiritual, physical and mental growth... Helping other people along the way to achieve the same through your participation and sharing what you have learnt with them. This and a whole lot more besides.

Here is another way to look at it: 

You will have on average seven coloured belt’s between white belt when you start to black belt. From there, your next step is 2^nd Dan black belt which takes two years before you go for that grade. Then 3^rd Dan which is three years, then 4^th Dan which is 4 years...

The point is this; you can go through your first 7 grades to black belt in an average of 4 years... But, if done right, it will take 35 years to get through the next 7 grades as a black belt. 

So giving up in the first 4 years means you haven’t even got out of the gate yet. You start learning when you turn black belt in Martial Arts... Think about that for a moment...

Close

If you have got this far and you are still thinking ‘nope’ not for me. Then you are probably right. There is a sport out there for you.

If on the other hand, you are starting to think there is more to this than I originally thought. Then welcome, you are certainly right... Go explore.

If you are a non-martial artist, you now know what is shouted about this art is not the essence of the art at all... Somehow, even with how popular, widespread and diluted it has become. It has still kept its real meaning from the untrained eye. 

Too much like hard work...

I think it’s incredible.

Please leave a comment or ask any questions in the box below.

Thank you for taking the time

5 Reasons to Warm Up before Martial Arts

Tricep and shoulder stretch

1.   Helps to avoid sprains and injuries.

One of the most important reasons for warming up, we all know this one. But how many times have we ignored it and sprained something or were lucky enough to feel a twinge.

Then stopped training and did the warm up as required.

2.   You can train at close to your capacity sooner

When the body is warm, you feel like you can hit your top performance quickly. There is something inside that is saying ‘come on, let’s go.

3.   Mentally prepares you for the session

You don’t feel like you are waiting for inspiration anymore, it is just there. You’re in the flow... the good vibes the body is experiencing during warm up are spilt over into the mental mind.

This is the body leading the mind.

4.   Gets muscles ready to work

This may seem similar to number 2. But the emphasis is on ‘work’... If your training for the day consisted of walking for say 300 metres, you could quite easily set off on such a walk with absolutely no warm-up, without any consequences.

But if doing more strenuous or unpredictable exercise, then by being already warm, you can the work.

5.   Can help pinpoint areas that need a little extra work

As you go through the warm up, stretching and movement of your limbs. You start to get a sense of the muscles that are full and ready for action...

But also the muscles that are not quite there and need a more in-depth warm up or extra training to bring them up to speed.

Please ask any questions or leave comments in the box below.

 

Thanks for taking the time.

How to Build a Killer Technique in Martial Arts

You’ve got techniques, combinations, punches and kick’s... In how to build a killer technique in martial arts. We are going to look at a great way to improve these by incorporating them into a, one time or memorised kata.

Not the same kata as the one that makes up your syllabus for grading. But a kata developed by you for the sole purpose of integrating your killer technique

 

Practice

Flow

What does incorporating it into a kata do? It strengthens the feasibility of using that skill when needed. Because you have built it into a continuous motion action, Rather than just practicing it in isolation... Practice in isolation is necessary, but can leave you asking ‘when’ is a good time to use it?

This can sometimes lead to indecision during sparring.

How?

Say you stumble across a unique way to get a roundhouse kick to the midsection of your opponent. Then, yes. Practice it in isolation several times till it becomes natural. But then build it into a continuous flow of combinations, punches, kicks and stances...

This allows you to own the technique as you have learned to use it subconsciously without a pause, reducing the chance of your opponent reading it.

You can take it to a higher level by adding an imaginary opponent into this self-made kata. Then, practice, practice, practice.

Get real

Next is to try it out on a sparring partner. You can let them know what you are up to. Although it can make it harder as they try to predict it and the sparring becomes manufactured.

Alternatively, keep quiet about it and see how it unfolds. You may find it’s perfect. If it needs more work, adjust as required till you get it just right.

Once you have it working just right, you need to make it more difficult for you to execute it by asking your partner to watch out for it... When you can get it past them even though they know it is coming. Your killer technique is taking shape.

Think location

Once you have your killer technique working. It’s time to ramp up the fire under making it really invincible, through practice and also by thinking location!

Your location, your opponent’s location, location of the technique. What do I mean?  I mean; are you standing, in a stance, or spinning when executing the technique? Is your sparring partner advancing, retreating, moving to the left or right?

Is the technique aimed at the mid section upper body or does it not matter? Knowing these variations of location will not only help smoothen out the technique because doing these checks is like removing the bends in the road.

It actually helps you find ways to make the technique invincible, as it becomes near impossible to read and super effective at the same time... You have just built a killer technique.

Stealth

Killer tech

 

We have looked at how to take one of your current techniques and build a killer technique in martial arts. 

Just by applying some of the ideas here, you can turn your everyday technique into something quite unique and special.

But once you have been doing martial arts for a while you will more than likely stumble on a technique you haven’t been taught... Look out for these, as they serve as the best candidate to turn into a killer technique that is 100% yours.

Thank you for taking the time. Please leave a comment or ask any questions below.