Ore No Do :: My way

Professor Samuel Luke and I What you will only learn in traditional Martial Arts Once upon a time, a century or so ago, when access to education was sparse the martial arts were not only a way for one to obtain exercise, extended family, and self-defense skills but, also to obtain an education. Professors were called such for their ability to instruct on more than just defensive skills and curriculums would often contain lesson plans, homework, and testing in addition to the belting systems. For example, the Kenpo system would assign outside homework to their students containing subjects such as the central nervous system and human anatomy. In Danzan Ryu we require students to submit essays during belt testing and also learn about the anatomy of the body. Wushu requires the complete perfection of various forms and intricate movements which takes an amazing amount of diligent practice and effort to perform. What we pass as Martial Arts today are merely sports systems which are s...

How to Monetize your Martial Arts expertise? We live in an amazing time period, where we can literally make money off of anything and there will always be money to go around to those who are passionate, and driven enough. However, as always there must be a balance or a moral compass in which drives us as instructors in order to always be providing the very best education, support and training we can for our students. Those of us who have dedicated our entire lives to martial arts are posed with numerous pathways to monetizing our passion, from stunt work and acting to becoming an instructor or blogger but, please remember to always maintain your integrity and remember why you started in the first place or some of the incredible instructors you have been under. Some examples of why instructing might not be the best path A famous well accomplished Martial Artist I won’t name here told my instructor once, that there is no money in Martial Arts and would always be selling t-shirts to...

PNF Stretching Why all Martial Artists should receive regular check-ups by Physical Therapists Due to all of my recent injuries, I was forced to seek external help from my normal massage and stretching routines. I tend to refrain from visiting doctors and hate taking unnecessary medication and had already visited Masseurs, Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, and a few specialists before seeing the Physical Therapist who helped me recover from my back injury. Art is a doctor of Physical Therapy, has done martial arts before and loves teaching people how to heal their bodies in addition to being one of the most skilled healers I have ever met. He was able to clear all of my bodies ailments in a couple of visits and set me back on the path to recovery as opposed to the stagnating injuries I had lingering. This was done through a series of tests and very unaggressive Nervous system alignments that I would describe as similar to a mixture of Assisted Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilita...

Why you should start Martial Arts I don’t enjoy running. I have come to this conclusion a very long time ago, and while I can force myself to lace up and hit the pavement it takes a tremendous amount of willpower in order to do so and it isn’t something I look forward to. I definitely enjoy the endorphin rush from a good long run however, I must be honest with myself and I would much rather do something I enjoy for exercise. Aside from the fun factor of training in Martial Arts for exercise, there are many other benefits that have gone overlooked by the general population. Psychological Benefits The foremost factor is fulfilling each and every aspect of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid above our basic human needs (Which training will help do as well!). Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid After our physiological needs, such as air, water, food, and shelter comes our safety needs. Training in Martial Arts will not only boost your confidence by giving you the body ...

The best equipment I have found for Martial Arts sparring Sparring in front of Sifu Richard Bustillo Through my Martial Arts practice, I have been through many pairs of sparring gear. Here are my personal favorites I use daily and recommend them to everyone I know for their durability, and reliability and just overall quality. Gloves For Boxing Gloves I will always stand behind Fairtex products, and specifically the BVG1 Breathable pair. The BVG1 is shorter than the Mexican Boxing line Fairtex offers, with a firm wrist strap that doubles as a wrist support and keeps your gloves in very nice shape. The breathable mesh near the palm of your hand allows for airflow during and outside of training, allowing you to further aerate your gear. I personally, like all Muay Thai practitioners own 16oz gloves but recommend lighter weights for smaller individuals or beginners. Shin Guards I have been through many pairs of Shinpads, and absolutely hate having to pause in the...

Why we need to Relax more Relaxing in the mountains of Mai Chu, Vietnam Martial Artists are always trying to push the envelope in the pursuit of developing our mind, body, and spirit. In America as well as many other industrialized countries we have been groomed into overworking ourselves and idolizing this unhealthy work ethic. Yes, hard work breeds success but there must be a yin and yang to everything we do. There will always be outliers who need less sleep or rest than the majority of us, but even they require time to recharge. I have searched for a long time to find my own meaning of life, which I can share another time and realized we often think clearer in retrospect so why not take the advice from someone thinking back on their lifetime. I came across many articles and interviews of people on their deathbed or in hospice care who all shared a similar message which was that they wish they had spent more time doing the things they had enjoyed in life. Of course, they had...