whistlekick Martial Arts Radio

For a full transcript and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/127-rank-privileges/

Mr. Dale Frye, aka "Sunshine," is a world champion kickboxer turned actor and stuntman. Mr. Dale Frye - Episode 126 I said, wait a minute. We just sat here and beat on each other for six rounds, and it was fun. And it's like, maybe we need to be looked at or something. Mr Dale Frye has done a lot. From winning world-titles in kickboxing to an acting resume that's been impressive for decades. Whether it's kicks or stunts or acting, Mr. Frye, also known by his fighting name, Sunshine, has left his mark. We had a good chat and I think you'll enjoy it. Let's welcome him to the show. Today we're featuring our awesomely-comfortable sweatpants. They're perfect for anyone that has legs and gets cold. Available at whistlekick.com. For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/126-dale-frye/

For full show notes, including a transcript, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/125-sparring-drills/

I first met Shihan Grant Campbell during the March 2016 Superfoot black belt gathering in Florida. It was during this same assembly that I met Kyoshi Kevin Hudson, and, of course, Sensei Terry Dow and Bill Wallace were there. I met a lot of people that weekend, and everyone was very skilled, and a great person to work with. There was one person, though, that stood out for me in the way he helped me through that weekend. We've all worked with martial arts practitioners that seem to understand us, to know our journey, and to make us better. Shihan Campbell was that person for me, at least on that weekend. I enjoyed his help with the physical aspects of our training, but also really appreciated his humor and stories during meals and downtime. I knew that he was someone we needed to have on the show. The scheduling took some time, as he's very busy with training, teaching, and travelling, but we made it happen. Listen in, you'll see that it was worth the wait. Today's featured whistlekick product is our full line of shirts. Quite a few different styles to choose from, including large and youth sizes. With something for everyone, there's no reason not to have a few whistlekick shirts in your drawer or closet. For full show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/124-grant-campbell/

What are you doing? I know what you're doing. You're getting ready to listen to today's episode of Martial Arts Radio. Well, here we are. Episode 123 is coming at you in just a moment, and it's all about Jean-Claude Van Damme. I'm whistlekick's founder but I'm better known as your host, Jeremy Lesniak. whistlekick, if you don't know, makes the absolute best sparring gear, apparel and accessories for practitioners and fans of traditional martial arts. I'd like to welcome all of our new listeners and thank everyone that's come back again. All of our past podcast episodes, show notes and a lot more are at whistlekickmartialartsradio.com. From that site you can sign up for our newsletter, and I really think you should, because we offer exclusive content to subscribers, discounts and it's the only place to find out about upcoming guests. When we take a look at our sales, we're seeing a lot of our sparring helmets go out to people that do MMA, kickboxing and other sports that are really outside traditional martial arts. Why? Probably because there's nothing more comfortable and protective than a whistlekick helmet. Just like the rest of our gear, it holds up amazingly well. Check them out at whistlekick.com. For a full transcript, photos and other show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/123-jean-claude-van-damme/

Renshi Craig Sargent - Episode 122 Over the last year and a half, there have been guests that I've wanted to get to know better. I've known today's guest for a few years, and despite quite a few conversations, I felt like there was a lot more than I knew. It wasn't more than 15 minutes into today's episode before I realized my instincts were correct- Renshi Craig Sargent had a lot more to say than I'd heard during our brief talks. Right from the beginning, he opens up, and he takes us on a ride like few have with this show. I can say I know Renshi Sargent much better, now, and I look forward to seeing him more at tournaments and other events. Today's featured product is our brand new Pro Hoodie. Comfortable, lightweight polyester fleece with a colorful logo and a little something extra in the hood. Find them on whistlekick.com For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/122-craig-sargent/

On today's episode we answer four burning questions submitted by the audience. Question & Answer #1 - Episode 121 Today's episode will be a bit different- because we're always trying to change things up and bring you some variety. If you follow us on social media, you know we ask a lot of questions – because we want to know what you think about things. But through those questions comes conversation, and questions coming back to us. And today we're going to answer some of the questions that you've written in. If you like this show and want to see more of this format, let us know and, ideally, send in a question yourself. Here are the questions we tackle on today's episode: Q: What do you think Bruce Lee's career would have looked like if he was alive today? Q: I'm 18 and love martial arts. I've been training since I was 9 but now I'm at college and don't have very many options to continue my training. There's a martial arts club on campus but it's very different from what I'm used to. I'm missing my dojo back home but it's too far to drive. What should I do? Q: How long should I stop training if I become injured? I've recently messed up my shoulder and it's getting better, but I really miss my training. Can I just go in and take it easy? Q: If you had to spend the next year training alone with only one famous martial artist or actor, who would it be? On today's episode, we mentioned our episode on Martial Arts training in a car, Episode 95.

Hanshi Bruce Juchnik is a living encyclopedia. When you talk about the most famous martial artists - Joe Lewis, Robert Trias, Chuck Norris, Bill Wallace, James Mitose - he's right there in the mix. In some of the stories, he's on the fringes, but can tell you about the major players and what really happened. In others, he takes center stage and helps connect the dots on some of the most important elements of our past. And history is very important to Hanshi Juchnik. He knows where he came from and he believes you should, too. As important as punching and kicking is, that's how important knowing your lineage is to Hanshi Bruce Juchnik. It was a pleasure to have him on the show and connect many of the different stories we've already heard, as well as point us in the direction of some guests we'll be having on in the future. Today's featured product is our best seller - our sparring boots. No toe strap, double reinforcement, extra ventilation, durable materials, comfortable design... if you're used to other foam sparring boots, you'll be shocked at how much better these are. For full show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/120-bruce-juchnik/

McDojos, and all that they mean to the martial arts community, are the topic of conversation today on our first-ever group chat. Group Chat: McDojos - Episode 119 Today's episode is a bit different - it's our first group conversation. A few weeks ago, we were approached by Sensei Robert Ingram. Sensei Ingram is the man behind the McDojo Life brand. McDojo Life is a martial arts entertainment group that brings you humorous martial arts content. Most of their content is published through social media. McDojo Life has quite a large following, and for good reason - their stuff is funny! We also brought back a past guest, whistlekick's good friend & host of the Martial Thoughts podcast, Sensei Jaredd Wilson. Jeremy joins the two of them to discuss McDojos, integrity in martial arts instruction and instructors and a lot more. For those unfamiliar with the term, a McDojo is a derogatory term that refers to a martial arts school that doesn't live up to the standards others set. It's completely subjective, and we discuss that as part of the show. We had a great conversation and all three of us enjoyed the time together. If you like this format, please let us know and we'll look at doing more of them. Thanks for listening and have an amazing day! During the episode, we talked about Episode 69, our episode where we talk about martial arts instructors & integrity. On today's episode, we reference the Redneck Jiu Jitsu YouTube Channel For More Information on Sensei Ingram and McDojo Life You can find McDojo Life on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook & Twitter. Soon, the website McDojoLife.com will be active. For More Information on Sensei Jaredd Wilson and Martial Thoughts You can find Sensei Jaredd Wilson on Episode 76, his previous podcast appearance. You can find the Martial Thoughts podcast here, website.

I first met Kancho Brown at a multi-instructor seminar in early summer of 2016. I was impressed with his skill, but more so his personality. We quickly became friends and I found myself thrilled at his stories and sense of humor. I knew he was someone that needed to come on the show, and we spent a few months coordinating schedules... BUT... he's here now and it's time for his tales. Let's welcome him to the show. Today's featured product is our premium sparring glove - the best foam sparring glove available. Check them out, and all of our products, at whistlekick.com For full show notes and other episodes, please check out: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/118-matt-brown/

Hi. Guess what? It's time for another episode of whistlekick Martial Arts Radio, and this is episode 117, and it's our long-awaited profile of the amazing Tony Jaa. I'm whistlekick's founder but I'm better known as your host, Jeremy Lesniak. whistlekick, if you don't know, makes the absolute best sparring gear, apparel and accessories for practitioners and fans of traditional martial arts. I'd like to welcome the new listeners and thank everyone that's come back again. All of our past podcast episodes, show notes and a lot more are at whistlekickmartialartsradio.com. From that site you can sign up for our newsletter, and I really suggest you do so, because we offer exclusive content to subscribers, discounts and it's the only place to find out about upcoming guests. You've probably heard me talk about our sparring gear before. Heck, it's the whole reason I founded whistlekick. But what you may not know, unless you're subscribing to the newsletter (hint-hint!) is that we now have our top-notch sparring gear in a brand new color. Blue! It's an awesome blue, and the gear looks incredible. Check it out at whistlekick.com. So, today we're talking about Tony Jaa. When his name pops up, people think about the Ong Bak movies and his unique martial arts choreography. But how did he get started? What makes him tick? Well, I'll tell you. For full show notes, including photos, videos and the rest of the episode transcript, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/117-tony-jaa/

As with a number of our guests, it was from a news article that we first learned of Mestre Efraim Silva. Native to Brazil, Mestre Silva has been living in Connecticut for a number of years and has been spreading Capoeira throughout New England via his school. It took us some time to find a day to record as he's very much in demand teaching seminars throughout the United States. It was, to be blunt, very much worth the wait. Mestre Efraim talks of his early challenges in Brazil, his struggles to open a school here in the US and the positive changes he has had in the lives of his students. It's a powerful episode and one that may leave you feeling inspired and, at times, overwhelmed. It certainly did for me. Enjoy. ~jeremy Today's featured product is our full line of things to go on your head. Winter hats, ball caps - there's something for everyone. You can check out all of our hats at whistlekick.com For full show notes and other episodes please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/116-efraim-silva/

You've probably heard me mention our line of NoSweat shirts before. Super lightweight, incredibly comfortable, these go great under your uniform – and we carry black, white and gray just for that purpose – as well as any other time you want a comfortable, lightweight tee. You can also find them in red, blue, green and a few other colors. Check them out at whistlekick.com We've talked on this show about competition and its role in martial arts. We ask our guests about their competitive experience and we've even done full episodes on martial arts tournaments. One of the things I've seen lately on social media revolves around criticism of the way money is handed out at competitions. Some are calling for equal payouts for men's and women's divisions. Others are calling for parity between the adult and senior divisions. Money is, of course, important. While I would agree with the adage, "money doesn't buy happiness," it's hard to be happy when you don't have any. Let's explore the ties between money and competitive martial arts.

Mr. Gershon Ben Keren is a Krav Maga instructor, author and school owner. Mr. Gershon Gen Keren - Episode 114 It really doesn't matter how you solve that problem, whether you solve that problem by picking up an improvised weapon, whether you solve that problem through de-escalation or you solve it through disengagement. Frequent listeners know that we try to bring on people from different martial arts. It's important to be a well-rounded martial artist, and part of that involves learning about the different perspectives that different martial artists have - especially those that train in less-common arts. While we've had a few guests on the show that trained in Krav Maga, none of them have defined themselves as Krav Maga practitioners. And until recently, I wasn't even aware of how old Krav Maga was. So, when Mr. Gershon Ben Keren came to my attention as Krav Maga practitioner who started training long before the current wave, he seemed the perfect candidate to have on the show. While Mr. Ben Keren isn't here to represent Krav Maga, being the first person steeped in that art on the show carried a bit of responsibility with it. I was very honest with him of this, but also let him know that the episode was about him and not his chosen art. I think we both did a good job of placing him first but also giving you some information on the history of the style, which was important in giving you context for our guest. I really enjoyed getting to know Mr. Ben Keren, and with his school only a few hours away, it's just a matter of time before I pop by for a visit. Let's welcome him to the show. whistlekick Shin Guards Today's featured product is our shin guard - without a doubt the best foam shin guards available. Double-thick, extra reinforced, super-durable and an ergonomic, comfortable shape. If you like your shins without bruises, these are the best option. Find them on our website or at Amazon. For show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/114-gershon-ben-keren/

Martial arts training in different locations - and different types of locations - can yield strong benefits. Different Training Environments - Episode 113 Show transcript below. What is up everyone? It's time for another episode of whistlekick Martial Arts Radio, and here we are with episode 113. And today we're going to talk about training in different environments. I'm whistlekick's founder but I'm better known as your host, Jeremy Lesniak. whistlekick, if you don't know, makes the absolute best sparring gear, apparel, and accessories for practitioners and fans of traditional martial arts. I'd like to welcome the new listeners and thank everyone that's come back again. All of our past podcast episodes, show notes and a lot more are at whistlekickmartialartsradio.com. From that site, you can sign up for our newsletter, and I really suggest you do so, because we offer exclusive content to subscribers, discounts and it's the only place to find out about upcoming guests. As the weather starts cooling, you might be in the market for something warmer – whether you're headed to training, the gym or just looking for something comfortable, our sweatpants are it. Seriously, people love these things. I have a few pairs and through the winter months, they're pretty much all I wear. Let's talk about your training. Specifically, where you train. If you're like me, like most people, the vast majority of your training is at your dojo, dojang, academy, training hall or whatever you call it at your school. You might have mats or a hardwood floor. But the surface probably doesn't change. The lighting is probably the same and if you're like most schools, you always face the same direction. For some martial artists, this routine can pose a problem. It really comes down to two things – engagement and practicality. By engagement, I mean that your surroundings have a lot to do with the energy you invest to your training. Different people, different locations and different sights, sounds and smells seem to wake people up and inspire them to train harder. By practicality, I mean that we adapt to our surroundings and aren't quite as adept at taking action in strange environments. This doesn't just go for martial arts, but for anything. It's not a martial arts problem, it's a human being problem. Let's talk about the engagement challenge first. If you've been listening to the show you know that I'm an advocate for training with different instructors, attending seminars and otherwise varying your education. Of course, that will require you to go to different places and you'll learn differently because of those environments, but what about the rest of the time? One of the most interesting things I ever saw in a martial arts class was when an instructor had a kid's class turn 90 degrees and face a different wall. It was like a different group of children. They were suddenly attentive, powerful and really invested in the class. About 10 minutes later, as the energy level waned, the instructor did it again. Sure, there was likely some benefit from the small break the kids had, but I have no doubt that looking at a different wall was enough to wake up the children's senses. In fact, I've done this myself when I teach children, and even adults, if they seem to be fading. There are other ways to up the engagement in your regular-old training facility. Changing the lighting can be huge. Adding a colored light or turning off some of the lights completely changes the space. Drawing the shades, kicking parents and visitors out for just one night, and even putting sunglasses on everyone can make a huge impact. Anything that alters the sensory input will prompt a response. The longer someone has been training, chances are, the stronger the response. Let's talk about the actual physical space now. You can change it all you want, but at some point, you have to consider that it's exactly the same space. There's benefit to training outside that space as we've already discussed. Where, though, can and should you train? If you want to freak out a younger or newer student, take them to a crowded park and ask them to do a form. Chances are, they'll panic. Will they panic if they're attacked in that same place? Chances are they'll be more willing to use their skills, but that anxiety that comes up from people watching them is still important to address. Training outside, in different weather conditions, with strangers watching, adds a whole new dynamic to training. If you've ever been part of a demonstration, you've probably witnessed this whether you realized it or not. People act differently in different environments. Some people seem to draw strength from training in a wooded environment, others do better during a beach training. My challenge to you is to go out and try training in different environments. In fact, I'm going to give you a checklist right now and I'd urge you to try checking them off in the next month. Even for 15 minutes, try practicing

It was during my time at the Superfoot camp in Florida in March of 2016 that I first met Kyoshi Kevin Hudson. A tall man with a southern accent and a constant smile, he quickly became one of my favorite people I met that weekend. He quickly showed himself to be a skilled and passionate martial artist, which are the two primary criteria for coming on this show. It took a little bit of time to make the scheduling work, but it was worth the wait. This episode is one where we hear a lot about Kyoshi Hudson's love- not just for Martial Arts, but for people & for life in general. It's hard not to feel good after speaking with him, and that comes through in this episode. Enjoy. ~jeremy Today's featured products are our sweatshirts - pullovers and zip-ups available. Comfortable, stylish, cozy. What else could you ask for? For full show notes and other episodes, please visit http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/112-kevin-hudson/

Karate will be in the Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. Let's talk about what that means to the martial arts. During the show we reference the following websites. Official Tokyo 2020 Olympic Page on Karate - https://tokyo2020.jp/en/games/sport/olympic/karate/ Official World Karate Federation (WKF) rules - http://www.wkf.net/pdf/competition_rules_version9_2015_en1.pdf Black Belt Magazine pieces on how the Olympics have impacted Judo and Taekwondo Vintage Shield Tee, Back NoSweat Polyester Tee, Back Simple Tee Vintage Shield Tee, Women's Cut Front Today's featured product is our line of tee shirts. Check them out at our online martial arts store. For more information, other episodes, an episode transcript and a lot more, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/111-karate-olympics/

We love guest suggestions from the audience. So when one of our listeners suggested Mr. Simon Scher as a guest, it didn't take long for us to realize we had been missing out in not inviting this impressive man on the show. Once we realized he was only a few hours away from HQ, we ended up attending a Superfoot seminar together and even have some collaborations in the works. Mr. Scher is well known for his prolific social media releases, including photos and video of him kicking everything in sight. He's a kind and thoughtful man, with a great sense of humor. Enjoy the episode and when you're done, check out some of his videos. They're well done and entertaining. While he does have a Taekwondo background, his instruction offers something for people of all arts. Personally, I've found Mr. Scher to be a great guy and I'm looking forward to more collaborations with him in the future. ~jeremy Today's featured whistlekick product is our sparring helmet. Our helmet is much more flexible than other brands, which means it's more comfortable to wear. Adequate ventilation means less sweat, too. Check them out on our website. For show notes please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/110-simon-scher/

There's nothing fancy or special about today's episode – but it is the first episode where we've told you what's going on at whistlekick behind the scenes. Like this episode? Hate it? Let us know. It will help us determine whether to do it again. Thanks for listening!

This is part 2 of our episode with Mr. Tony Blauer. Please listen to part 1 first.

Mr. Tony Blauer is here to upset the apple cart a bit. Some will claim he's not a martial artist, but if you check our definition of a martial artist, you'll see that he certainly is. What Mr. Blauer has done exceptionally well throughout his career is look at martial arts, combat, and self-defense in a different way. He's not someone who will simply accept the words of another. That's not to say he's not respectful, but he challenges convention when he sees it to be appropriate. In a sense, he's a martial arts researcher. What follows is our longest show yet. Mr. Blauer gave an incredible amount of his time and geared the conversation to our audience - traditional martial arts & martial artists. You may love this episode, which has been split into two parts, or you may hate it. Regardless, you're going to think about martial arts, your training, self-defense and more. Our intention in bringing you this episode is not to steer you to sign up for anything from anyone. (Disclosure: we have never, and will never, taken any financial incentives from guests for them coming on the show.) Our intention is that you listen, consider Mr. Blauer's words, and look at your life and your training. For the clean version of this episode, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/108-tony-blauer/ Today's featured whistlekick product is our sparring boots. With sizes from the smallest child to the biggest bigfoot, we have something for you. No toe strap, excellent reinforcement, and far better materials than what you're used to. These are the most durable, comfortable foam sparring boots you've ever used.

Not long after moving the US Demura got a gig doing martial arts demonstrations at the Japanese Deer Park, a local attraction in California. The shows were different from martial arts demonstrations of the day, which showcased martial artists coming close but not making contact. Demura's demonstrations featured people reacting to this near contact, making it look like a fight. While there were likely others offering demonstrations this way, these demos at the Deer Park were certainly popularized by Fumio Demura and he's sometimes credited with developing the method. He was the stunt double for Pat Morita, who played Miyagi, in the karate kid movies. It was Chuck Norris who introduced Demura to the production people for The Karate Kid. He was originally intended to be Miyagi, but he knew his English wasn't good enough. From there he became the stunt double. It's hard to talk about Fumio Demura without mentioning the amazing movie from 2015, The Real Miyagi. What started as a crowdfunding project really turned into an amazing film. It's a well-done documentary on the life of Shihan Demura and it's available on Netflix as well as DVD. The cast is a who's who of martial artists and martial arts actors, including Billy Blanks, Pat Johnson, Dolph Lundgren, Pat Morita, Christine Bannon Rodriguez, Steven Seagal, Bill Wallace, Michael Jai White and many more.

Over the course of this show, we've had a few trends with mentions of movies & actors. But when it comes to books, there are only a few we've heard about consistently. Joe Hyams Zen in the Martial Arts, Miyamoto Musashi's The Book of Five Rings and Alex Gillis's A Killing Art. The first two authors have passed away, but Mr. Gillis is alive and well, so we invited him to come on the show. You can learn a lot about Mr. Gillis from the way he wrote the book, and you can learn about the book from our conversation with the man. Thoughtful, thorough and dedicated are words that you can use to describe either. For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/106-alex-gillis/ If you're a hat person, you need a whistlekick hat. There's really no other way to put it. We have a few different styles of both baseball cap-style hats as well as winter beanies. Check them out at the website, whistlekick.com.

Lately, I've been noticing something that's really starting to irritate me. Someone will mention their desire to explore martial arts, usually on social media. What comes back is a barrage of "my school is best" and "my art is best" posts. Now, we've talked a lot about that but when we talk about it in the context of a potential martial artist, all we're doing is turning them off from ever training. See, people don't like to make bad decisions. And if multiple people that they respect offer contradictory opinions… they're likely to make no choice. And if you've been listening to the show for a while, you know that one of our goals here at whistlekick is to get more people to train. After all, martial artists make the world a better place. So it really does all of us a disservice to answer that question – What martial art should I do – with such a direct answer. If you sold cars, houses or even cheese – would you even answer the question, what car, house or cheese should I get? Of course not. You'd ask questions. In sales, they're called qualifying questions. And guess what? If you're even thinking of answering the question, you're a sales person. And you have a duty to the person asking the question, the people you train with and the martial arts community as a whole to help them correctly. Just as you shouldn't teach at a martial arts school if you're not willing to give your students the best instruction you can, you shouldn't engage with someone on the question of what art to take. Let's now go through the questions you should be asking and how to handle this whole situation. For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/105-find-martial-arts-school/ If you're involved in a school that spars, chances are you've clashed shins with someone. Man, does that hurt. There are plenty of shin guards on the market, but ours are the only ones that are comfortable to wear, light-weight, double reinforced and actually shaped to fit your shin. When I'm at events I demo them by shin kicking door frames. Seriously, these things are great. You can learn more at whistlekick.com.

Today's episode is with well-known martial artist and ninjitsu practitioner Sensei Ashida Kim. While I had heard his name before, I'll confess that I didn't know a lot about him. When a past guest suggested he would be someone good to speak with, I did a bit of research and found that this man's resume is pretty incredible. While much of the writings on the internet about Sensei Kim are very strongly opinionated - both in his favor and not - I was more concerned with his stories. As we always do on the show, we give our guests the opportunity to speak freely and talk about that which they want to. That's exactly what we did here - and it's a great episode. Sensei Kim is a prolific author and has written a number of books still available. We discuss a few of them during the episode and you can learn more at his website, linked below. Today's featured whistlekick product is our line of tee shirts. We have something for everyone, in a variety of styles and sizes. Check them out, and the rest of our martial arts sparring gear and apparel, at whistlekick.com

Muscle memory is when your body does something automatically. Muscles remember what to do by repeating something many times. Sometimes this is called motor learning. In martial arts, this is the ability to, say, throw a punch without thinking about all of the small things required - which knuckles to use, twisting the hand, the retracted hand, etc. There's a bad side to motor learning - like when throwing a technique, someone throws it to the same place without thinking. Every time. There are ways to expand muscle memory and not be locked in to only a few patterns. Practice things differently. Routine is the enemy. It's not that we don't want muscle memory, it's that we don't want it to limit us. Work different heights, different body placements, different combinations. Strange combinations. Different speeds. When you slow things down you can focus on the movements and make adjustments. That's something we should all be doing anyway. Jeremy offers his favorite drill for combatting the negative effects of motor learning. Today's featured product is our sweatpants.

"Martial arts develops character. Martial sports reveals character." Welcome to episode 102 of Martial Arts Radio, where today we get to hear from Datu Tim Hartman. Datu Hartman is a living legend in the world of Filipino martial arts and has offered numerous seminars across the globe. As a lifelong practitioner of Filipino arts, Datu Hartman has watched the growth of the various disciplines, including arnis, escrima, kali and the various approaches and styles to these arts. We hear about the man's past, what keeps him inspired to train and why he's still so passionate not only about martial arts, but about passing on what he's learned to newer students. Today's featured whistlekick product line is our suggestion. They're available in zip-up and pull-over, in quite a few colors and sizes. What do they have in common? Style, comfort and quality, just like everything we make. For full show notes, including links, photos and video, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/102-tim-hartman/

Necessity of Having Different Styles - Episode 101 Have you ever wondered why some martial artists get into such heated discussions over one style versus another? How about the difference between honoring the style as it was laid out, artistically, and personal progress in your martial arts? We talk about not only the benefit of having different martial arts styles available to those that want to train, but the necessity. During the episode, we make reference to some past episodes on the definition of a martial art, Bruce Lee and our episode with Grandmaster Victor Moore.

On episode 100 we hear from the whistlekick founder, and our regular host, Sensei Jeremy Lesniak. Throughout his martial arts career, he has achieved a black belt in no less than three different disciplines. A native to New England, Sensei Jeremy is a friend to many schools. Not just as a great resource for the best sparring gear, but someone you may see at a seminar, or as a guest instructor. Sensei Lesniak started martial arts at a young age but continues to demonstrate his passion for martial arts to this day. I've had the pleasure to work with him as a student in one of my seminars, and as a guest instructor in my home dojo. ~Daniel Hartz, host for Episode 100. Today's featured product is our noSweat Athletic Shirts. You will notice how comfortable they are, and how they aren't too tight or too loose - they fit just right. They are great for working out, or wearing under your uniform. We have lots of colors and sizes to choose from, so take a look.

On Episode 99 host Jeremy Lesniak goes over the 9 reasons why he continues to practice martial arts. For show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/099-why-train/

Today's episode is with Mr. Tom Bisio, a practitioner and instructor of Ba Gua Zhang and Xing Yi Quan. We spend a lot of time discussing the martial arts overall as well as the internal martial arts, Mr. Bisio's focus both as practitioner and instructor. His background is diverse, though, and he's able to tie together a lot of the elements of martial arts, including some we don't typically think about around health and healing. It's clear from speaking with him that he's on an educational mission of sorts, making efforts to bring new and revised knowledge to those that are interested and in various forms. For show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/098-tom-bisio/

On today's episode of Martial Arts Radio we're talking about the legendary martial artist and martial arts movie actor, Steven Seagal. We talk about Seagal's history, including his martial arts training and how he got into the movie industry. We don't pull any punches here, being honest and fair about Steven Seagal with regard to his skills, acting and off-screen actions. You're sure to learn things about him you didn't before, so tune in and check it out. Thanks for listening. For full show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/097-steven-seagal/

On today's show, we talk to Master Amanda Meltzer, a taekwondo practitioner from New Hampshire. Master Meltzer is a less common example of someone who came to martial arts later in life, at least with respect to the guests we have on our show. What's always interesting about these examples is we get a clearer picture as to why someone takes up martial arts as an adult. Here we get a very clear picture and understand how taekwondo has not only become a family affair but also grown her family. Today's featured product is the design that launched the company, our original sparring boots. No toe strap, extra-reinforcement, better materials. It all combines to give you the best sparring boot on the market. Seriously, check them out! For other episodes & show notes please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/096-amanda-meltzer/

Becoming a Better Martial Artist in the Car - Episode 95 Today's episode covers suggestions for reclaiming the time you spend in your vehicle in order to become a better martial artist. Podcasts - we mentioned the popular blog post we wrote last year on Best Martial Arts Podcasts Hand Dexterity Hand Mobility Cut Your Fingernails Focus Practice Hand Conditioning Driving Barefoot Anticipation of Other Cars, People & Animals Electronic Recovery Units Hand Strengthening

On episode 94 we get to talk with Sifu Gary Cecil, a Kung Fu instructor who was suggested as a guest by one of his students. We had a great conversation and I found myself really interested in some of the things Sifu Cecil had to say. You might think that, close to 100 episodes in, we've heard everything - every background someone comes from and every way that you can view the martial arts. But that's clearly not the case, as Sifu Cecil gave us plenty to think about. Today's featured product is our great line of martial arts sparring gloves. For more info and full show notes, please visit http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/094-gary-cecil/

Over the last few months we've been honing in on a definition for martial arts. Well, on episode 93 we jump in headlong and see if we can flesh it out. This may go down as a controversial episode, but that's okay. We take an academic, thought out approach and apply what we've learned from the many guests we've had on the show. In the end, what we have is good... but could it be better?

On episode 92 we're joined by a man with an incredible story. Sabumnim Scott Pribyl started martial arts training as a late teenager and really took to it. He credits his professional success to the lessons he learned in the martial arts and also his survival of an incident that literally no other person is known to have survived. He's an incredible man and tells some amazing stories. Enjoy.

On today's episode, we give our popular profile treatment to one of the oldest and most beloved martial arts movies of all time, Billy Jack. We cover the history of the movie, trivia, and much more. If you're at all a fan of Billy Jack, you should really give this episode a listen. And if you're not, listen anyway, because maybe you will be afterwards.

Today we get a chance to speak with Isshinryu karateka and founder of Veterans Martial Arts Training, Sensei Scott Lombardo. Veterans Martial Arts Training (V-MAT) is a free martial arts program for United State Military Veterans based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. When we learned about the program, we knew it sounded like something we wanted to help promote, so we reached out to Sensei Lombardo immediately. Fortunately, he accepted our offer to appear on the show. While we do spend some time talking about the organization, most of our time is spent getting to know Sensei Scott Lombardo and hearing his stories. A longtime martial artist practicing karate, Sensei Lombardo shares great stories about the ups and downs he's experienced through his life, and he doesn't hold anything back. We get a pretty good window into this man and what makes him tick. This episode runs the range of emotions and we hope you enjoy it. Thanks for listening. Today's featured product is a new one for us – our MoveFlow Yoga-Style Pants. They're incredibly comfortable, with a fold-over waistband and other features that you, our customers, asked for. Check them out today at whistlekick.com

Today we talk about the history and usage of martial arts weapons. We squash some stories that get thrown around, give you reasons for why you should do some weapons training and even help you understand how weapons training can improve your unarmed martial arts. We talk about the origins of Asian martial arts weapons, the loss of Korean swordsmanship, the similarities and differences between weapons arts of different regions and why weapons are usually (but not always) taught after learning empty-handed techniques. On today's episode we made reference to Episode 88 with Guro Chris Thompson and Episode 78 with Sir Gemini Asonte.

Today's episode brings us Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) practitioner Guro Chris Thompson. With a background in Goju Karate, Guro Chris found his passion in a very different style - and we talk today about that transition. While not as well know as karate, Filipino arts are starting to receive global acceptance and recognition. If you're unfamiliar with the systems of the island nation, you'll learn a bit about their origins today, including why they're so diverse in their approaches. I had a lot of fun talking to Guro Chris, as I do with all of our guests. (You've all likely figured that out by now. I truly enjoy what I do.) We'll be having Guro Chris Thompson as one of our featured instructors this summer at the Martial Arts Weekend, so check that out! Sign up soon, because space is limited. Today's featured whistlekick product is our shinguards. Double-thick over the tibia (shin bone) they hold up very well against both time and your partners or opponents. One of our favorite ways to demonstrate them is to kick door frames with our shins while wearing them at events. That brings a lot of attention!

When we consider the space that martial arts occupies in the Western world, specifically the United States, it's easy to see the impact. Our movies are full of martial arts-inspired fight scenes. Popular culture lifts up the skilled fighters from the UFC. A man who has been dead for forty years is one of our most recognized icons. Yet, when we break down the numbers, martial arts participation in the United States is around 5 million people, or 1.5% of the population. Compare that to approximately 3.5% globally, and you can see a large disparity. Why is that the case? I'm sure there are a multitude of factors, but the one we're discussing today is foundational - the attitude that martial artists have for each other. If you're a martial artist, and you've been genuinely criticized for what you do, there's a good chance that criticism came from a martial artist. Within our ranks we have a large percentage of participants that are so concerned with historical accuracy or theoretical superiority that they'll let their opinions create rifts in the martial arts community. It's not helping anyone and it needs to stop. On today's episode, we're talking about the ways martial artists cut each other down, rather than lift up. The politics, the infighting, the "my art is better than yours" debates and so on. We explore where these attitudes came from, why they've carried on and how they're hurting us. Later, we talk about how we can move past them and what the impact of just such a world might be. At whistlekick we have a very foundational belief - that the world would be a better place if everyone spent time in martial arts training. Clearing out this stumbling block - the popularity of what is, essentially, bullying within our own community - is essential to reaching that goal. Thank you for listening and, if you found value in today's episode, please share it with others. Train hard, smile, and have a great day.

Today's episode is with one of my long-time martial arts friends, Miss Jessica Henderson. Over the last year we've heard from a lot of different people - different styles, different paths and different outlooks on the arts. I believe strongly that everyone has a story to tell - wisdom to share. Miss Henderson is no different, and the fact I was able to sit down with her in person was a bonus. Most of our guests started their martial arts training as young children. For those that started at an older age, most of them have been training for decades and they don't have full memory of the context of what it was life to start their journey. Heck, few of the guests have more than a few memories of that time as so many years have passed. Miss Henderson, though, is different. With just over 10 years of training, she remembers what it was like to start training at 16 and we spend a fair amount of time talking about that. You'll hear through our conversation that her step in the martial arts was pivotal for her, and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say it completely transformed her life. Thanks for listening. Your humble host Jeremy

Today's show topic started as an email from a listener. This listener was feeling conflict with the vast amounts of information that was expected to be taught to students at their martial arts school. As they wrote, on the one hand, diversity of techniques is very much in line with the artistic side of what we do. Yet, on the other hand, it makes it more challenging to achieve a level of proficiency with any of it. It's a great subject, and we tackled it for today's episode. We offer suggestions on how to break down the problem and how to make improvements in your school as an instructor or owner. If you're a student, we offer some advice, too, on how to deal with a large body of training information.

Today's episode is with another of the wonderful martial artists I first met in 2015 at the Super Summer Seminars event. (As of this episode, the others we've heard from that came out of this weekend are Sensei Katie Murphy & Kyoshi Dave Kovar) We didn't get a lot of time together, but I had a good feeling about him and what he offered as an instructor. I then saw him in January at Sifu Alan Goldberg's Hall of Honors Mega Weekend in New Jersey and again had a chance to learn from him. I knew it was time to get him on the show, and here we are. Today's episode could have easily gone off the rails, as you have two self-proclaimed martial arts "nerds" in conversation that also share a similar sense of humor. While we absolutely wander at times, I felt the places we ended up were wonderful. This show has always welcomed tangents, and our time with Master Chris LaCava was no different. I hope you enjoy the conversation, and I'll guess that you'll share at least a few laughs with us. Your host, Jeremy Today's featured product is the full line of sparring gear you can find

Most people that have trained in the martial arts for a time have had some type of external training - meaning training outside their typical location from people other than their typical instructor(s). These could be seminars or visiting another school, whether it's of a similar style or something completely different. There's a lot of value in learning different things, even the same things from different people. Everyone learns a bit differently and having another set of eyes watching over you can really hone your skills. This is why martial arts schools with several instructors (that are on the same page) often turn out better students than the schools with a single instructor. Along all of these lines is destination training. These opportunities can look very different - they may be a seminar series covering different topics or an intensive training focused on a single martial arts subject. The value here isn't just in getting other people to look over what you're doing - it goes so much deeper. When you travel for your training and stay overnight, it changes your mindset. You're typically with other people who are doing the same thing. Thus, everyone that is participating really values their training time. These events are rarely free, so you get people that have made a financial sacrifice to be there. Many of these events, maybe even most, are presented as a "camp" experience, either with people sleeping outside or in spartan conditions. Some involve sleeping in university dorms over the summer or in cabins. For many attendees, it's not the training that they find most valuable from these experiences but the relationships they build. When you get a group of martial artists together, they tend to talk about... martial arts. There's a lot of sharing that goes on outside the training space and this is just as much the reason everyone should attend such an event. For that reason we're hosting our own, held this year from July 8th - July 10th, 2016. You can learn more at MartialArtsWeekend.com Today's episode will talk about what we're doing, and why we're doing it, but it's not a commercial. Our format came out of a lot of discussion with martial artists about what they liked and didn't like from their destination training. Whether you have attended one of these sessions or not, or even if you have no interest in attending, you will still find today's episode valuable, so check it out.

Today's episode is with Mr. Michael Rowe, a martial artist with as diverse a training history as anyone I've ever seen. With experience in Karate, ninjitsu, taekwondo, hapkido, and a lot more, under a number of different instructors, Mr. Rowe brings a lot to the table. An insightful man, his stories are wonderful – they're entertaining, they're honest and they're real. So sit back, and let's hear from today's guest. Today's featured product is the whistlekickSparring Head Gear – super comfortable and even more durable than you're used to. Check it out. For full show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/082-michael-rowe/

n today's episode we're talking about martial arts warmups and the four phases of an effective warmup and how most martial arts classes miss the boat. These are: low-risk cardiovascular movement, joint mobility, intensifying cardiovascular movement, flexibility (aka stretching). We discuss what they are, how to handle them, why to approach them in this order, how long to do them and so much more. If you're often feeling like you spend your first 15 minutes of class just "getting going" it could be due to a poor warm-up. Check out the episode and let us know what you think. For full show notes please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/081-martial-arts-warmups/

Our guest today is the star of one of the most-beloved martial arts films of all-time, Mr. Taimak Guarriello. The Last Dragon is one of those rare martial arts films that had an impact that transcended martial arts culture, and could be felt in general society. Here we are 80 episodes in, and the news of his Mr. Guarriello's appearance created more buzz than any other guest we've had. While even his first name is synonymous with his role in the 1985 movie, there's a lot more to him than his time as Leroy Green, both as a man and as a martial artist. We get to know a lot about both of those sides, and I hope you enjoy your time with him. For show notes and a lot more, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/080-taimak-guarriello/

Today's episode is very different. Over the last few months, we've bumped into a recurring theme from our guests. That theme being the support martial arts provided to them during difficult times, especially as children. I've been struggling with how to tell my piece of this story, and whether or not to even tell it. In the end, I felt it was important to share simply because it may help provide context to someone who hasn't experienced the same sense that I felt as a child - that many of our guests felt. It is my sincere hope that, as a result of this episode, some of us may become a bit more conscious of the need for everyone, especially children, to have something in their lives that they can feel joyful passion towards- whether that be martial arts or something else. I feel strongly that it is this sense of ownership - this sense of belonging - that can help everyone (again, especially children) traverse challenging times in their lives. To put it another way, We all need something we can look to and claim as our own. To have an external manifestation of our identity. Whether that's martial arts or not, I don't think it matters. For me it was (and is) being a martial artist. If you know someone without that outlet - that passion they can identify with, please help them find it. It may be the most important thing you ever do for them. Thank you for listening. ~jeremy For other episodes, show notes and more, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/079-everyone-needs-something/