whistlekick Martial Arts Radio

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/

Today on Martial Arts Radio we have an interesting guest, unlike anyone we've had on before. Over the last 10-20 years, we've seen a growing diversity in the martial arts world. We can no longer consider martial arts to simply be the arts of Korea, Japan and China (as well as their derivatives). We now see arts coming out of nearly every country and region on the global stage. Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) is in that mix, too. One of the challenges for these "other" arts is our ability, as a community that is mostly rooted in Asia, to understand them. Which is why today's guest is so exciting. Sir Gemini Asonte is not only a skilled practitioner of Historical European Martial Arts, but he has an extensive background in Asian martial arts, including taekwondo, various styles of karate, aikijutsu, boxing, savate... and more. This gives him context for what most of us, as Asian art practitioners, are thinking when we see someone engaged in HEMA. [For the record, this is not meant to say that this show is only for those practicing Asian martial arts. It's just a question of numbers and, if we're honest, most martial artists today are practicing something from that region.] Sir Gemini gives us a wonderful look inside his world and shows us that, while there are major differences, there's a lot more common ground than you may think. Listen as we get a glimpse into martial arts from a time and place that is very different from what most of us think about when we're practicing.

On today's episode of Martial Arts Radio, we tackle the sensitive subject of handling the aches & pains that turn into worse problems. As martial artists, we're often taught to push through the pain, but that can have disastrous long term effects. We give you real strategies for preventing those injuries, recovering from everyday training and knowing when to take a step back or even get some help. It's a solid episode that tackles the challenges head on, but without any deep medical information. You won't be an expert after this episode, but you will be able to develop your own plan for getting the most out of your training, reducing the risk of injury and keeping your forward martial arts progress. Because after all, martial arts isn't just something you do when you're young, and we want to make sure you can train long into your old age. Thanks for listening, it's episode 77. whistlekick Martial Arts Radio

Today we get to talk to someone that, in some ways, is very much a mirror of myself. Sensei Jaredd Wilson is a martial artist with experience in Aikido, Silat and Kenjutsu, but he also hosts a podcast about the martial arts, called Martial Thoughts. And in a very new development, it looks like we'll be seeing him at the first-ever whistlekick Martial Arts Weekend in July, 2016. We became friends over social media and decided it would be fun to have each other on as guests. We've done that and I really enjoyed my time talking with Sensei Wilson, both on his show and here, on Episode 76. Sensei Wilson has a strong love for the martial arts, martial arts culture and seems to genuinely believe, as many of our guests do, that there's nothing like martial arts training for developing better people and improving the world. So check it out. ~jeremy For full show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/sensei-jaredd-wilson/

On today's episode we offer up some strategies for avoiding fights, including creative situations for diffusing the situations that often lead to fights. This list is certainly not complete, but covers the seven primary strategies for getting yourself out of a rough situation and avoiding combat altogether. For full show notes and other episodes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/075-avoiding-fights/

Today's episode features our first conversation with someone who trains primarily in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Mr. Jeremiah Grossman started his martial arts training in other styles but found his calling later when he switched. With the strong ties we often hear of between BJJ and mixed martial arts, you might go into this episode thinking we're going to have a wholly different conversation than normal. But we didn't. Mr. Grossman is every bit the martial artist that our other guests have been, and I really enjoyed our conversation. But enough of that, let's hear from our guest. ~jeremy For full show notes and a lot more, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/074-jeremiah-grossman/

Welcome to the Martial Arts Radio profile of the classic martial arts movie, Enter the Dragon. On today's episode we talk about the history of the film, trivia and a lot more. Check it out - you'll be sure to know a lot more about this film than you did before. For full show notes, lots of photos, fun videos and more, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/enter-the-dragon/

Grandmaster John Pellegrini is a well-known martial artist with a list of credentials and accolades that few will accomplish, in any industry. He's a sought-after seminar instructor and routinely travels around the world sharing his knowledge. Many of his seminar attendees have said he's a must-see, and it was one of those attendees that reached out and asked us to bring him on the show. We rarely resist a user suggestion for a guest, as you all have been so great with suggestions in the past. As you might expect, pinning GM Pellegrini down for a conversation was challenging due to his extensive travel schedule. We had to book out much more in advance than we normally do, but it was well worth it. Here is a man who loves the martial arts, loves what it has done for him and is doing what he can to give back. He feels strongly, as most of the guests on our show do, that martial arts is something everyone should train in. Listen on for more of what he has to say, and enjoy. PS - during our personal conversation after the episode, Grandmaster Pellegrini shared a bit that we tacked on at the end, so be sure to listen through the outro. ~jeremy Today's featured product is our whistlekick Shin Guards. For full show notes and other episodes, please visit http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/072-john-pellegrini/

Now, today's episode is a little different. We had a member of the whistlekick online community write in with a suggestion that we discuss the benefits or martial arts for children, but from the idea that any martial arts training can be a benefit to any child. We thought it was an interesting topic, so we reached out to one of our past guests, Master Tanya Panizzo. As a school owner, instructor, parent of a child in martial arts and also the pioneer of a very progressive autism spectrum disorder –only class, we thought she'd have some good things to say. And she did. So, check this out. For additional episodes please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/episode/

And I think that's where I've learned the greatest lesson is... you know, my ego should have stayed outside the door. And if I'd have kept it outside the door, I think I would have been able to process things better. ~Aaron Wayne-Duke Today we're joined by Mr. Aaron Wayne-Duke. Mr. Duke is a practitioner of taekwondo & hapkido, an author, and a truly passionate fan of martial arts and martial art culture. We had a great conversation that wandered all over the map, just the way I like them. Rather than trying and give you an index for our chat, I'd rather just let you listen... ~jeremy For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/070-aaron-wayne-duke/

On today's show we tackle a tough topic - the media's attention on the bad seeds in the martial arts. It seems that reporters love talking about those of us that can't walk an ethical path, and it makes the rest of us look bad. What do we do? Listen in for some ideas. For a full transcript and more, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/069-martial-arts-integrity/

Today we're joined by Sensei Rocky DiRico, an excellent martial artist and accomplished competitor. Sensei DiRico, like all of our guests, loves the martial arts. Unlike other guests, though, he's made competition a core part of his training, having been ranked #1 in the nation or world by NASKA, NBL and PKL rating organizations. He also spent a ten-year stint at the top of the KRANE rankings - all of these accomplishments coming after he turned 35. He is widely regarded as the most accomplished senior competitor in the history of sport martial arts. We spend some time talking about that, but also his traditional roots & how he got started. In an amazing example of how small the world truly is, both Sensei DiRico and my instructor started their careers in teaching martial arts in the same town, teaching out of the exact same building, two years about. Despite that, they've never met. Today's featured product is our line of insanely comfortable sweatpants. For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/068-rocky-dirico/

On today's episode of Martial Arts Radio we talk about one of our top-referenced film from our interviews, The Karate Kid. Tons of trivia, behinds the scenes and blooper info, celebrities that didn't get parts and so much more. For full show notes and lots of pictures and videos, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/067-the-karate-kid/

Today's episode brings us Professor Gary Dill, a multi-disciplined martial artist best known for being one of the few remaining original students of Jeet Kune Do, the martial art pioneered by Bruce Lee. While this is absolutely not an episode about Bruce Lee, it's impossible to discuss Professor Dill's history and views on martial arts without the legend's name being thrown around. During our chat after the episode closed, Professor Dill shared some additional stories that he gave us permission to share, and those are tacked on at the very end of the episode. Everything he shared was great and this will definitely be an episode that gets some attention. Thanks for listening, and enjoy. Your host, Jeremy Today's featured product is our line of comfortable sweatshirts. For full show notes, please visit http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/066-gary-dill/

Today's episode comes out of discussions that have happened on this very show. We've had a number of guests admit openly that they've found themselves uninspired with their training at times, even bored. I've faced that myself, but I've always managed to move through it. I thought it time that we do an episode on this taboo subject and offer some suggestions on how you can beat the martial arts training blues. ~jeremy, Your host. For full show notes, including a ton of motivational posters and a transcript, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/065-martial-arts-motivation/

On today's episode of Martial Arts Radio we're joined by Hanshi Richard Bernard, a long-time Goju-Ryu karate practitioner from New England. I first met Hanshi Bernard at a competition, but I had no idea at the time that I influenced him in devoting so much of his time to competing. Our conversation was a lot of fun for me, as I've only spent short bits of time talking with the man that most refer to only as "Hanshi." I think what most impresses me about this man is his humility. A tremendous martial artist, instructor and competitor, he will always be the first to praise the actions of another, especially if they best him in competition. His desire to succeed is strong (which he may have learned from his instructor) but, at least in my experience, it has never clouded his integrity or his willingness to take an honest look at himself. There's a reason he's become a favorite among many at New England competitions, and if you listen to this episode, you'll understand. Your host, Jeremy For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/064-richard-bernard/

On today's episode we talk about Donnie Yen, who seems to be providing a martial arts flair to nearly everything these days. Fresh off Ip Man 3, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny and with upcoming roles in XXX: The Return of Xander Cage and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, we thought it was time to learn more about the man. Listen in and follow along below for his history, martial arts experience and so much more. For full show notes, including a transcript, lots of photos, videos, links and so much more, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/063-donnie-yen/

I met Mr. John DeBlasio during my recent trip the Action Martial Arts Magazine Hall of Honors Mega Weekend in Atlantic City, NJ. I was making my first pass on the exhibition floor and Bill Wallace was standing there talking to him. Shortly after I ended up speaking with Mr. DeBlasio and really enjoyed our conversation. It was clear that this man was not only a true martial artist, but also a good guy and a passionate (and successful) actor. I knew he'd be a great guest for the show. His acting credits include TV shows like Blue Bloods, Elementary and The Sopranos and movies like Talons of the Eagle with Billy Blanks and The Cobbler with Adam Sandler. And what a guest he turned out to be. This episode has a bit of everything - humorous stories, serious moments & amazing advice all from a man who is clearly walking the path of a martial artist. Mr. DeBlasio knows his history and does a great job of bringing us on his journey. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. Your humble host, Jeremy Today's featured product is our whistlekick Sparring Helmet.

On today's episode we tackle the delicate subject of martial arts belts, martial arts rank, and testings within our world. History, differences, pros and cons, suggestions and so much more. For full show notes and transcript, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/061-martial-arts-belts-rank/

Here we are, it's episode 60 and we're joined by Soke-Dai David Nemeroff. He's a diverse martial artist with 10 black belts and quite a few related interests. As a school owner, instructor, author, event promoter, Soke-Dai Nemeroff comes to us today to share his stories, and we get some great ones. If you've wondered about the different perspectives martial artists have after training in different martial arts, you may find this episode interesting. Soke-Dai Nemeroff is primarily an Aikido practitioner, and that certainly comes through in his stories and his view of life and the martial arts. We talk about his time in Japan, challenges and even some of the ways he gives back. As we always try to do, we're bringing you another episode with some wonderful stories that we hope keeps you entertained and inspired. Today's featured product - whistlekick Original Sparring Boots For full show notes, please visit http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/060-david-nemeroff/

On episode 59 we're joined by Sho-Dai Soke Mike Andrus, who asked that we call him Mr. Mike. The conversation is an entertaining and insightful one, with Mr. Mike sharing a lot of wisdom and really opening himself up. We get to know a bit of the man behind the belt, and he has some great things to say. As martial artists, author, instructor & seminar presenter, Mr. Mike has met with, trained and trained under some absolutely wonderful people. He brings a lot of energy to what he does, including his time on this episode. For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/059-mike-andrus/

On today's episode we profile Jackie Chan, the famed actor, producer, director, singer... let's just say this is a renaissance man in the truest definition. Follow along below for a heavily-linked show transcript with videos, photos and tons of fun and rare facts. Hopefully, someday we'll have the real Jackie Chan on the show, but until then, this will have to do. For show notes and a full transcript, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/058-jackie-chan/

Our guest on this episode is Hanshi Ron Martin, a man with an amazing martial arts career. Captain of the first US Karate team, Hanshi Martin has toured the world competing, and came up on the better end against most of the best of his day. As you might expect of a martial artist from the "blood and guts" era, he has some incredible stories and he shares them here today. For full show notes, please visit http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/057-ron-martin/

On today's show we talk about martial arts conditioning - strength, cardiovascular and flexibility. We discuss methods for improving them, common mistakes and how you can get the most out of your training and become a better martial artist. For full show notes, photos, videos and a transcript, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/56-martial-arts-conditioning/

On today's episode we're joined by Sensei Andrea Harkins, a martial artist from Florida. Sensei Andrea, as she asked I call her, is an author and blogger that runs a martial arts school in Florida with her husband. Whereas most of our guests have been training since they were children, Sensei Andrea started in her 20s which gives her an entirely different perspective. She was great about sharing that perspective with us and offers up some excellent stories. Sensei Andrea is an active writer, contributing articles to not only her own publications but also some very well-respected online magazines. Read on for the show notes below to see where you can find her writing. We'll be updating this page when her book does come out, so stay tuned. Today's featured product is our whistlekick ball cap, available in two styles. Head on over to the website to order - they've been really popular! Show Notes The Martial Arts Woman - Sensei Andrea's Website & Blog. Also the title of her upcoming book. Andrea's professional and personal Facebook pages, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter accounts. Sensei Andrea also writes for masuccess.com & worldmartialartsmagazine.com While we didn't get into it on the show, Sensei Andrea is also a noted public speaker and life coach. You can learn more about those aspects of her at her website. Don't forget, there are lots of ways you can help this show grow. The easiest one is to head over to iTunes and leave a review. Here's a direct link to the show webpage for iTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/whistlekick-martial-arts-radio/id986000331 For full show notes, please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/055-andrea-harkins/

Instincts - Episode 54 What does having a strong sense of instinct have to do with being a good martial artist? How can you develop your instincts? We explore these questions and a lot more in today's episode. For a full transcript of this show, head over to http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/054-instincts/

Today we talk with Dr. Terrence Webster-Doyle, or Dr. T as he's commonly referred to. A martial artist with over 55 years experience, numerous awards and decorations, it was an honor to have him on the show. Dr. T's passion is around bullying education and prevention, which is why he founded the organization Martial Arts for Peace. We talk about the path that brought him to founding the organization and the life events that showed him how important the issue of bullying was, decades before anyone else was talking about it. Our conversation doesn't always follow the path you might expect, however. We talk about Dr. T's conversations with Linda Lee Cadwell (Bruce Lee's Widow) and her opinion of what Bruce Lee might have thought about his work. The thread of bullying weaves throughout the episode and Dr. T's answers to the questions, but there's a lot more to this man and his work than bullying. I found him to be very thoughtful and very authentic. I haven't spoken with many people who have shouldered a cause for as long as Dr. T, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for that. Your humble host, Jeremy Lesniak For full show notes, please visit http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/053-terrence-webster-doyle/

Tournaments - Episode 52 Bill Wallace, Jeff Smith & Joe Lewis Our tournament - whistlekick Martial Arts Showdown History of Modern Sport Karate - a great reference if you're interested in digging deeper. Full episode transcript, photos, video and more can be found at http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/052-tournaments/

Today we get some time with Mr. Donavan Barrett, a WTF taekwondo practitioner from the gulf coast of Florida. Mr. Barrett is an exceptional kicker with amazing flexibility and a great passion for the martial arts. We first met him on social media and after a lot of conversation, we selected him as one of our Brand Ambassadors. While we do what we can to help our partners, we're not talking to Mr. Barrett (or Mr. Donavan as he's called in his dojang) because of our relationship with him. Rather, we think he's an exceptional martial artist with great stories and a passion for sharing his passion. It doesn't take long in the episode for you to understand just how much this young man loves what he does. Mr. Donavan talks extensively about the inspiration he takes from martial arts idols and pioneers such as Chloe Bruce, Ronda Rousey and Bill Wallace. As with most of our guests, he opens up about who he is and the impact martial arts has had on his life. His strength of character is certainly admirable and his self-confidence and willingness to share openly is worth noting. This is likely to be an episode that inspires others for some time. If you haven't yet, please check out our sparring gear. We have durable, comfortable and lightweight sparring gloves, boots, helmets and shin guards. There's a reason those that purchase from whistlekick are passionate about our products - it's because they can tell just how passionate we are about them. For full show notes please visit http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/051-donavan-barrett/

Today's episode is all about one of our favorite martial arts actors, Jet Li. We jump headfirst into his history with the martial arts and his impact on the martial arts movie world. If you're at all a fan of him or his movies, you won't want to miss this episode. We referenced a number of resources for this episode, including his Wikipedia page. For full show notes, video clips & show transcript please visit: http://www.whistlekickmartialartsradio.com/050-jet-li/