Step into many dojos today and you’ll see students moving through kata and floor drills with a kind of casual rhythm. Their stances are loose, their strikes lack conviction, and their eyes drift as if the mind is somewhere else. The movements are performed, but the spirit is absent. This is not how martial arts…
Tag: keep stepping
What is Missing
I’m not here to preach. I’m just an old martial arts instructor who’s seen a lot, too much. Maybe. I’ve watched generations grow, stumble, rise, and fall. But lately, something feels different. Not just in the dojo, but everywhere. In schools, online, in the streets. There’s a kind of emotional chaos that’s hard to ignore….
The High Cost of Toughness
There’s a certain reverence in martial arts circles for the old-school mentality; the grit, the grind, the stoic endurance of pain. We’ve all heard it: “Push through.” “Pain is weakness leaving the body.” “Tape it up and keep going.” “Suck it up, buttercup.” “Walk it off.” Injuries, in this mindset, aren’t just inevitable. They’re worn…
What is “Re Tire?”
Recently, I shared that I’m beginning my 24th year with Chuck Norris’ Kickstart Kids. Twenty-four years of character-building, lesson planning, and watching young people grow into their best selves. It’s been a journey filled with grit, grace, and more than a few bruises. After that post, someone asked me a question I hadn’t considered in…
How the Martial Arts Build Essential Life Skills
As parents, we want our children and teens to succeed not just in school but in life. We sign them up for activities, hoping they’ll gain confidence, discipline, and maybe even learn a new skill. If your child is in martial arts, you might be focused on the physical benefits, the strength, coordination, and self-defense….
My Take on Taekwondo
I’ve been very nostalgic lately. This post is a direct result of my thinking over the last few days. When I think of the 90s, especially the early to mid 90s, TKD memories tend to crowd out the more difficult things I went through. During my somewhat younger days and into middle age, I questioned…
Do Something Worth Remembering
We had to make the trek down to Houston today. Anyone who knows me knows that Houston is not my favorite place. I’m the guy who posted once that “Happiness is Houston Texas in my rearview mirror.” But since we had no choice about going, we decided to make the most of it. We drove…
Wallace Smedley 