Shugyo 修行: The Way of Training

Annette Yoshiko Reed started Muay Thai in her mid-40s. At 49, she entered her first match—and found herself trying to gain weight to compete in her division. After that match, Annette trained differently. She added more strength work through Five Points Academy’s StrongFirst kettlebell program and later took up barbells. She tells Swire Ho how building muscle helped her gain weight, feel stronger...

What does it mean to learn how to practice—not just learn another technique? In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire Ho talks with Eugene Morales, co-founder and chief instructor of Pro Sessions Apex Training in Upland, California. Eugene began Aikido as a family activity with his wife, Sandra, and their son. He spent 17 years training under Sensei James Nakayama and shares the lessons that s...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire Ho speaks with Andżelika Stefańska-Kowalik, a Kung Fu practitioner, international competitor, and StrongFirst Certified Master Instructor based in Kraków, Poland. Andżelika began her martial arts journey in Hung Gar after years of dreaming about Kung Fu through old Hong Kong martial arts movies. She later represented the Polish National Team at the Trad...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, I speak with Jonathan Snowiss, a longtime practitioner and teacher of Chinese martial arts and qigong. Jonathan began learning qigong at age 11 after being diagnosed with epilepsy. His early training came through a qigong master from Shanghai, even though Jonathan did not speak Chinese at the time. He later continued his study through Pitzer College, where he...

In this episode of Shugyō — The Way of Training, Swire Ho speaks with Tori Brillantes, an Eskrima world champion and StrongFirst Elite instructor. Tori began serious Eskrima training later in life, but within a short period of focused training, she qualified to represent the United States and became a women’s lightweight world champion in the Philippines. During her final championship fight, she e...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire Ho speaks with Steve Milles, co-founder of Five Points Academy in New York City, Arjan under Grandmaster Chansadeth Chantanao, former USMF Team USA Coach, WKA USA Team Coach, and StrongFirst Certified Senior Instructor. Steve shares how he discovered Muay Thai almost by accident after moving to New York, then followed that curiosity all the way to Thail...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire Ho speaks with Chris Walsh, co-host of the UK Karate Podcast and a lifelong karateka who began training as a child under his father. The conversation explores Chris’s early years in karate, what old-school training looked like, and how the role of mentorship shaped his development. Chris shares his thoughts on why mentorship matters in martial arts, how...

In this episode of Shugyō: The Way of Training, we sit down with Sifu Oscar Agramonte, senior instructor of Wah Lum Kung Fu, strength coach, and StrongFirst instructor. Oscar shares his martial arts journey from Taekwondo to Wah Lum Kung Fu and how his pursuit of better movement, strength, and performance led him into the world of kettlebells and StrongFirst training. We explore the role of Tam Tu...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Danladi Whitten, known to his students as Master Don, Head Instructor of JTR Jujutsu International and a Doctor of Physical Therapy with more than 25 years of clinical experience. Master Don shares his martial arts journey, from earning his first black belt to training across multiple disciplines including Tang Soo Do, Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido...

My guest for this episode is Andy Patton, co-host of the UK Karate Podcast. Andy started karate in 1999 after watching Walker, Texas Ranger and trying to copy Chuck Norris’ roundhouse kick in his grandmother’s living room. Years later, that early interest grew into a long-term karate journey and eventually led him to co-host the UK Karate Podcast. In this conversation, we talk about Andy’s karate...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire Ho speaks with Marat Iliyasov, a lifelong martial artist, jujutsu instructor, and professor of political science at the College of the Holy Cross. Marat grew up in the Soviet Union, where martial arts were once restricted and often practiced in informal or semi-underground settings. That early experience shaped how he sees training—not just as physical...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, host Swire Ho sits down with Jason Serrano, a lifelong martial artist with over 40 years of training who grew up in the dojo under his father, Tom Serrano. Jason reflects on being raised in a traditional karate environment and how that early exposure shaped his mindset, discipline, and approach to training. The conversation moves beyond technique into the dee...

Shugyō Podcast – Episode with Sensei Eddie Garcia In this episode, I sit down with Sensei Eddie Garcia to talk about training beyond technique — especially the role of cross-training, building a strong foundation, and what it really means to move instinctively. Sensei Eddie shares insights from decades of training across judo, karate, and traditional Chinese martial arts, along with his perspectiv...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, host Swire Ho sits down with martial artist and Navy veteran Carl Boudro to talk about what it means to train over a lifetime. Carl’s martial arts journey didn’t follow a single dojo or instructor. During his time serving in the U.S. Navy, he trained wherever he could—on bases, in different gyms, and with different instructors around the world. That experienc...

Show Notes   In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire sits down with Melissa Templeman—martial artist, strength coach, and StrongFirst Elite instructor—to talk about the deeper relationship between grit, strength, and intelligent training. Mel began her martial arts journey in Judo, eventually competing at the international level and ranking #3 in the United States at -52kg while pursuing a sp...

Episode Summary In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, we sit down with Hayden Meredith, a Shotokan instructor from Scotland whose journey reflects a shift many martial artists quietly wrestle with. After competing and winning at a high level in kumite, Hayden made the decision to step away from competition—not because he couldn’t succeed, but because it no longer aligned with who he was. What fol...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, Swire Ho sits down with Joe Hicks — a 3rd Dan karate instructor, active competitor, parent, and educator — for an honest conversation about what real training looks like over the long term. Joe shares why he committed to a 365-day training journey, what he learned from showing up every day, and how consistency builds real confidence—not the kind that falls ap...

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, host Swire Ho sits down with Os Aponte for a grounded conversation on training, discipline, and long-term practice. Os is a StrongFirst Elite Team Leader, strength coach, and former U.S. Army Sergeant with over twenty years of experience in martial arts, strength training, and human movement. His background includes Praying Mantis Kung Fu, wrestling, boxing,...

What does it really mean to train — not just in martial arts, but in life and business? In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, we sit down with David C. Olcott — lifelong martial artist, Aikido practitioner, executive coach, founder of Samurai Success, and author of Swords of Illumination. David shares how decades of martial arts training shaped his understanding of identity, balance, and discipli...

About Our Guest — Sifu Boggie (Paul Brighton) Sifu Boggie is a Daoist guide, mentor, and self-healing practitioner with over 40 years of experience in Daoism, Qigong, Tai Chi, and traditional Chinese healing arts. Trained by renowned Daoist masters, his background includes Qi Gong, Shun Dao philosophy, Eastern and Chinese Reiki, TuiNa, Reflexology, Tit-Tar (bone setting/back correction), Acupressu...

Lifelong martial artist Elicia Ybarra joins the Shugyō Podcast to share how she transformed her personal challenges into a mission to empower women through self-defense, confidence-building, and setting healthy boundaries. With black belts in Taekwondo and Hapkido and years of experience teaching empowerment self-defense, Elicia speaks openly about creating safer training environments, recognizing...

Shugyō (修行) means disciplined practice—a lifelong path shaping body, mind & spirit. cqQPYDCEHJ7dFzamXzuS Join us: Facebook Page: Shugyō – The Way of Training