Attack Life Not Others

Thirty years ago, Brian Miller and Steve Mittman got their first black belts together — training under Tim Hoover at his karate school in Whitehall, PA. On this episode, you'll hear the process Brian discovered that can help you in all aspects of life. Brian, Tim, and Steve talk about achievement, bullying, confidence, how good things take time, patience, philosophies of Bruce Lee, Royce Gracie an...

"The man who asks a question is a fool for a minute, the man who does not ask is a fool for life." — Confucius  

The phrase "the luck of the Irish" was originally an insult. It was used to describe Irish immigrants who had come to America to mine for gold. They had to overcome great obstacles, including a famine in Ireland at the time. Many others felt that the Irish were not deserving of their success and good fortune. Carol, Tim's wife, is on the show. She shares the Cinderella-like story of her mom. Just...

"Luck? I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work — and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't." — Lucille Ball "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." — Seneca "Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect." — Ralph Waldo Emerson "You make your own luck." — Ernes...

The phrase "work smart, not hard" has become commonplace in our modern world. This sentiment is especially important for those of us in the martial arts world, where physical prowess is of the utmost importance. As we age, our physical abilities may diminish, but that doesn't mean we have to give up on our craft. #RespectAllAgesAndStages — As we age, it's easy to become complacent and forget that...

"If you don't know where you're going, any road'll take you there." — George Harrison

Life skills and character development. Are they things you work on? Tim and Steve tell you when it comes to martial arts training it's not about physical techniques. It's about mental and emotional strength. It's about your emotional intelligence — your EQ. They talk about: Respect for oneself and others Perseverance and resilience Honesty and integrity Self-awareness Self-control These traits bui...

"The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time." — Mark Twain

Breaking through figurative walls is necessary for personal growth and achieving goals. It helps to overcome mental and physical barriers that hold us back. We need to be pushed beyond our comfort zone to reach new heights. It also provides a sense of accomplishment, empowerment, and confidence to tackle future challenges. Being part of a constructive, positive group provides support, encouragemen...

The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi is a classic text on strategy and martial arts, but it also contains valuable lessons about motivation. Motivation is a crucial aspect of achieving our goals and fulfilling our dreams. It is what drives us to take action and make progress, even when faced with obstacles and challenges. The Moody Blues song "22,000 Days" is a reminder of the limited time w...

"Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." — Nora Ephron "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." — Lao Tzu "Where ther...

With Valentine's Day coming up, and the experience Tim just had this past weekend (of which he tells the beautiful story), he and Steve decided to talk about L-O-V-E. Love is considered one of the most profound human experiences. It's very hard to define, and it can take many forms — including romantic love, familial love, platonic love, and self-love. There's nothing weak about love. In fact, lov...

"The stupid neither forgive nor forget; the naive forgive and forget; the wise forgive but do not forget." — Thomas Szasz

When you think of rituals, you probably jump to religion; however, rituals don't have to be religious. They're often part of religious communities — but that's not what makes them rituals. A ritual is simply a sequence of activities involving gestures, words, or actions performed according to a set sequence. Just like anything, there can be good rituals and there can be bad ones. Additionally, too...

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." — Albert Camus

Even good people can do bad things in moments when emotions are high. It's all too easy to lose control. We must strive to have a certain level of stoicism. And that must be maintained. Funakoshi emphasized that karate training is about spiritual development and the perfection of character. Tim and Steve discuss this and more on this episode. "A truly great man is not disturbed even when suddenly...

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." — JK Rowling

Jaciel Cordoba, Steve Mittman's colleague at WFMZ-TV, joins us to discuss some ways to reduce the impact that alarming news has on our mental health. Filling our minds with good things combats the negative Working on the "inside" helps us deal with the "outside" Rituals make our lives richer and create a framework

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life: It goes on." — Robert Frost

"I'm the one that has to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to." — Jimi Hendrix Tim and Steve talk about what they feel this quote from Hendrix means. At first they agree. Then they don't. Then they do. Like many other things, this can't just be black or white. Much of its meaning is determined by the context around it. What are your thoughts on this? We want t...

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." — Mark Twain

It's a new year, we've got new tools under our belts to attack life and some exciting news: Stand-alone website: AttackLifeNotOthers.com Featuring a voicemail system. Leave a voicemail for Tim and Steve directly from the website. Comments, questions, topic suggestions — we want to hear from you. All podcast episodes will still be on HooverKarate.com/podcast You no longer have to wait a week for a...

"Be the change you wish to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi

Forget New Year's resolutions. Instead, make the decision to first hold yourself accountable, then find accountability partners — and you'll see changes in your life take place. Accountability begins with accepting responsibility for your own actions. Show up! And when you show up — don't just be there — be 100% there. Here's to accountability in 2023! Happy New Year! EXCITING NEWS: You no longer...