Attack Life Not Others

Principles stand the test of time. Trends, similar to fads, come and go. Principles are fundamental truths that serve as the foundation for systems of belief or behavior. Trends are the directions in which things develop or change. In martial arts — and life in general — time and trust are two of the major differences between principles and trends. Some trends can be good, but it's principles that...

Tim shares a recent experience where the wrong words were spoken. "Words have meaning and names have power." — Author Unknown "Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often." — Mark Twain "I AM: Two of the most powerful words, for what you put after them shapes your reality" — Gary Hensel "Some day we'll be able to measure the power of words … They get on the walls. They get in your wall...

To attack life you must stay physically active with at least some type of exercise. Chelsea Hoover, MS, RD, LDN from Fuel for Thought Nutrition tells us how get the most out of whatever activity it is that you do — martial arts, running, strength training, etc. She talks about coconut water and other natural sources of electrolytes, omega 3s for your joints, beetroot juice, and more.

On this episode Dave , Tim, and Steve discuss the importance of finding a "second" family. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals. Or better yet — surround yourself with positive people who uplift and empower you, and perhaps those you aspire to be like. "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future." — Dan Peña "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." —...

On this episode Tom, Tim, and Steve discuss these things and more: A reason, season, and a lifetime The importance of finding your true, authentic self What might be the most engaging aspect of a person The question Tom almost always asked a job applicant How we have a lot of false images and projections of people The Scorpion and Frog fable which teaches that a bad person can't resist their true...

Last week Tom, Tim, and Steve discussed the book Sacred Pauses by April Yamasaki. This is Part 2 from that conversation. As Yamasaki says — in a fast-paced world full of distractions, these pauses offer ways to find everyday personal renewal. How many of these 18 "Pauses" are part of your life? Creating space Slowing down Becoming quiet Engaging scripture Praying it like it is Getting outside Bein...

Do you feel stuck in the rat race? Are you unhappily going through the motions in life — feeling unfulfilled, unchallenged, and uninspired? Do you feel as if you're not accomplishing anything unless you're constantly busy? Tom Parker joins Tim and Steve in the first of several episodes discussing "Sacred Pauses" and the importance of creating a type of oasis from the chaos and busyness of life. "A...

Anna — a black belt student who has been training for over 20 years — joins Tim and Steve to discuss some of the differences between women and men training in the dojo: There are no weight divisions or gender divisions in life — life is not fair Women often have a disadvantage in the dojo when training with men Many men can learn a thing or two from women in the dojo Frustration is a part of our l...

2 weeks ago Marc, Tim, and Steve discussed Marcus Aurelius and the Touchstones of Goodness. This is Part 2 from that conversation. More on Marcus Aurelius is discussed, and much of it you can read below. We also talk about: The importance of finding a community where positive growth is cultivated Creating a "current" — a flow of what it is you ultimately want through consistency Marcus Aurelius ca...

Tim and Steve talk about the abundance of fear right now. It's time to replace fear with: Hope Truth Faith Love fearmonger | (ˈfɪərˌmʌŋɡər) (noun) — someone who deliberately spreads fear among people

Marc Berardinelli, Tim, and Steve discuss Marcus Aurelius and the Touchstones of Goodness: Many call them "cardinal virtues" — they have been adopted by Christianity, most of the Western world, as well as Buddhism, Hinduism, and just about every other philosophy They're called "cardinal" because they originate from the Latin cardo which means hinge It's pivotal stuff — the hardware upon which the...

There must be a strength that comes from your heart to stand up to the world and still do good things Courage is built around Faith Courage and Faith together create Compassion

Bob Vidoni joins Tim and Steve to discuss one of his favorite profound excerpts from Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind — the book of teachings by the late Shunryu Suzuki. We should always strive to be the best we can be, however, "the best" is relative. If you think you're always going to "win" simply because you're the best, you'll be mistaken. Overcome the pain and grow through facing obstacles There's...

Tim and Steve talk about sparring in the dojo. When people fight in a controlled atmosphere it's often best to use that experience to grow from — rather than win. It's about embracing and purposely losing in the short term — in order to win in the long run. It's our "Ninja vs Samurai" concept. There's a time and place for each.

Some of the profound thoughts Bernie, Tim, and Steve share: Strive to not take things personally, and not be concerned with being popular Own your thoughts, your words, and your space — stop renting these Confidence must grow in all different types of situations Controlling fear is a lifelong struggle

Bernie, Tim, and Steve talk about: A simple way to take conflict out of discussions How you are responsible for yourself — and that is all How controlling your ego allows you to make good choices

Like the song "Joy and Pain" this episode reminds us that life's beauty often comes after pain. Learn through your mistakes One of the biggest fears people have is failure You've got to experience failure before you can succeed Sometimes you must taste the "sour" before you can enjoy the "sweet" "Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Over and over you can be sure There will be sorrow but you wil...

Pat Shea has more guts than most. His courage to share a social media post is commendable. It might be what you need to hear. It will resonate with a lot of people, but very few would be as brave to admit the things he says. Listen to this episode and let us know if you can relate. "The most important day is the day you decide that you're good enough for you. It's the day you set yourself free." —...

When you want to become great, when you want to make a difference in people's lives, when you want to live a purposeful life — things happen when you want them as much as you want to breathe. Hear the story about the football coach and the aspiring athlete. "If you desire to make a difference in the world, you must be different from the world." — Elaine S Dalton On this episode we talk about choic...

The way you think, the words you speak, and the actions you take — it's all energy. Focus your energy on what you want, rather than what you're looking to avoid. "I will never attend an anti-war rally. If you have a peace rally, invite me." — Mother Teresa

Tim and Steve talk about how training in the martial arts is unique to other forms of physical exercise. Some of what's discussed includes: Martial arts training "rewires your brain" No place for electronics — you're "unplugged" Relationships are not only mandatory, but necessary A unique way to approach mental focus and spiritual awareness Eliminating external noise and dealing with real distract...

Steve Fleisher joins Tim and Steve. When people ask exactly what it is he does, he tells them he does a little teaching, a little preaching, and a little reaching. Some of the topics include: "Top of the Main Line to the bottom of the drain line" If you can put a price tag on something, it's not that valuable Who is rich? A rich person is one who is content with what they have It's the intangibles...

Kevin McGee joins Tim and Steve. Some of the topics discussed include: Forget the phrase "It is what it is" — because it is what you make it A warrior shows up and puts in the hard work Become comfortable and confident Reading people "A warrior doesn't seek pain, but if pain comes, he uses it." — Dan Millman "If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm." — Frank Lane

If we've said it once, we've said it a thousand times: Life is about choices. You and those around you will live a fuller, richer life, and perhaps discover the reason you're here if you decide to: Become a better person Become more responsible for your own actions Learn to acknowledge the noise and distractions and let them go "We rise by lifting others." — Robert Ingersoll

Do an online search on "how to focus" and you'll find many "expert" blogs recommending to get rid of distractions. Good luck with that! You'll NEVER be able to eliminate all distractions life throws at you. Paul Vrabel discusses realistic ways to improve your focus : Focus on one thing at a time Don't get wrapped up in what could be Focus on the problem in front of you and work it Acknowledge the...