How does one practice or improve self discipline? There is no easy way to do this. It is only through the choices, or decisions you make each and every day, can you enhance your self discipline. Look at the choices that face us every day, the easy and quick stop at MacDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, or a healthy well thought out meal that you make at home. How about our own training? There is a T.V. show I really wanted to watch tonight or should I go to class and do 1000 repetitions of drill? Are you pushing yourself to read more, train smarter, improve how you do things, willing to accept others criticisms in order to improve a skill, if you are not, can you honestly tell yourself why? Do we really want to hear the answer?

 How do we start on the path to being better “Self- Disciplined”,

Well start small, look at yourself and honestly evaluate where you are right now and where you want to be in the future (Always sounds easier than it really is),

Choose to do better in some aspect and write down a particular goal (Dealing with said aspect) with a date in which you would like to achieve it.

Consistently act towards improvement towards your goal. Haphazard attempts don’t count. You do, you don’t talk about it or think about it, you just do it! (Don’t procrastinate)

Be realistic, and don’t expect miracles, make them happen for yourself.

Well that is my soap box. So what are you doing right now towards improving your Warrior self discipline?

 Train Hard and with Intensity!

Guro Steve

Great feedback on the new member’s section launch, so THANK YOU for everything! Since there were also a lot of emails coming in I will try to answer here on the blog instead of writing so many one on one replies.

1) I don’t have a paypal account can I still order? Yes, Paypal accepts most major credit cards for processing so no worries.

2) Can I mail a check or money order? No, I do not accept checks or money orders at this time.

3) Will you be adding longer video clips to cover a technique in more depth? Absolutely! It was a tough balance between no making it too long or not supplying the correct amount of information, so I will balance this in the next lesson.

4) How do I schedule my consultation? Just email me your contact information to Airyu@hotmail.com and I will reply with a time slot or answer your emailed questions.

5) Do you have extra sheets to record nutrition, goals, work out logs etc. from the Solo Training Manual? Yes, I will add blank template sheets up in the next lesson or email me and I will send them to you ASAP.

More feedback and answers coming,

Train with Intensity!

Guro Steve

Those of you who receive my newsletter, last night got an update that the new Warrior Member’s Section was going live today (if you didn’t know it from the countdown clock at the top of the page!!) Well it is live and running even after my laptop crashed causing me to have to reload all my video and web software, had an issue with running certain Java scripts and just about any other issue you could imagine, but I PROMISED YOU it would be up and running today and it IS!!

Each month you will have unrestricted access to the following:

Monthly Curriculum Outline- to guide your training

Videos – To explain the curriculum outline techniques, exercises and drills.

Attack Analysis Session – Reviewing what would you do in these circumstances( be warned some of these videos are extremely graphic!

Warrior Conditioning Workouts – Our monthly workout including weights, and a seperate Road Warrior Workout that is Body weight or limited equipment only for our traveling students.

Special Reports, EBooks, and or Audio Downloads!

1 session 1 on 1 workout, and technique review with me personally via email or phone consultation.(this alone is a $50 bonus!)

Each month based upon your feedback and input, I will be focusing on the best method to upgrade each lesson, material, delivery…whatever, because I want to ensure that you are always getting the best content that you can find anywhere!!

This first month contains:

Huge resource for Solo Training (89 pages)

7 new technique videos

1 attack analysis session

1 Combative Concept Curriculum outline

2 Warrior Conditioning Workouts ( One specifically geared to you Road Warriors traveling the country/countries, minimal equipment and maximum benefit)

and of course your 1 on 1 consultation option!

Get ready for some awesome training and cool upgrades to both the Public and Member’s Only section!!

Train Insane!

Guro Steve L.

Warm up

25 Pushups

25 Sit ups

25 Squats

2 Sets

5 Man-Makers

5 Pull ups (Weighted)

5 Turkish get ups

5 Heavy Bag lifts to Shoulder (100lbs)

10 Side crunches

10 Legs up (open)

10 Legs up in L position

The countdown to the new Monthly Members area has begun. Each month a ton of information will be up and ready for you to learn and implement into your training, no matter what style or art you practice!

Each month will include:

Warrior Conditioning Workouts

Training Videos

EBooks, Special Reports, and Audio downloads

Attack Analysis Sessions

and plenty more!!

Get ready and sign up on February 1st!!!

Off to do some training now!

Guro Steve

    (Man I hate when someone walks on me!)

Alright, many of you have been asking me to not only include the various Warrior Workouts out through the newsletter (yes a new one will be out this week) but also to include them from time to time here on the blog. Well you got your wish, this is what I was working on today.         

Morning

5K run (< 24 mins)

Afternoon Session

Warm Up

Static and dynamic stretching series

3 Rounds (each round consist of all exercises completed with no breaks)

20 Jumping Jacks

10 Pushups

25 high knee strikes(in the air, Muay Thai style)

15 sit ups

10 Burpees

20 squats

2 Sets

10 Turkish getups (60% max weight)

10 Macebell swings (L and R sides)

10 Pull ups

5 ring dips

“The path of the Warrior is lifelong, and mastery is often simply staying on the path.”

- Richard
Strozzi Heckler

Many times I have been asked by my students “what is the best way to master a technique or skill?” My reply sometime shocks them, continue to train every day and with time you will master the technique. Many walk away mumbling, but those who stick it out and continue to train on a technique or skill almost always come back to me and say, “ I think I finally understand that technique!”

Recently, I have just passed the 37 year mark in my journey in the martial arts! Each year I sit back and look through my training journals and notes and reflect back upon what I have learned, training partners and students who have fallen from the path, and try and plan out what to move forward with for the next year.

So a question for you, “What areyour plans for the upcoming year for your training?”

Guro Steve L.
“Time to go and train again!”

“It is easy to kill someone

As I was reviewing some old notes on various Sword masters, I came upon this quote that struck me as I began my training session. How many of us train, spar with only the intent of hitting your opponent (not that it is a bad thing!)? But, now let’s turn this around, and how much time have you put into making yourself as hard an opponent to strike?

Whether it is in boxing, FMA, Sword, whatever art you are training in, when was the last time you put in time mastering, ducking, slipping, weaving, countering, footwork, transitional movement drills, rolling, rebounding from the ground, just  all of the basic aspects of being a Warrior that is hard to hold down or strike.

In an upcoming article I will give 5 drills that will help make you a more elusive opponent.

“When hell is the cradle in which I rest, all else is easy.”

Guro Steve

Are you serious about loosing or maintaining a healthy weight? Well is this hasn’t crossed your mind in recent days think about this, in a recent medical study it was determined that being overweight in your 30’s and 40’s can shorten your life expectancy by 3.5-7 years, even if later in life you lose the extra weight! So, what is the first step in trying to get a hold of your weight? Well it is figuring out exactly what you are consuming on a daily basis.

Food/Nutrition Log

For 1 week, write down everything you eat, and drink during a normal day. It also will help to break it out into what time of the day was it, is this prepared/restaurant food, portion size, caloric and nutritional information etc. During this week, you must be completely honest with yourself, and write down everything, and do not change what you are eating just because you are starting this process!
This process always seems so simple, yet so few of us do it because it is really so difficult. Especially, when we have to be honest with ourselves, or a coach who will be helping us, by reviewing this material.

Step 2

Figuring that to lose 1lb of body weight, equates to removing an extra 500 calories/day for 7 days (1 lb of fat = 3500 calories), you now need to choose a path to do this.

Caveat: just removing the extra calories from your diet, doesn’t work in the long term!

Here is why, your body is a remarkable machine designed to keep you alive. If you drastically reduce your caloric intake, your body automatically goes into starvation mode, and efficiently uses and stores almost every calorie you take in. The only way to help lose those extra calories is through exercise. A well thought out plan including nutrition, weight training, cardiovascular exercise and flexibility training, is the only long term plan that has proven itself over time!!

Step 3:
The hardest part!!! Get off your lazy butt and start working out!

I hope this short starting point gets you motivated.

I am not sugar coating anything, and I will be brutally frank with each of you reading this, there is no easy way to lose weight and get in shape.  Anyone who tells you differently is lying to you to make money. So start now!

Sensei/Guro Steve

Here you go….

Tip #1.
Make nutrition an integral part of your training program. Nutrition should never be an after-thought in your training program it should be thought out in advance to meet your nutritional needs. Without proper nutrition, how can you begin to achieve the optimum performance level you are seeking?

Tip #2.

Start a nutrition log book. Track your consumption of various foods, amounts types etc, and how this relates to your workout energy and recuperation time. Review the various books and source material on the amount of calories and types of nutritional guidelines your sport will require, and set that down in your training plan. If you have to consult with a sports dietitian, and stay away
from trendy diet fads and supplement advertisements!

Tip #3.

Now everyone has a busy schedule to maintain, but if you are serious about improving your sports performance you need to schedule time to shop for good nutritional foods. Search your local area for the best Organic produce, meat and dairy sources. Even search for low cost wholesalers, this will definitely help your budgetary process. Good quality food can get expensive if you are not careful, so spend the time to bulk shop, freeze down individual portions and plan your weekly meals!

Tip #4.

A key nutrient in your program has to be fluids!! Concentrate on taking in adequate amounts of water, and other fluids to prevent dehydration. Monitor your urine output to ensure you are drinking enough fluids on a daily basis. You should be urinating frequently (every 2 to 4 hours); it should be light colored, not dark and odiferous. That is clearly a sign of dehydration!!

Tip #5.

Be flexible, and resilient to food changes. Every season has a host of great food choices, so avail yourself to locally grown fresh produce in the summer months! Over the remaining parts of the year switch off to other items grown in various parts of the world!

Pay attention to those cravings you are having they may indicate a nutritional or caloric need in your diet!

Tip #6.

Supplements are just that SUPPLEMENTS! Your first requirement is adequate nutrition through good quality sources. If you require more than that, seek out high quality supplementation. Don’t fall into the trap that a supplement will give this huge leap in your nutrition, it won’t! It is up to you to maintain the dedication to ensure this critical aspect of your training is maintained!

Tip #7.

As a final tip, make sure you are getting adequate time off from your program to recuperate! Take a nap, sleep in late, eat plenty, drink enough, all of this will help you make great leaps in your training goals.

The hardest part is the first step…..Taking Action!