Welcome to Episode #116 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “You Got This.” Confidence is a tricky commodity. If you have too much—trouble. If you have too little—trouble! Especially in the martial arts, place too much faith in your skills, you might wind up dead. But place NO faith in your skills, you…
Author: Ando Mierzwa
Ando Mierzwa is a martial arts teacher living in Los Angeles, CA.
#115: How to Be a Good Judge in Martial Arts and Life [Video + Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #115 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Be a Good Judge.” Are you a good judge or a bad judge? In the martial arts (and in life!), I’ve definitely been both. But as I get older, I’d like to think I’m getting better at passing judgement. Whether we’re…
3 Sparring Tips for Beginners in Self-Defense
Can a few basic sparring tips make a difference in a real-life self-defense situation? Absolutely! I’m not saying that combat sports and self-defense are the same—they’re not! But there are some fundamental principles that apply to both. Here are a few I hope you’ll consider. You can watch the video below or scroll down for…
#114: Driving Without Brakes – A Warning for Martial Arts and Life
Welcome to Episode #114 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Driving Without Brakes.” I’ve done some stupid things in my life… but driving without brakes may be the stupidest! Of course, I didn’t plan on putting myself (and everybody on the road around me!) in danger, but it also wasn’t a big surprise….
#113: The First Technique in Martial Arts [Video + Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #113 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “The First Technique in Martial Arts.” Do you remember the first technique you learned in the martial arts? Was it a jab? A block? Maybe a breakfall? Whatever it was, let me ask you—would you say it was also the most important technique?…
Is Cardio Kickboxing a Waste of Time for Self-Defense?
Cardio kickboxing is a popular form of exercise, but is it an effective form of self-defense? While some may think cardio kickboxing is just a dance class with puffy gloves, I say it deserves a little more respect. Let me know if you agree! You can watch the video below or scroll down for the…
#112: Lessons from Being Choked Out [Video + Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #112 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Lessons From Being Choked Out.” When I started training in the martial arts, I practiced a long list of moves to escape from chokes. No air, no problem… right? WRONG! It turned out that there’s a big difference between a “practice choke” and…