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?…
Author: Ando Mierzwa
Ando Mierzwa is a martial arts teacher living in Los Angeles, CA.
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…
#111: How to Make Martial Arts Techniques Work [Video + Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #111 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Make Martial Arts Techniques Work.” You see a move. You learn a move. You try a move… …but it doesn’t work! ARGH! So frustrating. The truth is, sooner or later, we all hit a wall in our training. We all get…
#110: Close Your Mind to Learn More [Video + Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #110 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Close Your Mind to Learn More.” We all know that a martial arts student should keep an open mind, right? But should it stay open forever? Is it possible that you can keep learning even when you close your mind to new information?…
Hard Sparring Tips for Martial Arts
Not everyone believes in hard sparring… but I do! In this video, I’ll share two important benefits of sparring, plus three tips to make sure you get the most out of your training time. Of course, safety is always the main goal in self-defense… and that includes during sparring. But if you can find a…
#109: Panic and Pandemonium | Self-Defense in a Crowd [Video + Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #109 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Panic and Pandemonium.” In self-defense, facing a single attacker is never easy. Now imagine defending yourself from 80,000 people! That sounds crazy, but that’s basically what happened to me. In this episode, I’ll share the story of a young, inexperienced security guard (that’s…