You show up to class. You work hard. But it takes more than consistent practice to become a martial arts master—you also need guidance. Guidance from whom? If you’re lucky, you’ll have great teachers who will put you on track and keep you on track to becoming the best you can be. Great teachers will…
Author: Ando Mierzwa
Ando Mierzwa is a martial arts teacher living in Los Angeles, CA.
Sparring with the Ocean
To be a great martial artist, you need sparring partners. Great sparring partners. That’s why almost every summer, I travel to Wrightsville Beach, NC, to face the greatest sparring partner of all time—the ocean. Here’s a short video sharing one lesson I learned. But you might like hearing more details below. Sparring the Ocean Here’s…
How to Insult Someone in Martial Arts
I admit it—I talk trash. Lots of it. To me, trash talk is just another weapon to break down my opponent’s focus and confidence. But if you really want to know how to insult someone in the martial arts, let me share a little secret… Pay them a compliment. Here’s how it works… My brother…
#21: Just Let Go…and Win! [Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #21 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Just Let Go… and Win!” Holding on to your dreams can be the key to success…or the road to ruin! How can you tell when to keep fighting and when to just let go? In this episode, we break down the differences between…
Death Grip: Just Let Go…and Win!
I used to think the term “death grip” referred to a grip so powerful it could cause someone’s death. But it’s the opposite. A death grip is a desperate attempt to control something that is causing you harm. It’s holding on for dear life when every other option has failed. I had a real-life death…
Martial Arts Is NOT Like Riding a Bike
I’m a patient man. Really. But there’s a special kind of martial artist out there who really irks me. Who is it? The former martial artist. Someone who trained as a kid, or a couple years in college, or a few months as an adult, then quit. If you quit martial arts, so be it….
Breaking Down in Martial Arts
Breaking down in the martial arts is not uncommon. Screaming, swearing, crying, storming off… I’ve seen it all. In this short video, I’ll tell you why breaking down is actually a reason to be proud, not embarrassed. For a few more thoughts, take a look at the article below. Keep crying! 🙂 Breaking Down and…