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?…
Author: Ando Mierzwa
Ando Mierzwa is a martial arts teacher living in Los Angeles, CA.
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…
Train Naked to Improve Your Martial Arts Skills
Want to take your martial arts training to a new level? Try practicing naked! Yes, I said naked! Practicing in the nude will give you a whole new perspective on how you move your body. As a result, it can help you improve your balance, speed, and power. To be clear, I’m not telling you…
Do You Need Cardio for Self-Defense Training?
Strength, flexibility, cardio, explosiveness… it’s all important. But when it comes to self-defense training, which attribute should be your top priority? To get the most out of your practice time in the martial arts, you might want to consider my opinion. If you agree, let me know! If you don’t, let me know that, too!…
The Most Important Stance (You Don’t Practice!) in Karate
In traditional martial arts, you will practice many different stances. But which stance is the most important? HINT: It’s probably the first one you ever learned! Whether you train in Karate, Taekwondo, or Kung Fu, here’s a tip that will put a spotlight on a crucial stance that you may be overlooking. You can either…
#108: The Hardest Part of Self-Defense [Video + Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #108 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “The Hardest Part of Self-Defense.” I have some bad news–the hardest part of self-defense is something you can’t change or stop. What am I talking about? Knowing how far to go when defending yourself. Here’s the problem–bad guys have a plan. They know…