Christians and the Martial Arts
Some have been called war mongers, mystics, heroes and some, just plain old bad dudes. Martial artists have gone by many names throughout the...
Knowledge, Faith, Benevolence, Courage and Severity
In Tae Kwon Do, there are five tenets. These are guiding principles. They are Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control and Indomitable Spirit. In my school...
A Practical Definition Of Chi
As a viable part of the martial artist's arsenal, chi, and specifically noncontact chi, is dubious, at best--at least as long as its proponents...
LtCol George Goodson and A Burial At Sea
LtCol George Goodson, USMC (Ret) ~ In my 76th year, the events of my life appear to me, from time to time, as a...
Ushi Deshi: Students of the Heart
In my fifty five plus years of studying, researching and teaching the martial arts I have had only a few personal, closed door students....
Stay Resolute, Calm and Confident Against Your Adversary
It has been my experience in life that, with a few notable exceptions, whenever a bully is confronted with a resolute calm, confident adversary,...
Mind, Body, and Spirit in the Martial Arts
It's impossible to completely separate the elements of mind, body, and spirit because we as human beings need the mix of the three to...
Us vs Them Mentality in Martial Arts
When I started training in the Pekiti-Tirsia system in 1975, I was 14 years old. It very quickly became a major part of my...
Mens Rea: Be Mindful of Your Intent
I recently read the following quotation from Edmund Burke, Irish orator, philosopher, and politician (1729-1797): “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil...
Leaders
To lead people, walk behind them. Lao Tzu
To maintain order in the smooth and efficient functioning of civilized society, it is preferable for one...
Chris Thomas Martial Arts Enters the 21st Century
Me, blogging! I can't believe I'm entering the 21st century. People who know me, know that I am notoriously lax in using that 1980's...
Mastery in the Martial Arts
Lately events have led me to reflect on the nature of mastery and what it means.
Life can be a humbling experience. I’ve been finding...
Understanding the Roots of a Martial Arts System
Everything has to start somewhere. Everything that is to stand must have a foundation. Nothing exists in a vacuum. I’m real big on finding...
Dana White on Apolitical UFC: If you want politics, turn on any other channel
Watch as Dana White, UFC President, discusses how he keeps politics out of sports and how he kept going during the pandemic.
Loyalty to the Nation
“I shall have loyalty to the Nation, Sir!”
It is how every martial arts class begins, when you train in Tae Kwon Do. We do...
Mental Kung Fu: Use Your Mind
Use your mind as your first resource. Your first line of defense. Observe and always be aware of your surroundings and any possible impending...
