Blogs about: Training Martial Arts
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Women, Men, How Different?
Someone sent me this link. I think the column is hilarious, and telling, and among other things it caused me to wonder whether you, readers, think a woman’s experience is really completely diffe… more →
American/Traditional
Women, Men, How Different?
— 8 comments
serpentstaff wrote 2 months ago: Someone sent me this link. I think the column is hilarious, and telling, and among other things it c … more →
Training Ahead of Rank
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serpentstaff wrote 3 months ago: Traditional martial arts typically follow a curriculum within which students are expected to pass a … more →
Classes set to formally resume.
sifuatlarge wrote 4 months ago: For those who have not been notified, the classes resume effective immediately. There wi … more →
One year with Gung Ji and Bagua Staff
sifuatlarge wrote 5 months ago: After being thoroughly inspired by a book called “Five Year, One Kata” by Bill Burgher, I began a si … more →
Does an 8-year-old’s black belt reflect on mine?
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serpentstaff wrote 5 months ago: It’s a much-discussed topic on forums, blogs, and in pubs after workout, whether the widespread awar … more →
Hurt, Pain, Agony
serpentstaff wrote 5 months ago: My older brother and I were on a swim team when we were kids. One year, someone gave him a book for … more →
Should instructors be friends or socialize with students?
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serpentstaff wrote 6 months ago: It’s funny how a train of thought can take off down an unexpected track. When I sat down to write my … more →
On the difference between "friends" and "family"
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serpentstaff wrote 7 months ago: Members of shared-interest groups and organizations often speak of themselves in terms of family and … more →
On the difference between a "hard workout" and "hard work"
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serpentstaff wrote 7 months ago: It took me a long time as a teacher to figure out that instructor and student can have vastly differ … more →
"Your superiors are beyond praise"
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serpentstaff wrote 7 months ago: No one ever had to tell me it would be inappropriate to praise my instructors. I knew instinctively— … more →
Remembering my First Teacher
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serpentstaff wrote 8 months ago: He was barely qualified, way too young, and behaved like a jerk outside of class. Yet, he started me … more →
Is every student capable of earning Black Belt?
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serpentstaff wrote 8 months ago: I’ve often heard it said by senior instructors – and I’ve said it myself – t … more →
The Drama of the Gifted Martial Arts Student
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serpentstaff wrote 8 months ago: There is a book called “The Drama of the Gifted Child” – I have not read it, but h … more →
Who decides what you want to learn?
serpentstaff wrote 9 months ago: A traditional dojo is not the place to pick and choose your lessons, nor try to direct what and how … more →
"No silly uniforms, no pointless patterns to memorize"
serpentstaff wrote 10 months ago: The ad I’m quoting from – which was for a kickboxing/mixed martial arts class – pl … more →
Why should we train without question?
serpentstaff wrote 10 months ago: Students sometimes misunderstand the point of ‘training without question.’ They feel it … more →
A Concept of Traditional
serpentstaff wrote 10 months ago: What do we mean by ‘traditional martial arts,’ here in the West? I’m sure there are many points of v … more →
