Kaizen and the Martial Arts

I first learned about the word "Kaizen" many years ago while reading a motivational book by Anthony Robbins.  Kaizen is a Japanese term that means continuous improvement (within a process or an environment or within all aspects of your life).  The Kaizen philosophy has had a tremendous impact in the manufacturing process in Japan but also has relevance to your personal development.

Kaizen in your martial training means that you make small steps and continuous progress towards mastering the basic skills and techniques.  The ability to make small changes that keep you moving forward will help you grow faster than if you try to make broad sweeping changes.  Things like being mindful of your hand position during striking, your heel position during footwork or your weapon chambers during Kali class will have a lasting and profound impact on your future training and abilities.  By focusing on improving your comprehension and ability with the basic skills you will be setting the groundwork for future improvements and leaps in understanding.

MAK and CFK Spring Fling on 04/10/10

Save the evening of April 10th, 2010 for dinner and fun with your friends at MAK and CFK.  We're going to have a semi-formal (that's ties for the guys and dresses for the girls) pot-luck dinner and get together to enjoy each others company and have a little fun.  More details to follow... but line up the babysitter now!

Rembering Punong Guro Edgar Sulite

I was going through some paperwork the other day and came across some handwritten notes by PG Edgar Sulite about his ranking system for Lameco Eskrima.  We were working together to get the requirements and skills outlined so that he could present the whole system to the FMA community.  We spent a lot of time hashing out the skills, drills and training requirements that each level would need.  Unfortunately his passing in 1997 pretty much closed the door on this ever happening.  PG Edgar was an engineer by trade and had a very systematic mind when it came to organizing his training material - we lost a tremendous resource when he left us.

Here is a clip from a seminar he did for MAK back in 1992:

Congratulations to Burton and Sarah Richardson!

I've known Burton for a long time - probably a lot longer than either of us want to admit or even remember!  He's a very talented fighter and martial artist (who has a critical eye for what will and what won't work in a fight) and a really great person.  Add to that his wonderful wife and partner Sarah and you have an incredible couple - who are now complete with the birth of their daughter Queen!  Congratulations!!!

Jeff Rockwell - Refelcts on Training at Martial Arts Koncepts

This note is from a long-time student of mine named Jeff Rockwell.  Jeff started with me while he was attending college and has kept in touch over the years.  Jeff wrote this to me after he received has Black Bell in BJJ:

Hey Mike, hope this finds you and your family doing well! I just wanted to say thanks for all the amazing training and instruction you gave me over the years.  I just reached a milestone in my jiu-jitsu career; I received my black belt from Tony Passos and Ricardo De La Riva.   It is very surreal to me in many ways, and as I take some time to step back and reflect on how I got here, there are a few people that I realize I could not have done it without, and you are definitely one of them.   The memories I have of training with you and your students are extremely fond, and the thing that I learned from you above all else is to constantly strive for technical perfection - in everything.  It was a lesson you gave me that I came to realize I took for granted as I traveled across the country and trained; many others have an attitude of "that's close enough if it works in the moment".  While perhaps never totally attainable, striving for that technical perfection is what will pay off in the long run, both for your own development, and against the best opponents.

Thank you for helping me learn so many things about so many martial arts, about how to train technically, and about life.  I still have a long way to go, but you were a big part of getting me where I am.

Muay Thai with Ajarn Chai Sirisute

Training in Muay Thai with Ajarn Chai is always a treat. His understanding of the art of Muay Thai is amazing and his teaching style is easy to understand and to the point. In the following video clip (narrated by Guro Dan Inosanto) Ajarn Chai demonstrates some of the foundational techniques and applications of Muay Thai.

Saturday AM Classes in March 2010

We will be having Saturday morning Martial Arts Koncepts classes in March on 03/13/10 and 03/27/10 from 1000 to 1130 AM.  Please mark your calendars NOW!