We will always have doubts. This is especially true if we are seeking greatness, if we are pushing ourselves to be our best, and if we are unwilling to accept mediocrity. We will doubt our abilities, our potential, and our right to strive for more than what is given. But doubt is a coward and … Continue reading Doubt is a Coward
A bully is a person who pushes another person into a corner against their will, and then keeps pushing, and pushing, and pushing. We often think about bullying as a physical altercation wherein a bigger, stronger, or more powerful person is abusive of a smaller, weaker, or less powerful person. Physical abuse, however, is just … Continue reading From The Corner (On Bullying)
“Please believe me. I’m real. No, really. It happened. It hurt.”-Amanda Palmer, ‘The Art of Asking’ Bullying is a violation. It is an assault on a person’s mind, body, or emotions, an assault on a person’s boundaries and willingness to participate. It is willful antagonism, provocation, mockery and harassment. Bullying is the act of seeing … Continue reading About Bullying
The Gracie jiu-jitsu self-defense curriculum is not for you. Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners often talk disparagingly about the Gracie self-defense curriculum. They say things like: “I don’t care about that. I just do BJJ for fun. I can defend myself. I don’t need that stuff.” The people who say things like this are usually capable, fit, … Continue reading Learning Self-Defense For Others
“Be the weird kid. Be the funny kid. Be the quiet kid. Be the athletic kid. Be the theatre kid. Be the numbers kid. Just don’t be the mean kid.” -Anonymous “As in life, so too in budo. As in budo, so too in life.” -Robert Van Valkenburgh is co-founder of Taikyoku Mind & Body … Continue reading Be Yourself (Just Don’t Be Mean)
