In Between Degrees

If you think about it, there are no storybook endings. Once begun, the journey never ends.  Long after the battles are won, the villains defeated and the world is saved, the story continues.  The road and the scenery may change, the characters may change, and even you may change. No, there is no "happily ever after", ...

I'll share my secret with you... Long ago (really, not that long ago) I used to be a loser. I was that beyond far-from-athletic fat, dorky, awkward, academic kid with thick glasses, no popularity, few friends, and marginally accepted who was just "fair" with no social skills. Things change. You can't know what it means ...

I came up with these concepts in 6th grade during a "Luminary Lock-in" (A "Luminary Lock-in" was an overnight retreat where kids would make those wonderful lights outside of church on Christmas Eve. You know, those things made of a gallon milk jug, sand, and a candle"). Convenience-Based Relationships Theory: These are relationships you have ...

This is one of the most valuable questions one can ask. Moreover, it's one of the most valuable questions you can answer. "Are we doing this kicking drill to work on speed and endurance or are we practicing this to use it in sparring?" "Both. As students, we must keep working to hone our skills ...

People who don't have money say, "We don't need it".  People who have money say, "More money, more problems".  People who kinda have enough money sit around wondering if it's enough.  All of us say, "Money is just a means".  Well, there's a lot said about money over the long course of history, so I'll ...

Seth Godin talks about the idea of, "just ship it".  He circles back later and says that it's not just about "just".I find that while there’s a lot of merit to the “just ship it” piece, there’s also something to be said about the need for ensuring quality – at least some semblance of it ...

"What do you think of Krav Maga?" asked a fellow student. It's another martial art. It offers much by way of defensive and offensive techniques. Often, you'll see videos of people hitting a shield over and over and maybe some knee strikes. No, that doesn't do it justice, I know. Being a 3rd degree black ...

Martial arts students often ask, "How can I get faster at blocking?" There are several different ways to block. Having the technique down is one thing, acquiring the perception is the more important thing. Someone once taught me that sometimes the best way to perceive and react to attacks more quickly is by not focusing. ...

In Zen, there is a concept known as mushin no shin, or the mind without mind. In The Last Samurai (a.k.a. Tom Cruise's Last Good Movie), Nobutada tells Algren that he needs "no mind" and his swordsmanship suffers because of "too many mind". How often is it that we are taking on too much? Not ...

Get thrown in a pool for the first time and thrash, then sink or swim. Mama bird kicks baby bird out of the nest for the first time. Fly or die, baby. Drive a stick for the first time and grind some gears, burn up the clutch and spin the tires without going anywhere, or ...