Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: Leaving My Martial Arts Cult

In 2022 I wrote an article for the online web magazine Martial Journal about being in a martial arts cult. It was something I was reluctant to talk about but felt it was important to say. Since then I’ve had a steady stream of messages from people who could relate. Obviously this is something that needs to be talked about openly.

Martial arts can be wonderful and beneficial influences in our lives, but anything taken to an extreme can have a dark side, especially if the person or people in power take advantage of those who just wanted to do something they enjoyed. 

S [identity protected for privacy], a fellow martial artist, bravely shares her story of the pain of realizing she was in a bad situation and the joy of freedom. 

If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related article to Little Black Belt, please follow the guest post guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership

Little Black Belt is TEN!

Blogging, Near Philadelphia

My blog is TEN years old! Can you believe it? I began this project as a quiet way to document the life-changing insights I was having about a year into my taekwondo journey. I didn’t tell anyone about it for a few months. Since then it has grown to be a documentation of my journey to black belt and beyond, the inspiration for my 2021 book Kicking and Screaming: a Memoir of Madness and Martial Arts, and home to many guest articles from the larger martial arts world. The blog and the book have pushed me into talking openly about mental illness in the public space, which I’ve done on podcasts, in articles, and even in my workplace.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my thoughts and to the other writers and martial artists who have contributed richness and diversity to the blog.

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Melanie Gibson Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership, Work and Martial Arts

The Exhilarating Feeling of Not Caring So Much

Perfectly imperfect - Perfectly Imperfect - T-Shirt | TeePublic
Image from teepublic.com

“I don’t have anything to prove anymore,” I thought randomly as I watched my reflection jog in time to the music in a recent Body Combat class. My feet stayed low to the ground, and my right knee was encased in a stretchy light brace since stomping on a hard gym floor doesn’t feel great for my mostly recovered leg.

It was a nice thought.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership, Training Tips, Work and Martial Arts

Guest Writer: Seven Important Truths Learned From Martial Arts

I’m blessed to have a number of guest writers offer their unique perspectives and expertise on this blog just about every month. When Cindy Villanueva contacted me about sharing her writing, I jumped at the chance. Besides our obvious connection of being female martial artists and black belts, Cindy and I have a lot in common. We both have ties to Texas, we’re authors, and, like me, Cindy has benefited greatly from the emotional and mental aspects of martial arts.

This blog post explores universal truths Cindy has gleaned from her decades of martial arts practice.

Enjoy Cindy’s insights below, and be sure to check out her website and her book, Don’t Fight Mad.

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Melanie Gibson Mental Health, Work and Martial Arts

An Extra Day to…Be Still?

Leap Day and Leap Year: How To Talk About Each
Image credit: Grammarly.com

Four years ago on Leap Day, I wrote a post titled “When It’s Crunch Time, Be Agile, Be Ready…and Be Still.” 

Oh, if only I knew (if only we all knew) what was to befall the world two weeks later. But before the world turned upside down, I was somewhat happily mired in the busyness of life, both in my personal and professional life. I accepted busy as the norm. Even when I had a moment of downtime I used it to tick things off my to-do list. When the world shut down, and I found myself at home, the busyness increased–working for a healthcare organization in the midst of a global pandemic was not the most calming of situations, plus I thought the extra time at home would allow me to write a whole other book on top of preparing my memoir for publication.

No surprise — I had a manic episode that burned out into depression by May 2020, and that depression lingered until the beginning of 2023. Obviously maintaining balance in a moment of crisis is not one of my fortes.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Mental Health

Yes, Your Martial Art Can Just Be a Hobby

istockphoto.com

Recently my partner sent me a video by YouTube comedian Ryan George. In the video, a man who likes to doodle cute little birds for fun in his spare time is bullied and pressured by a #hustleandgrind bro into creating a side hustle-to-full-time business with products, employees, and a full on corporate structure. By the end of the video, both men are older and ready to retire. The hustle bro comments that the artist can now go paddle boarding with son in his free time, which was what the artist enjoyed doing before he started his bird drawing business. The artist is angry and frustrated at time lost. It harkens back to the parable of the fisherman and the businessman. The fisherman, like the man sketching birds, was content with his life. The businessman couldn’t understand why the fisherman wouldn’t follow his promptings to expand his production.

Sometimes a hobby can just be a hobby.

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership

Guest Writer: A Self-Care Guide to Being Your Absolute Best

The end of the year can feel stressful and overly busy. Make sure you commit to taking care of you this season and throughout the new year. Emma Grace Brown shares some great tips below that I am going to personally follow! Happy holidays and a happy new year. I wish you all the best in the upcoming year.

Photo via Pexels

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership, Work and Martial Arts

Guest Writer: Work-Life Balance Mastery: The Ultimate Self-Care Tips for Busy Entrepreneurs

Whether we work for someone else or for ourselves (or in many cases, both), we need work-life balance to be a functioning human. As a corporate employee and authorpreneur, I carefully use and guard my time so I can get the job done while staying healthy, happy, and relatively stress free. Emma Grace Brown (see her website here) offers self-care tips for busy entrepreneurs. There’s always a rush at the end of the year between getting everything done and taking time off for holidays and family.
Please take care of yourselves and each other.

Image via Pexels

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Melanie Gibson Injury and Recovery, Mental Health, Training Tips

Revisiting Body Combat with a Different Body

8 Benefits of Kickboxing Fitness Classes - Elite Sports Clubs
Photo courtesy of eliteclubs.com. You can find me at the club, preferably near the back.

Earlier this year, I rejoined taekwondo classes as a “regular” (i.e., not private lesson) student. Prior to that I’d been taking private lessons for over a year and had added back in yoga classes, weight lifting, and occasionally swimming to round out my exercise routine.

More recently, I’ve gone back to Body Combat classes at the gym, a kickboxing aerobics class that derives inspiration from various martial arts. I needed more cardio and wanted something that didn’t have the pressures and nuances that taekwondo class does. As a bonus, one of the Body Combat teachers happens to be a black belt trained by my former grandmaster, so at least one person is in the know when they’re leading the class. 

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Mental Health, Training Tips

Guest Post: Essential Guide to Balancing Wellness and Self-Care as a Martial Artist

This post comes from Emma Grace Brown, a frequent contributor to Little Black Belt. If you would like to submit a martial arts-related article, please review the guest writer guidelines.

Image via Freepik

In the demanding world of martial arts, well-being serves as a foundational element for achieving excellence. Balancing wellness and self-care is pivotal for martial artists striving for optimal performance in both their sports and personal lives.

This article, courtesy of Little Black Belt, delves into seven crucial strategies designed specifically for this unique group of athletes. Each method is geared toward helping you maintain and enhance your wellness routine, so consider this your comprehensive guide for excelling in every aspect of your martial arts journey!

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