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

Guest Writer: Train the Mind, Dominate the Moment

Someone asked me recently about the mental/emotional/spiritual aspect of martial arts. I’ve discussed it many times on this blog. But don’t just take my word for it. Today’s inspiring guest post is from Coach Matt Marcinek on how winning happens in the mind before you even set foot on the mat. If you would like to write a guest post for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

Everyone talks about toughness.
 “Push through.”
 “Don’t quit.”
 “Be mentally strong.”

But what if we’ve misunderstood what real toughness actually is?
 What if it’s not about clenching your jaw and pretending you don’t feel the pressure… but about being calm, aware, and honest when the pressure hits?

That’s the real inner game.
 And it’s the one I try to train every day—on the mat and in life.

Continue reading “Guest Writer: Train the Mind, Dominate the Moment” →

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

Lingering Injury versus an Acute Injury: Life Lessons from (Sometimes Self-Inflicted) Pain

The Achilles Heel of Advice | Blackbird
Me trying to hack life and failing miserably.

Thanks to conversations with my boss and a counselor about my severe burnout, several days off here and there for rest and rejuvenation, hormones starting to regulate so my suspected peri-menopausal symptoms aren’t as bad, and more days of actual honest to God decent sleep…I’m feeling better than I was when I wrote my last post. 

But I’m not out of the woods yet.

Continue reading “Lingering Injury versus an Acute Injury: Life Lessons from (Sometimes Self-Inflicted) Pain” →

Melanie Gibson Injury and Recovery, Mental Health, Uncategorized, Work and Martial Arts

If You’re Happy but You’re Burned Out, Clap Your Hands

Burnout isn't budging in the U.S. workforce | CIO

I’ve been wanting to write an article for a while about burnout. The irony isn’t lost on me that it’s taken me over a month to get thoughts to screen because I’ve been “too busy.” 

The first time the thought for the article crossed my mind I was at home, having taken Good Friday, April 18, off after a very busy week of work and two full days of being in a training program. I’d also been dealing with severe insomnia, which I attributed to peri-menopausal weirdness but realize in hindsight was exacerbated by stress and burnout. I’d hoped to spend that Friday doing something fun or spending time on one or more of my hobbies, but because I was so exhausted, I spent the day napping on the couch while I waited for the HVAC guy to show up to install a part and do the biannual check-up since that was the only free time I’d had all month. 

I was too burned out to write an article about burnout.

Continue reading “If You’re Happy but You’re Burned Out, Clap Your Hands” →

Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Injury and Recovery

Guest Writer: Enhancing Postural Health Through Martial Arts: A Doctor’s Perspective

When Dr. Antti Rintanen (The Internet Doctor) contacted me about a contributing a guest post offering a physician’s perspective on the benefits of martial arts, I jumped at the chance…well, hopped, being mindful of my current Achilles tendon issue. Something we all could use help improving is our posture. In this article, Dr. Rintanen focuses on how your martial arts practice can improve your posture and in turn, other health concerns. There’s even a five-minute martial arts-inspired posture routine at the end you can try today.

This article is not a substitute for treatment from a licensed medical professional. If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related post, please see the guest writer guidelines here. 

Enhancing Postural Health Through Martial Arts: A Doctor’s Perspective

By Dr. Antti Rintanen, MD, MSc

In today’s world, poor posture has quietly become a modern epidemic. Hours spent hunched over screens, commuting, and sitting at desks have made forward head posture, rounded shoulders, and anterior pelvic tilt the new normal. As a medical doctor—and a lifelong martial arts practitioner—I’ve seen firsthand how movement habits can either restore or degrade the body’s natural alignment.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Training Tips

Guest Writer: A Beginner’s Guide to Select the Right Martial Art for Your Personal Goals

Karate Class Practicing Stances image - Free stock photo - Public ...

Are you interested in martial arts training but aren’t sure which one is right for you? Guest writer Justin Mark’s guest post can help you align your martial arts training with your personal goals. Don’t get lost in a Google rabbit hole; find the martial art that fits your unique needs. 

If you would like to submit a guest post to Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

A Beginner’s Guide to Select the Right Martial Art for Your Personal Goals

You want to try martial arts, but, uh, you have no clue where to start. Maybe you saw a brutal knockout in MMA and thought, Yeah, I need to learn that. Probably an old-school Kung Fu flick that left you fired up.

Whatever your reason, you now face the question: Which martial art is right for you?

Continue reading “Guest Writer: A Beginner’s Guide to Select the Right Martial Art for Your Personal Goals” →

Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Self-Development and Leadership, Work and Martial Arts

The case for tooting your own horn

Fanfare Of Trumpets - Liberta Books

Two of the five tenets of taekwondo are self-control and integrity. Humility is also a characteristic that is valued across several martial arts. 

Take a shy kid at heart, combine her with martial artist humility and a smidge of imposter syndrome, and you get someone who isn’t very comfortable bragging on herself. 

But sometimes that does us good. 

Continue reading “The case for tooting your own horn” →

Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers

Guest Writer: Exploring HapKiDo: The Art of Coordinated Power

During my taekwondo training with my Korean Grandmaster, I was fortunate enough to learn some HapKiDo-related self-defense techniques. I’ve always enjoyed it and wanted to learn more. I was thrilled when RJ LoPresti of Choe’s HapKiDo approached me about contributing a blog post about their martial art. I’m excited to share Little Black Belt’s first HapKiDo post!  If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related blog post, see guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson Class Diaries, General Martial Arts

Turning Fear Into Fun

Martial Arts Similar to Judo - HowTheyPlay

About once a week, I get thrown on the floor. And I pay good money for that to happen. Have been for years. 

Most martial arts students I’ve encountered are afraid of being thrown on the floor, even if it’s the gentlest and most controlled of simple one-step takedowns. It’s scary and weird and unnatural. After over a decade of practicing taekwondo, I’m fairly comfortable with it, even though every once in a while when I’m mid-air I have that existential moment seen on those “so you’re probably wondering how I ended up here” memes before my body crashes into the mat. 

Continue reading “Turning Fear Into Fun” →

Melanie Gibson Class Diaries, Self-Development and Leadership, Training Tips

Leaders Let Others Soar

Balance Bikes Overtake Training Wheels for Teaching Young Riders - NBC News
Image from nbcnews.com

Like most children first learning how to ride a bike, I used training wheels. The more confident I became, the more I enjoyed riding my bike, within the parameters of the training wheels of course.

One day my dad was helping me ride my bike without training wheels. At first I was afraid I might fall. But in a seamless moment, my dad let go. The moment of joyously soaring down the driveway is etched into my memory. I felt like I could do anything. After that, I loved riding for miles with my brother and friends (it was the 1980s in rural West Texas, so riding bikes all over town was no big deal).

Sometimes all it takes for someone to soar is for their leader to let go.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: How Martial Arts Can Boost Family Fitness and Bonding

Something I started in 2024 and am carrying into 2025 is lessening the time I spend staring at and doomscrolling on my can’t-live-with-it/can’t-live-without-it phone. Real life is happening all around us, and it’s sadly easy to miss with the access we have to screens in our daily lives. Sometimes it’s necessary for things like work and school, but there are things we can do to turn screen time into quality time with our loved ones. In this guest post, Hamza Abbasi from Carlson Gracie RafaSantos Lakeland, offers tips for swapping screen time with quality family time through martial arts.

If you would like to submit a guest article for Little Black Belt, please review the guidelines here.

In today’s world, many families spend their time on the screen without physical exercise. Adults and kids mostly use their gadgets, which can lead to poor physical activity that can negatively impact health as well as the bonding of families. Martial arts allows families to stay active, build relationships, and promote healthy lifestyles while having fun or enjoyment. Here’s how martial arts can improve your family fitness, including impacts and other tips for staying active with family.

Continue reading “Guest Writer: How Martial Arts Can Boost Family Fitness and Bonding” →