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

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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?

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

The case for tooting your own horn

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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. 

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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

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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. 

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

Leaders Let Others Soar

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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.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Training Tips

Guest Writer: Beginner’s Guide to BJJ Rash Guards – Everything You Need to Know Before Buying

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It’s a new year and a new season to get back into your favorite martial art. But what if you don’t know where to start with things like gear or clothing? Josh Henry has created a beginner’s guide to selecting the BJJ rash guard that’s right for you. Happy rolling!

If you would like to contribute a martial-arts or wellness-related article for Little Black Belt, please refer to the guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: Cultivating Calm: Effective Ways to Tackle Daily Stress

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The holidays are over, and we’re back in full swing! Busy schedules, yaaaaayy! Part of being a well-rounded martial artist is caring for one’s mental health and well-being. Emma Grace Brown has contributed several articles on wellness and self-care to this blog. In this article she shares several tips for balancing a busy life with effective stress-reducing actions.

If you would like to write a guest article for Little Black Belt, see guest writer guidelines here. ~Melanie

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

When the Flames of Imposter Syndrome Loom Large

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I’ve explored imposter syndrome a few times on this blog, once during a period of depression and loneliness and more recently when I was offered the opportunity to do something new at work.

I’m happy to report that (1) I’m no longer depressed and lonely and (2) I’ve gotten a pretty good handle on that new thing at work.

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Melanie Gibson Guest Writers, Mental Health

Guest Writer: Take These Steps to Build a Healthier Home Life

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While this blog is primarily focused on martial arts, I also devote quite a bit of time to something that is inextricably intertwined with martial arts practice: mental health and well-being. Emma Grace Brown has contributed several articles on wellness and self-care in the past, and she has written another great article about how to care for yourself and your family. It’s tempting to get caught up in the bustle of Q4 work deliverables and holiday planning, but it’s most important for you to make sure you and the people you love are healthy and happy. 

If you would like to write a guest article for Little Black Belt, see guest writer guidelines here. ~Melanie

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