Life lessons from a Tae Kwon Diva and Master in the making.
Even though I’ve been writing this blog for a decade and published a memoir about how practicing martial arts changed my life for the better, I’m still surprised sometimes at the moments of clarity I have when I’m on the mat.
The most recent moment was this past week when I was working with my master on side kicks.
Continue reading “Thinking Too Much vs. Being Mindful”
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.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: Leaving My Martial Arts Cult”
The Little Black Belt blog is home to many guest posts about the benefits and nuances of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). Have you ever wondered how progression is measured or what you would learn if you were to start practicing BJJ? In this post, Lucas Hudson shares the details of the BJJ belt system and what a practitioner is expected to learn and be assessed on at each level.
If you would like to contribute a martial-arts related article to Little Black Belt, please read and follow the guest writer guidelines here.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: Understanding the Jiu-Jitsu Belt System and How to Progress”
While this blog has been home to articles about many different forms of martial arts, this is the first weapons-related post! The team at Cakra EDC Gadgets, a seller of self-defense weapons, has provided an informative post on how to responsibly buy and use brass knuckles. Please adhere to your local laws regarding the carrying and use of self defense weapons and related items. For more information on the company, please see the end of the post.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: The Benefits of Brass Knuckles”
Last Thursday was one of those taekwondo classes that makes you feel better inside and out. We had that perfect mix of students who take their sport seriously and are there to work hard, even the youngest ones. One younger student, a girl of about ten or eleven, was trying out our dojang for the first time. She had trained in kung fu, and for whatever reason, was looking for a new place to train. She kept up with us perfectly during movement drills and kicking practice. But the real magic happened when she did her form.
Continue reading “Inspired by Greatness (or, What I Learned from a Kung Fu Girl)”
I’ve been doing some work with executives in my company, which requires me to get into a particular floor to access a particular conference room. Every time I go to a meeting, I have to wait in the hallway and hope someone sees me to let me in on time.
One day, my executive leader saw me from the interior window and let me in. She had a puzzled expression on her face.
“You can’t get in?” she said.
“No,” I answered. In my head, I added, “I didn’t even try because I assumed I wouldn’t have access because I don’t belong here.”
I wasn’t sure I was going to fit into my hogu (chest guard) before I went to my first sparring class in four years.
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.
I have been in the business of adult learning for nearly 15 years. I’m always interested to see how our experiences, whether they are related to martial arts, our professional life, or our relationships, help us learn. In this guest post Ashley Mann shares five things practicing Jiu Jitsu has taught her about the nature of learning. My personal favorite from her list: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”
If you would like to contribute a post to Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.
Continue reading “Guest Writer: 5 Things Jiu Jitsu Has Taught Me About Learning”
My amazing guest writers have shared the importance of martial arts training for kids and the benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in general. This article, courtesy of Griphouse Academy Glasgow head coach Nathaniel, brings together the best of both worlds. Learn more about the great things Coach Nathaniel and team are doing for young students at www.griphouseacademy.co.uk
If you would like to submit a martial arts-related article to this blog, please review the guidelines here.
