Brian Johns, Instructor and Coach

I had a great time at the

Robot As A Workout Partner?

I have long fantasized about having a holodeck like those in the various Star Trek series, where I can engage in Modern Arnis training. What if, instead, you had a robot as a workout partner? In my fantasy world, I'd say, "Computer, Holodeck Modern Arnis Program, level 10!" I would then enter the holodeck and engage in advanced Modern Arnis training against a simulation of Professor Remy Presas....

Robot As A Workout Partner? Imagine having a robot as a martial arts workout partner? Wouldn't that be cool? I explore the potential of ai enabled robots for training.

“I Thought I Was Going to Die”

The New York Times recently published an article on the best American cross-country skier ever, Jessie Diggins. Diggins has become legendary among cross-country skiers for her ability to dig insanely deep into herself. While Diggins lacks the brute strength of some of her Olympic peers and does not always make the best tactical choices, her ability to tolerate pain is her greatest asset....

"I Thought I Was Going to Die" The New York Times recently published an article on the best American cross-country skier ever, Jessie Diggins. Diggins has become legendary among cross-country skiers for her ability to dig insanely deep into herself. While Diggins lacks the brute strength of some of her Olympic peers...

What A Choke Job!

Watch the video below first. According to his Instagram bio, the speaker is a neurologist and judging by his comments, may be an expert on peak performance. While the author's analysis pertains to Ilia Malinin's choke job on the world's biggest stage, it also applies to other endeavours, such as... oh, say, martial arts. If you are not able to view this video, go…...

What A Choke Job! Ilia Malinin, the best male figure skater in the world, cracked at the Winter Olympics. This post discusses the issue of peak performance.

Ramping Up My YouTube Shorts

Do you guys watch YouTube Shorts? Check out my Shorts! Over the past few months, I have taken videos of my private lessons. All videos were obtained with the clients' or students' consent. A couple of my students were too shy or hesitant to appear in public videos. Totally understandable. Why did I do this? It's easier to scroll through the private lesson videos and find short videos to post to…...

Ramping Up My YouTube Shorts I have ramped up my YouTube Shorts efforts which has produced satisfactory results. I'll be able to produce longer form videos again soon!

Martial Arts Fitness For Us Geezers!

Jesse Enkamp (aka the Karate Nerd) and Eddie Hall entertained me with their attempt to replicate Bruce Lee's 1965 workout routine. Judging by the reactions of Jesse and Eddie, it sounds like an insane workout. Keep in mind that Bruce was 25 years old and approaching his physical prime. Eddie Hall, along with Thor Bjornsson, is among the strongest men in the world....

Martial Arts Fitness For Us Geezers! I discuss martial arts fitness in this post and how it should vary depending on your age. I use Bruce Lee's workout as a starting point.

While working on a technique sequence designed to fortify their fundamentals, students may occasionally ask to do material that is beyond their skill level. I'll often answer them in two ways. Either I will demur and tell them that their fundamentals aren't where they need to be yet. Or I will use their hunger for advanced material to polish their fundamentals....

Patience, Grasshopper! Patience, grasshopper is what I think when students want to race ahead of their skill level. Don't get me wrong, I love the enthusiasm.

I chuckle every time I see this quote by Notre Dame coaching legend Frank Leahy. He was the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish from 1941 to 1943 and from 1946 to 1953. He missed the 1944 and 1945 seasons due to serving in the US Navy during WWII. He compiled an insane record during his 11 years as Notre Dame's head coach....

"Lads, you're not to miss practice unless you died or your parents died." Practice is the way to greatness and mastery. Too often, folks take practice for granted and think that wishing is the way. No, it isn't.

Dang! I've gone too long without writing a post! I've been buried in more work than usual over the last few months, juggling work across three municipalities. The summer months were especially intense. Things have slowly been returning to some normalcy - only a year or two before I retire for good. I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel....or is that a train coming at me?...

Coming Up For Air I have been busy as heck lately, especially with an unfavorable work schedule that greatly impacted my blogging.

Great start to the camp!