Say it with Strength

Woke up this morning clear and focused knowing that there's one last thing I need to do.

We all understand the word "DEADLINE".

What's coming up in a couple of days just might be the most important one of the year.

If there was one deadline you couldn't miss this year it would be this one.

This last task involves a bit more than turning in a term paper or finishing an important project.

It's mapping out in detail what you're gonna do next year.

How you're going to eat?

How many personal best records you're going to shatter fitness wise?

Which new project you're going to tackle?

Which bad habits got to go?

Find out what some of your weaknesses are and welcome opportunities for growth.

How far out of your comfort zone will you go?

When your map is finally complete, remember to use your workout time to strengthen your goals.

What I mean is, use the powerful feelings of strength, intensity, focus, and commitment generated in one exercise to add fuel and desire to reach your goals.

Learn to state silently or out loud your goals while exercising.

They just seem to "stick on" permanently when using this technique.

When you say it with strength, the goals you've set aren't just ideas anymore, they become a part of you. They become imprinted on your nervous system, your muscles, your heart, your blood.

You'll tackle your goals with more tenacity and passion than you ever have.

I trust you'll put this technique to good use.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

P.S. Speaking of projects and goals, there are many new things coming up on the website in the new year as well as new products being released shortly, I'll point you in the right direction when they're ready.

4 Gold Medals & a Bronze

A couple of months ago 2 of my students from our Casselman Kung-Fu School competed in the Canadian Water Skiing Championships near Toronto.

Francis et Valerie

They've been students of mine for about 10 years now, being brothers and sisters they feed off each other for motivation and friendly competition.

There are many reasons I'm sharing their story.

One reason is we always ask the kids: "What's your dream? What do you want to be when you grow up?"

A couple of years ago I remember asking them that same question, and they had showed interest to excel in that sport.

That's what happens when you are crystal clear about what you want, are self-motivated, will not accept failure, and are unwilling to make any excuses.

For them this year that meant 4 gold medals for Valerie (the youngest contestant there) and a bronze medal for Francis.

I always admire kids, with their honesty, enthusiasm and their willingness to dream freely without ever thinking about what other people will say.

For some that special trait disappears when they become grown-ups, for others, that boldness, excitement and fearless energy stays with them when they surround themselves with the right people.

Their coach, Matt Rini is impressed by their coordination, strength, flexibility and balance, something that he attributes to their Kung-Fu Training which is something he wants them to continue and pursue.

I've mentioned to you on many occasions how your martial art training is more than just punches and kicks.

It will force you to improve in all areas of your life.

I mentioned Fearless Energy, that is exactly what everyone needs to succeed in the new year.

A secret weapon that will give you the edge to stand out in your workplace, attract the right mate, feel strong and vibrant, and give you the courage to do what you always dreamed of doing.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

P.S One way to to spark that fearless energy is to attend one of our special firewalking sessions, you can find out all about that here.

Take your Fitness to another level

Most people on my list know I'm a bodyweight fanatic focused on mastering my mind and body.

Every once in a while I'll get an inquisitive question from one of my students like: "I know you're all about body weight but if you had to recommend a piece of equipment I can train with, which one would it be?"

It would have to reflect the same qualities as our Fitness System: Station Training

Simple, Fast, and Intense.

Some of you might be ready for this kind of training some of you might be almost there.

What I'm about to recommend ties in very well with the exercises you're already doing if you own our Basic or Intermediate Strength Training Kits.

This tool simply amplifies the degree of Intensity you must put into each Station. In order to progress you need to make incremental improvements and consistently beat personal past reps, weight or speed records.

Sometimes the best way to break out of a plateau is a) be sure you're not over-training, and b) you use specialized equipment so your muscles are forced to adapt and get stronger.

This piece of equipment is called the TRX.

There's always a more challenging way of doing any exercise. This is why there are 4 levels to our strength training kits (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert) that give you the natural progression of each exercise and the TRX is used in the more advanced levels.

Originally developed for the Marines, it offers the versatility, portability and simplicity I was looking for and also gave me the confidence of knowing the tried and true Marines gave it their stamp of approval.

You can find out more about it here.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

It's Louse Time! Discipline Equals Something

If you're new to my list of focused, motivated, self-starters, Welcome.

(if you're not new jump right away to today's lesson below)

Every day I communicate to you the best ways to train and the kind of mindset it takes to get results either in your physical fitness or martial art training.

Friday is always what I call: "Louse Time".

Modeled after Bruce Lee's strategy in Enter the Dragon. You know that part where he's having tea with the government agent but he's disturbed by one of his students and Bruce Lee tells the agent: It's Louse Time! The agent replies with his British accent: "yes of course".

Since I'm 6 years old that scene has always stuck with me and I'll be using that same strategy with YOU every week.

Friday is where I share with you Life Lessons and Direction given to me by my dad (and Sifu) every Friday.

During the past 2 weeks the weather has been affecting my high speed signal, stopping me from sending my daily tips as I usually do, my apologies, I'm already looking into several solutions.

Today's lesson is: Discipline Equals Something

That word "Discipline" is like music to my ears but I know for some it has a negative connotation.

From the Latin origin, "Disciplina" meaning "Instruction" and also from the root "Discere" meaning "To Learn".

Discipline means to follow a particular "Code of Conduct" or to adhere to a certain "Order".

No matter how tempting an extravagant pleasure may seem, The Code is there to keep you on track for the fitness goals you've set for example.

When talking about Self-Discipline what is YOUR code of conduct?

How do YOU maintain order in your life?

What kind of standards have you set for yourself?

Our body is constantly giving us feedback. Some things we do make us feel great, others we know even before engaging in them we'll feel like crap the day after.

How much Pain can you take before you realize some behaviors are bad for you?

Some people it's alot.

You don't need me to tell you: "You need to stay physically active and strong", "The quality of food you ingest is your source of fuel, no amount of exercise will outbeat a bad diet" and "How you FEEL reflects the quality of your life".

The Code we use for Fitness lies in this unique Fitness Kit. Check it out here

Master yourself,

Sibok Martin

Easy to learn Self-Defense

I've been getting alot of similar questions lately, questions like:

"What is the fastest way to learn to defend myself?" or
"My schedule doesn't allow me to train regularly, do you offer a crash course on personal protection".

Maybe even you might be asking yourself that same question.

The first thing that comes to mind when I get these questions is our Kubotan Training DVD

or Seminar like the one held recently in Richmond, Ontario by one of our senior instructors, Sifu Scott Hill.

The Kubotan is a pen sized stick that gives you tremendous confidence if you're ever caught in a dangerous situation. The kubotan isn't limited to having to have it on you to be able to use it.

The Kubotan

Everyday items found all around you at work, in your car, in your home or in your pocket can be used, it can also be done with your fingers or just the knowledge to know which target to hit if you're ever put in a situation that calls for you to defend yourself is invaluable.

Pressure points

I know this is something nobody wants to talk about during this: "Tis the season to be jolly, falalala..." time of the year but did you know during this time, the amount of assaults both physical and sexual, are higher than any other time of the year?

For men it might be mixing that which does not mix like oil and water: "Alcohol and Egos" in the case of the Bar scene.

For women it might be someone trying to take advantage of you when you've had too much to drink.

There's nothing wrong with being both jolly and prepared this holiday season. Give yourself the best gift of all, the gift of personal protection.

Here's that link again: Easy to Learn Self-Defense Tool

Protect Yourself,

Sibok Martin

Never too Young, Never too Old

Many people are limited by either one of those ideas: "Too young" or "too old".

Do you catch yourself telling yourself that?

When it comes to your physical fitness, the time is NOW.

This is something I wanted my kids to understand at a very young age.

Knowing that kids imitate their parents I make sure to be active whenever they are around me.

Never too young to start

My second eldest daughter (17 mths old) holds a one minute hang on the hanging bar. All of my kids were hanging from a hanging bar when they were about 15 mths old. My oldest daughter holds handstands and my son works with Kettlebells.

Handstand, get your kids started young

If you think you're too old to start training, think again.

If my little ones can do what they do, there are no excuses. It's a very rewarding habit.

You just need to start.

Start where you are and build from there.

Teach your kids the importance
of health and fitness

Research shows that we are genetically almost 99% identical to our cave man ancestors. So why is obesity reaching epidemic (should I say pandemic) levels?

We're ingesting some foods that were never meant to be eaten and a severe drop in physical activity. Our ancestors were always on the move, hunting, building, gathering wood and stone. If they sat around and did what most people today do in a day (which is not a lot) they wouldn't of survived.

Give yourself and your family the gift of fitness this holiday season, it really is the gift that keeps on giving.


Here's an easy way to ease into the fitness habit, it's a fitness kit that anyone can follow no matter where you are fitness wise.

Get yours here.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

Our last event of the year

I'd like to take this time to thank all the students who participated in our events this year, such as seminars, tournaments, and camps. These would not be possible without you.

Tonight is our annual Christmas Get-Together held in Montreal, it is sold out and students can look forward to good company, good conversation, a chance to share in the celebrations of a wonderful year passed as we watch video highlights of this year's events and get a sneak peek at what we have planned for next year.

This year was awesome but the breakthroughs we had this year will pale in comparison to what we have lined up next year.

It is the perfect time to be a student of FSD and we're going all out next year, as you might have realized, next year marks 30 years in Business, it's been an exciting ride but all of us at FSD headquarters are ready to take on another 30 years at the drop of a hat, there's so much still to do, so many people to help, new students to train and black belts to be given, we still feel like we've barely scratched the surface.

My gift to you

Keep your focus on mastering yourselves, aiming higher, and I assure you the best is yet to come, here's a gift from me to you, when you purchase any product at check out, enter: gift in the coupon code box and get an instant 10% discount on me.

Thank You for your Support,

Sifu Martin

The Pressure Cooker Technique

Yes I know, this time of year might feel like you're in a pressure cooker, with all the shopping and the madness that surrounds the holidays, but that's not what I mean.

What I'm talking about is a technique that guarantees you'll follow through on your new year resolutions and goals.

My father didn't call it that when he told me about it but it sure does feel like you're in a pressure cooker when you're using it.

It's purposely putting yourself in a position where you can't fail, can't give up or can't change your mind or else, you lose all of your self-pride and respect.

The idea is to put yourself in front of your peers, someone you respect or look up to (a role model, a close friend, someone influencial in your life) or someone who would love to see you fail (maybe secretly or has voiced it in the past) but it works better if it's someone you love and cherish whom you know also looks up to you (like your kids for example), someone you wouldn't want to let down.

You voice your plans to that person or group of people. You make your goals public.

When you do that you've just stepped into a Pressure Cooker.

Now all these people are looking at you and expecting to see you do, what you said you were going to do.

If you keep your goals to yourself and don't follow through on them nobody will ever know and your ego will stay intact.

Adding the Pressure Cooker element is a very powerful technique. I've used it many times in the past to get myself to act on a project, start a new one, or complete one.

It doesn't mean you're trying to impress or accomplish the goal you've set for somebody else. It just means you're using other people as leverage against yourself so you're held accountable.

The fear of letting them down, passing for a big talker, or seeing the disappointment in their eyes if you fail to follow through is enough to keep you focused and determined to accomplish what you said you were going to at all costs.

Another way to keep the pressure on yourself is to join a group of like minded individuals who share some of the same goals and aspirations as you do. A team that will never let you down.

I'm talking about the F.I.C (Fang Shen Do Inner Circle). Ready to step in the pressure cooker and beat procrastination forever? Follow this link.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

Our Students are getting better and better

During the past few years we've been studying how our students are learning.

And let me tell you, it has changed dramatically.

In our schools we use a test to see which "system" is used to learn and process information.

We use this test to better teach our students depending on which system they use to learn.

I don't have time to go through each system in detail here today but I do have time to fill you in on which system seems to be the most popular recently.

The "D System".

More and more students finish the test with high scores in this area.

The "D System" stands for Digital. We're seeing a new breed of students. Autodidactic Students.

Digital minds rely on self-talk, self-analysis, self-motivation, basically self teaching themselves to absorb a technique or a principle.

No matter how good your instructor is, if you do not become good at teaching it to yourself, I'm sorry to say, you'll never get it.

When you use the D System you realize YOU are responsible for your development. No one else will do the push-ups, the repetitions, the stretching, the sparring, the sweating for you.

And the art won't save you either. BJJ, Muay Thai, Wing Chun, FSD, JKD, etc... No matter what t-shirt you wear there's work to be done.

Remember Martial Arts Training is a Journey.

More specifically, YOUR journey.

You only have one person to thank at the end of the day, at the end of the year or at the end of a decade or more practicing martial arts.

Yourself.

There's a saying that goes: "Self-taught Men make great Men" (Substitute men for women for all the strong women on my list!)

Think of the Wayne Gretzkys, the Benjamin Franklins, The Bruce Lees and the list is endless.

Being Self-Taught doesn't mean you never had any coaches or influencial people in your life, it just means you took responsability for your development, made lots of mistakes which gave you alot of experience, shaped your character, and confirms you are highly motivated and eager to learn.

This falls perfectly in line with one of Bruce Lee's famous quotes: "Absorb what is useful, Reject what is useless and add specifically what is your own."

Fang Shen Do is a living example of that philosophy.

Always evolving, always learning, and never stuck in the past.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

What and by When ?

I remember a time when writing goals just before the new year was all about the WHAT.

My lists were long and detailed.

I had a clear vision of where I was going. Or was I?

Without a deadline, without the question WHEN, you're just shooting in the dark.

We all understand deadlines when it comes to work but sometimes fail to apply the same principles to our goals.

You will attack goals and dreams with greater intensity, passion, and commitment when the clock is ticking.

When listing your goals this year just before the new year hits, make sure to add a date next to all of them.

If for some reason the goal you listed is not reached by the set time (might happen with larger goals, the ones that really challenge you) rest assured having a target is better than not having one at all.

Reset the date to when you think it'll be done and double your efforts.

If you wrote goals for this year (which I hope you did), only you know how you did this year.

What a feeling to cross off a new goal or better yet cross off a goal that's been reappearing year after year because it never got done and finally, just finally gets realized.

For me this year was loaded with old time goals like that, goals that finally materialized this year 5 years after they were originally conceived.

Your mind, like a magnet will eventually attract the right person, the right opportunity, or the resources to make your goals a reality.

We still don't fully understand the full power of our minds but I do know that the people who write and plan out their goals are far more successful and happy than the ones who leave it up to chance every year.

Get clear with what you want. There is a tool we use to do just that. It helps you organize your goals by creating a detailed map along with the action steps to get there.

It comes free when you purchase the FSD Training Guide. Our gift to you to get you started on the right track this coming new year.

Get clear here.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

You might want to include this to your diet this holiday season.

You already know how important omega-3s are to your health. But did you realize that vitamin D is Nature's most potent disease fighter? And it's the one vitamin that you're most likely to be missing.

I've mentioned beforer who I trust for important supplements and nutritional advice. He's one of the leading anti-aging specialists in the world and I've been following him for quite some time now.

One of those supplements is Cod Liver Oil but not the one your grand-mother used to give you when you were a child, this one comes in lemon flavour, it's so easy to take even my 3 year old son enjoys it.

You'll get the world's safest, most reliable cod liver oil from the icy-cold, pristine waters of the Norwegian Sea. It's completely free of mercury, PCBs, and dioxins - with a pleasant lemon/lime flavor and NO fishy aftertaste.

Supplementing with Cod liver oil:

• Supports a healthy heart and brain.
• Lowers your blood pressure.
• Wipes out arthritis pain.
• Relieves depression.
• Lowers triglycerides (blood fat).
• Raises HDL (good cholesterol).
• Boosts your memory and brainpower.
• Lowers risk of macular degeneration.
• Protects your blood vessels and nerves.
• Calms irregular heart rhythms, which can lead to sudden cardiac death.

And that's just for starters... Vitamin D is essential for hundreds of operations and biochemical reactions your body performs everyday. It may be the single most important organic nutrient for your overall health.

The vitamin D you find in Primal Force Cod Liver Oil can:

• Elevate your mood and boost your mental performance.
• Prevent many of today's most deadly chronic conditions.
• Prevent bone loss and improve bone density.
• Treat the symptoms of depression and schizophrenia.
• Enhance the function of your pancreas.
• Increase insulin sensitivity and prevent diabetes.
• Help you lose weight.
• Make you sleep better.
• Give you more energy and stamina during the day.
• Significantly lower elevated blood pressure.
• Lower abnormally high blood sugar.
• Decrease bad cholesterol in your blood.
• Increase lymphocytic
• white blood cells responsible for immunity.

Without hesitation a put my seal of approval on this product and many others.

To get a few bottles for yourself or your family follow the link below.

Order Fish Oil

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin