If a kid can do it so can you

Here's a picture of my 5 year old daughter fooling around on Malibu Beach.




























I guess if you're not a parent this post might not interest you but... think again, I think you can find something of value here, read on.

Before she was born I saw myself teaching her everything I could about physical fitness, confidence, endurance, flexibility, creativity, and fostering the many qualitites of a martial artist in her.

As time went by, me and my spouse saw the positive influence implementing these qualities have had on her.

Being only 5 years old, she can already perform Pull-Ups from a dead hang as well as Chin-Ups, while holding her chin above the bar for close to a minute.

She can pump out 100 squats non-stop. 25 Nose to floor push-ups. Run 400m in under 3 minutes. Hold a hand stand. Hold a head stand. Bridge her body nose to floor with ease. And so on.

In my line of work I hear alot of excuses from grown men or women for the reasons they haven't started to make their health and fitness a number one priority, or the reasons they had to put it on hold, or the: "I would start if I wasn't so damn busy" crock.

Bull.

If a kid can progress to a level of strength like I mentioned above, the same can be accomplished in your own training.

You just need to start and there really is no limit to how strong, flexible, confident, or self-determined you can be.

What really happpens between childhood and adulthood?

Where does the enthusiasm go to?

It's still there but I think it's misdirected into things that drain you of energy compared to being revitalized by them.

The best way to start recharging your batteries is by engaging in daily activity and following a proven system to get amazing results.

These strategies are the same I've used with my own kids to help build their level of fitness to where it is today.

Let's get started now.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

It's Louse Time! The Calm after the Storm

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.

Today's lesson is: The Calm after the Storm

I have a very fond memory of being 6 years old and cooling down and meditating after a kung-fu class.

My father explaining to us to: "Never, ever forget this feeling you have after your training. You'll need to recall on it at different points in your training life if you're ever going to accomplish any worth while goal in the martial arts."

No matter how much you don't feel like training on a certain day or you're just distracted or busy with other things in your life, think of how good you feel after your workout and how you want to re-live that sense of accomplishment, positive energy, and emotional release over and over again.

Sometimes getting yourself to train or making it through a tough workout might feel like being caught in a storm.

No matter which obstacles you have to go through, whether created by you by ways of negative self-talk and making excuses to skip a workout or the actual difficulty of the routine you're following, there is calmness, joy, bliss, and a deep connection with yourself which occurs after each workout.

That's why I never miss workouts and you shouldn't either, what you lose by not attending and completing them cost you...

YOU.

A chance to reflect on you. There is no B-S'ing yourself. You KNOW if you gave it all you had or slacked off. You feel if you've been consistent in your training by how you feel after them: strong and rejuvenated or weak and struggling.

A chance to listen to your heartbeat and feel the pulse of your life.

Do not miss workouts or martial art class it keeps you young, vibrant, and on the path of mastery.

Sibok M


P.S. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to learn more about the Fang Shen Do Conditoning program and actually get started with it, here's the quickest way to do that: Start Now!

How long can YOU concentrate?

You might of heard about the way martial art training can help kids with ADD and ADHD, so much so that there's no longer a need for them to take Ritalin or any other mind altering drugs after having started classes.

If it can do that for a kid that has an attention deficit or suffers from hyper-activity, imagine what it can do for children who don't need help in that area? It will give them an edge in all sport related activities, boost their confidence and sharpen their mind dramatically.

When we hear about ADD and ADHD, the common belief is that kids are the only ones who suffer from it right?

No.

How long can YOU concentrate?

Good Question.

"The inability to concentrate or to stay concentrated" has been popping up in my different meetings with prospective students lately.

How much more could you get done if you had total focus?

The power of focus helps you enjoy and appreciate the present moment without interruption.

It helps achieve short and long term goals.

It makes for higher quality workouts completed in less time.

Focus keeps you out of a trance state, can you imagine, many drivers on the road today can't quite recall their trip to work, as if in a daze, got distracted and drove on auto-pilot to their destination. How's that for road safety? Has that ever happened to you?

There are many things distracting us in our life. Taking the time to train your concentration & focus can save your life, helps you achieve what you want to achieve, increases awareness both physical and mental, helps you relax and express gratitude for that one thing we can't live without...

That ONE BREATH.

Not two, not three breaths at a time but ONE breath. We all take one precious breath at a time and most of us forget to pay attention to it.

That's why meditation is so good for you. It helps you just stop and realize how good it is to be alive.

If you're meditating daily (doesn't have to be very long and there exists many ways to meditate without no one ever knowing what you're really doing) stress just seems to melt away and keeps you in a constant state of happiness. You can't help but feel that way, after all, us being here is a gift and meditation reminds us of that.

Sounds interesting?

Would you like to know more?

Here's a great way to get started.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

New School in Ville Ste-Catherine, Quebec

People living in the South Shore of Montreal will be happy to know we are expanding our network of schools in your area.

Ville Ste-Catherine will be home to our most recent addition of locations to help serve you better.

In charge of the school will be, originally a Tae Kwon Do Black Belt, Marc Beauchamp who made the switch after his first Fang Shen Do class at the St-Denis Montreal Location almost 7 years ago.

Now FSD Black Belt and nearing Sifu Level, he'll be assisted by Samuel Gagnon, one of his top students.

Marc is a perfect example of putting the lessons of FSD to work. Since I've known him, he's always done what he said he was going to do. He makes no excuses for himself. Exhibits great confidence and cares about his students' development.

If you live in the Ville Ste-Catherine area and want a new challenge, a different approach to martial arts training, and need to get physically fit fast, you'll soon be able to register on-line for a free VIP pass for one month of free classes.

You'll find the "Ville Ste-Catherine" link in our "Schools" section tomorrow.

Always growing!

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

Bruce Lee Philosophy

I'm still sorting out pictures from my trip to LA.

Here's one taken at Richard Bustillo's school in the south bay.
A special hand written note from Bruce Lee:
"Simplicity is the end of art, the beginning of nature"

























I particularly like this statement as it clearly defines where I, and hopefully, YOU want to be.

Whether in martial arts or in life, reaching a point where everything flows.

To transition from TRYING to be a martial artist to just BEING a martial artist.

When it comes to performing techniques they become as natural as walking. Strengthening your mind to a point where giving up is not an option. Acquiring the ability to focus and take action without giving in to distractions realizing control over your will is the supreme court over all departments of your mind.

To understand your emotions are both negative and positive, learning to capitalize on the positive ones while transforming the negative emotions into useful action.

Finding pleasure in intense exercise and being committed to it all your life.

Stay on the path of mastery, self-conquest is the greatest of victories.

Martial Artists are a special breed of people, be proud to call yourself one.

Sibok M

An important training secret

I was browsing some old pictures the other day and came upon a few of them that brought back some interesting memories.






















One of them was a picture of my dad doing one-arm 2 finger push-ups back in 1977.


I remember thinking when I first saw that picture: "How am I ever going to do that?"


Or trying to do them in my basement when I was just a little kid and failing miserably, thinking my fingers were going to crack and bend backwards at the knuckles.


"How could I ever become strong enough to lift my own bodyweight on two little fingers?"


Many factors contributed to me eventually being able to perform this feat of strength, like following my father's advice, but there's also one thing that most people forget to include in their training.


Chances are YOU have forgotten to implement this critical component in your training.


Whenever you reach a level where you can easily perform a said exercise, you have to ask yourself: "What's next?"

If you're working with weights it has to be an increase in weight.

If you're running you have to cut your run time by 'X' time.

The same is true with bodyweight exercises like the ones we incorporate in our Fang Shen Do training.

This mentality is built into our training system and that's why it's such an effective way to train.

If you're not already training with our Basic Strength Training Kit, what are you waiting for?

If you already own the Basic System for the past 12 weeks why haven't you gotten the Intermediate level?

Your strength and endurance depends on it. Keep the ball rolling. Force your body to adapt by constantly challenging it.

There's just no other way to progress and get stronger but by asking yourself: "what's next?"

Put yourself to the test and see what kind of results you can get, you never know, with the right intensity and consistency doing those 2 finger push-ups just might become too easy and leave you asking the inevitable question.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

P.S. Instead of figuring it out by yourself and spending years refining and deciding which exercises are best to build upon so you keep on progressing why not just pick up one of our Strength Training Kits today. Easiest thing you'll ever do.

Fight Night Coming Soon

Last Friday our Laval Kung-Fu School hosted a Sanshou/Kickboxing Seminar headed by Sifu Patrick Marcil.

Some of the participants used this opportunity to prepare for our upcoming Fight Night on Sept. 26th in Casselman at the JR Brisson Complex.


















If you live close to this venue, tickets for the event can be purchased by using this link.

12 matches are already scheduled with a few more waiting last minute confirmation.

Watch as Sanshou rules makes for more electrifying matches with the combination of punching, kicking and throwing techniques.

If you're still on the fence to actually getting started practicing martial arts, this will be the best way to get a feel of what you could do, the skill you could have and the benefits you will reap from training in the martial arts.

See you there!

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

It's Louse time! Single Most Important Quality

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.

Today's lesson revolves around the single most important quality you need to develop.

Without it you can't accomplish anything worthwhile.

Once you've acquired it, it will improve every area of your life.

Through martial art practice this quality is harvested early on in your training.

Armed with this quality there's nothing you can't accomplish or excel in.

I'm talking about Self-Confidence.

Think about it.

If you had total confidence in yourself, what would you NOT do?

From a physical standpoint, if you had confidence in your capabilities and felt like you mastered your body through martial art training and you knew you were strong, coordinated, flexible and agile, you wouldn't shy away from any physical activity or sport.

If you had total confidence knowing you could protect yourself, would you travel more and see the world?

What if you had complete emotional confidence?

Feeling unafraid of criticism, failure, doing things differently, standing up for what you believe in?

You don't grow unless you step out of your comfort zone.

You know what? Confidence is not permanent.

You constantly need to work on it, chase it relentlessly and not lose it.

Keep challenging yourself. Stay sharp. Get the edge.

Boost your confidence by attending our next Firewalking event held on October 25th. , finally acquire the piece of the puzzle that makes everything happen no matter what field you're in.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

Share in this celebration

It's been 25 years today since my parents had a near death motorcycle accident that left my mother in the hospital for 3 months, my dad in charge of raising 4 kids on his own and the future of my family was up in limbo.

As is customary, every year my parents go on a bike ride this very day to prove to themselves that what happened that day was just a fluke accident and in no way would it stop them from enjoying the open road and the freedom associated with riding a motorcycle for years to come.

It reminds me and I hope it does you, that whatever happens to us in our life, whether good or bad, in the end we choose to give it power or we simply move along unaffected by it.

You can be so grateful for the little things in your life or be so caught up as to miss them.

Which one will it be?

When you go to bed tonight express some gratitude for the health you have and the people who are dear to you.

Attack each day with enthusiasm and passion.

We're so happy to be able to offer you quality products and be able to help you in some way through the practice of martial arts. Today is a special day for my parents.

It's a reminder to celebrate life.

We're extending that gratitude to you in the form of a sale.

25 years ago my parents were blessed to survive and be given a second chance, so please enjoy a 25% discount on any of our products today until midnight tomorrow.

You just need to punch in: LIFE in the coupon box at check out.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

You tried but failed

Yesterday my daughter, like so many other 5 year olds, had a breakthrough.

You've all experienced it at different stages in your life.

You tried but failed.

You got hurt but still you persisted.

You felt fear but plunged ahead.

At some point you needed someone for guidance and when no one was there you trusted your own instincts.

Funny how, throughout the different stages of our life, different experiences and situations call for the same qualities you needed to apply to ride your bike all by yourself.

For a 5 year old, riding a bike is one of the scariest things you could ever do. But still we all end up riding one.

So why do some people end up being in the best shape of their life while others struggle in that department?

Why do some people seem to attract what they want effortlessly while others repel it?

The same can be said about relationships, careers, martial art skill, financial independence, happiness, being fulfilled, etc...

Whatever you want to accomplish, the potential is there. The seed of greatness, discipline and self-determination resides in all of us, it's your willingness to hop back on the bike even after you've fallen that will make the difference.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

P.S. Learn how to harness the power that resides in you by attending our next Firewalk event held on October 25th at 7:00 pm. Sign up for it here.

American Idol with a Martial Art Twist

This week I wanted to wrap up some of the posts I was meaning to complete while in L.A.

It's important to me to "practice what I preach".

Naturally, when I encourage you to act in spite of fear, or to stay on the path of mastery, or even forcing you to step out of your comfort zone, I myself need to be constantly doing that.

While in L.A my friend Sifu Brian gave me a heads up about an Audition happening at the Kodak Theater (where the Oscars are held every year) for the next Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie coming out in 2011.

They were auditioning for a special Foot Clan Stealth Team in the upcoming movie.

It was the same as "American Idol" or "So you think you can dance" audition shows with a martial art twist.

So imagine stepping in front of 4 judges which included Ernie Reyes Jr and the movie's executive producers and add about 1000 spectators watching from the sideline while 700 other fellow auditioners look at you as you perform a quick 30 second demo, showcasing your skills.

Stepping out of your comfort zone?

Tell me about it.

I went there with no expectations, just for the fun of it and to test myself.

Result?

Had a blast.

Felt good to feel some nervousness and anxiety.

It forced me to re-learn and apply what I have learned over the course of my 25 + years in the martial arts.

It's always interesting to notice how FEAR always feels the same.

Whether you're jumping out of a Plane, Public Speaking, Making a Career change, or Sparring for the first time, the symptoms are the same.

Heart Palpitations, Dry mouth, Sweating, Self-Defeating Thoughts and Dialogue and so on.

With the right training, all of these can be controlled and eliminated.

Something that has helped me and I know it can help you is learning to Firewalk.

It's the fastest way to understand to "Just Go For It" and not be paralyzed by fear.

If you're up for the challenge, join us on Oct. 25 th for a unique experience you'll always remember during the times where you need it the most.

Register here.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

Training with Anthony Kleeman

While in L.A., most of my training was hand to hand and ground work.



























So when I finally got to work on my weapon skills (something I've been fascinated about since I'm about 6 years old ever since my father put a stick in my hands for me to learn) I felt right at home and comfortable working with Doce Pares Master Instructor, Anthony Kleeman.

It was like meeting a close cousin, many of the concepts and techniques were very similar to Fang Shen Do.

But taking from my own advice of having a Beginner's Mind even when doing something you're familiar with, paid off.

You must already know what the little phrase that kills development is.

It goes something like: "I already know that"

If you catch yourself saying that to yourself when reading, training, or at a seminar, make it a point to add the words: "But I need to learn it again"

It goes back to my point last week about reminding yourself.

How many things do you know but you haven't implemented or taken action on.

It's challenging enough to keep the things that matter the most to you at the forefront of your thoughts without also having the kind of "closed-mind-I-already-know-that" attitude that can stunt your growth.

Just something to look out for.

Master Yourself,

Sibok M