Increase Striking Power

A common question I get asked all the time is: "How can I increase my striking power?"

It's a misconception among alot of people that you need big arms to hit really hard. Or that you need to bench press heavy weights and the idea that there's a corrolation between how heavy you press to your level of striking power.

When you think of it having power is based on your ability to move your body (Mass) through space with speed.

What are the major muscles groups and body parts responsible for generating power?

You guessed it, your abs and legs. (Did you?)

I don't care how big your arms, delts and chest are, if you have weak abs and weak legs you ain't gonna generate any power, yet how many times have you seen someone in the gym with big arms and pecs but small, out of proportion legs?

In Fang Shen Do we understand this concept, remember: you want to be powerful, meaning: having functional strength. Strength you can count on and use in every area of your life.

Your legs act as the main launch pad for all of your attacks, train them hard.
You need to push off the earth in order to generate momentum in your strikes and your biggest body part is your upper torso which is controlled by your abdominals.

Any striking action with hands or feet requires a twisting motion from your midsection. With that said, you better not neglect your core strengthening exercises also.

The Basic Strength Training Kit gets you in general overall shape and gets you ready for the next level, the Intermediate Strength Training Kit. It gets you on your way to developing your 2 best assets in your quest for developing power.

That's why our Intermediate Strength Training Kit is loaded with those exercises.
Get started today.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

Keeping the fire lit

I get flooded with training inquiries, requests and advice on different subjects. I don't always have time to answer all of them but I'm gonna answer one today. Here goes:
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Hi Sifu,

As you know I am a huge fan of your writtings. Here is a subject I would like addressed. I would like your insight on how to maintain the desire needed to be successful in Fang Shen Do. In other words, when someone is feeling like their passion for Kung Fu is "dwindling" and a person begins to second guess their decision about pursuing FSD to it's fullest....How do you keep the fire lit?

K
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Sifu M: It depends what's at stake. What kind of mental pact have you done with yourself?

If you haven't associated anything of value to fight for in moments of lack of motivation, quitting will be painless and common in other areas of your life.

I see it as a pattern that could potentially repeat itself in the future. Finish what you start. Do you usually finish what you start or do you constantly bounce from one undertaking to another?

Make a pact with yourself. Set the stakes high. For me martial arts is a wonderful vehicle to work on so many areas of my life. I don't know of any other physical activity that covers all the bases like FSD does.

Let me share what I use to stay motivated in moments of weakness. Well first of all I'm very stubborn and quitting something before its completion would be a direct hit to my ego, or the self-image I have of myself. It is an image of tenacity, determination, and success.

Quitting would be a direct hit to those core values.

Age motivates me. I don't want to be and look like all the other 70 or 80 year olds when I get to that level. I don't like what I see and training is my way to stay young and vibrant for as long as possible. Quitting for me is an attack on the quality and length of my life.

Where else is there a team of people behind you, supporting you, encouraging you to set new limits for yourself, a team that believes in you and wants you to succeed?

Find out what motivates you, what would really make you stick with your training?

Is it your ability to move?

Is it having vibrant health free of disease?

Is it the satisfaction of knowing you've spent years mastering your body and mind?

Is it to keep on learning new skills?

Is it having an un-breakable spirit?

Is it seeing your kids graduate?

Just find that one reason and keep that image in your mind, let it carry you through the ups and downs of martial art development.

No one ever said mastering yourself was easy. Everything in life is a test. Will you pass or fail?

I say Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

Progressive Strength Building

What a weekend!

We held our "Advanced Sifu Workouts" on Sunday.

It gave everyone a prequel to the Advanced Strength Training Kit which will be made available very shortly.

You will find it interesting to see how an exercise taught in the basic kit evolves and becomes progressively more challenging.

A quick example would be Pelvic Lifts leads to Back Bends.

Back Bends leads to Wall Walking.

Wall Walking Leads to Falling into Bridge.

Falling into Bridge leads to Kick-Overs.

If your workouts always stay the same you will hit a plateau. You need to alter the exercises.

Change the order. Increase repetitions. Increase time held in each position (set new records every workout), and make the exercise progressively harder. With our strength training kits it's built into the system.

There are millions of workout combinations and 5 different time intervals to choose from.

You might of heard the phrase: "Success is a moving target". Well the same goes for Fitness.

Fitness is a moving target.

It is not a destination but a journey. A journey I hope you commit to for the rest of your life.

To help you stay commited and always striving to be stronger, healthier and faster our strength training kits are available to be put to good use now. Pick one up right here.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin

It's Louse Time!

As many new subscribers join our list every week I want to explain what happens on Fridays.

If you've been on the list for a while jump right to the next paragraph. Friday is "Louse Time".
Where I share with you Life Lessons and Direction given to me by my dad (and Sifu) every Friday. It's a chance for you to have a sneak peek at my weekly tutelage.

Today's lesson is very important.

With it you can be happier, more fulfilled, and focused. You can also make better decisions. You can avoid waste in time and energy. You can really get what you want.

What do YOU want?

Today's lesson is "Know Yourself"

When you look at yourself in the mirror or you happen to be in a quiet place alone, you cannot lie to yourself.

Spend some quiet time alone daily.

Especially during the summer months there's no excuse to not go outside in the morning and sit under a tree or sit on the porch steps and meditate.

Turn your attention inward and ask yourself some important questions. Questions like: "Am I really doing what I was born to do?

At the center core, who are you?

Are you a doer? Are you a quitter? Are you a complainer? Are you determined? Do you look for excuses or solutions? Do you take responsibility or blame others? Do you see and feel yourself succeeding?

All good questions to ponder about tomorrow morning when you go outside to meditate.

For other ideas and meditation techniques you can get our meditation course right here.

Know Yourself,

Sifu Martin

By popular demand...

Yesterday I ran a sale for my birthday which has since triggered a flood of inquiries from readers asking if there is a way they can still take advantage of the huge savings (free shipping) and a free copy of last month's Inner Circle DVD we offered when purchasing a product.

So, in an effort to accommodate those who missed out, I've decided to keep the special offer until midnight tonight. After that we're taking down our free shipping offer and bonus Inner Circle DVD and newsletter (a 42 $ value).

The Inner Circle DVD is of great value.

If you're stagnating in your results and physical development, it offers unique insights about training you might not of thought about.

You get to see me Live doing all the drills I advise you to do.

I reveal some of my Nutritional choices to maintain optimal strength, recovery and energy.

It comes with a paper version you can read and study the workouts if there's no DVD player around.

The drills and exercises I show are usually reserved for the top instructors in our system.

You'll learn everything from weapon training and conditioning to mastering your own bodyweight to increasing flexibility the way I personally do it.

Get a sneak peek at the Inner Circle mentorship program while it's still availabale FREE when you purchase any one of our fine products.

Thank You for the support,

Sifu Martin

An Insider look into our Mentor Program

Free Shipping and a free copy of my Inner Circle DVD and newsletter (42$ value) for celebrating a Happy Birthday to...

ME!

Time really does fly by when you're doing what you love.

I know some people don't train or take their health very seriously which in turn actually feel worse and worse with every year that goes by.

For me, it's the total opposite.

Through staying commited to the martial arts and our physical training regimen I feel stronger, faster, more focused, and flexible than ever before.

Training the way we do will do the same for you I personnally guarantee it.

Go through our list of new products and get the results you are looking for.

As a gift for ordering something today I'll send you your choice (choose the month you want) of any previous monthly mentoring group DVD and newsletter that we call the Inner Circle.

This is where like minded people receive monthly specialized information on nutrition, special training workouts that you won't find anywhere, and martial arts skill training that I usuallly reserve for top instructors.

It's my gift to you for taking your first step (or ongoing steps) towards Mastery today.

Sifu Martin

Increase speed, agility, timing, and finesse

Do you know how to increase speed, agility, timing, and finesse in one training session?

If you're practicing martial arts, these qualities should be of utmost importance to you.

If you're lighter on your feet you can reach and attack your opponent much faster, doing this training will give you cat-like abilities and take your reaction speed to a whole other level.

Having finesse means that there's no wasted movements and every move you make is the most efficient one.

In this training I'm referring to, your timing has to be "bang-on" or else, technically you're dead!

You miss, you're dead?

Are you sure you still want to do this training?

I think you should.

If you train with that, do or die mentality, you will have an edge.

Just like this story my father told me about the master and student taking a stroll through the palace gardens.

They both spot a fox chasing after a rabbit.

The student turns over to the master and says: "The fox will catch the rabbit for sure"

The wise master replies: "Not so. The fox is running for dinner while the rabbit is running for his life".

Are you a fox or a rabbit?

Train like the rabbit.

That training I was talking about is none other than Knife fighting.

You can learn more about the Basics to conquering the knife here, filled with drills on how to use the knife to acquire super speed, finesse and agility and valuable advice on how to survive a knife attack.

Master Yourself,

Sifu Martin