To be hard is just too easy
and too forceful’s my jam
so I retire to a garden of roses
slow down my wicked left hand
breathe out and breathe in
make time for the art of giving in
Hesychast by fire light
the candles and the joss
staring at the jointed icons
burning off the dross
baptismal fluid drowns
thirsty desert air
heat waves rise and bake
dense as rock I forget
the fluid that will slake
Roses wilt, sere are petals
fall, fall, fall
forgotten memories return
of my first initiation
of the following repast
and I recall the missing element
“Hey Mitch, what’s this poetry thing all about?” I want to collaborate with Blue Öyster Cult and I’m hoping the Öyster Boys will think this would make a good lyric.
Did you know I wrote a paranormal/mystery/romance book inspired by Blue Öyster Cult’s lyrical themes?Click here to download it here for free!
The cover to my book “Chatters on the Tide” inspired by the music of Blue Öyster Cult
This month’s martial focus is sparring. All month long we’re providing solo drills to keep you sparring-fit during the pandemic. Week one, a striking drill. Week 2, a grappling drill. Week 3, a wrestling fitness drill. Week 4, a weapon drill and a two-part movement drill.
First, don’t forget that there’s only 1 week left for followers, friends and family to get my newest book for half price. The 50% off pre-sale ends on 8/1/20. Click here to get it before the price doubles.
Stickin’ and Movin’: Martial Arts Training Involution #218
Warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, or light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF.
Stickin’ drill. What is your everyday carry weapon of choice? Pepper spray? Kubotan keychain? Folding knife? Walking stick? Banana? Take a dull version of your weapon of choice and go after your heavy bag for 3 x 3:00/1:00. Get as close as you can to the same size and weight as the actual weapon and practice with both hands so that your practice will directly translate in a life or death fight. Here are some photos of my training weapons.
Training weapons — stand-ins for tomahawk, navaja, Bowie, etc.
Movin’ drill. Could you quietly navigate your home or apartment in the dark if you had to evade an intruder? Could you avoid all of the creaky doors, squeaking boards and popping stairs? How about your yard? Could you make it off your property in the dark in any direction without making noise, stepping in a divot, or tripping over a root? Start practicing today. See video below for tips.
Practice the Rule of Five. This month’s symbol is the Pentangle or 5-pointed star ★ (more about its symbolism here). After you’ve cooled down for 3 minutes, spend some time organizing your life by the Rule of Five. Divide a sheet of paper into two columns. Then cut the right column into four equal parts so that your paper is divided into five sections. Label the left column “Misc.” and the four sections on the right side, “Today,” “This Week,” “This Weekend,” and “This Month.” List all goals and to-do items under “Misc.” Then move three things into each of the blocks on the right, crossing them off the left as you go. When you’re done you’ll have three things to do today, three this week, three this weekend, three this month, and a slew of things on the left that are on deck. Work and maintain a list like this and it’ll change your life. For more on this program see The Hourglass Way: Transform in 12 weeks with Cabal Fang.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is a martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. If Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912) — is more to your liking, check out Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts, my for-profit martial art project. Click either photo to get started today!
This month’s martial focus is sparring. All month long we’re providing solo drills to keep you sparring-fit during the pandemic.
Week one, a striking drill. Week 2, a grappling drill. Now, for Week 3, a wrestling fitness drill.
Trial and Storm: Martial Arts Training Involution #217
Warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, or light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF.
Morgan’s Constitutional. My daughter Morgan passed her Constitutional Trial by completing this in 16:00 flat. See how many licks it takes you to get to the center of this tootsie pop: Medicine Ball Clean & Press (40), Zombie Squats (50). Bear Walks (25 x 15′), Crunches Legs Up (50), Standing Broad Jumps (25), Bicycles (100), Mountain Climbers (100).
Imitate mythical sailor Captain Stormalong. This little jewel is from my Bobcat Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble program. Get out your floor bag and set a timer for 4 x 3:00/1:00 (advanced players work through the 1:00 rests). Round 1, dry swim (alternate Flutter Kicks and Swimmers). Round 2, wrestle your floor bag (Hip Heists, Back Bridge, etc.). Round 3, Rope Climbs (if you can’t climb, hang). Round 4, wrestle the floor bag some more (Shrimps, Bottom Scissors crush, etc.).
Practice the Rule of Five. This month’s symbol is the pentangle or 5-pointed star ★ (more about its symbolism here). After you’ve cooled down for 3 minutes, spend some time organizing your life by the Rule of Five. Divide a sheet of paper into two columns. Then cut the right column into four equal parts so that your paper is divided into five sections. Label the left column “Misc.” and the four sections on the right side, “Today,” “This Week,” “This Weekend,” and “This Month.” List all goals and to-do items under “Misc.” Then move three things into each of the blocks on the right, crossing them off the left as you go. When you’re done you’ll have three things to do today, three this week, three this weekend, three this month, and a slew of things on the left that are on deck. Work and maintain a list like this and it’ll change your life. For more on this program see The Hourglass Way: Transform in 12 weeks with Cabal Fang.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is a martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. If Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912) — is more to your liking, check out Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts, my for-profit martial art project. Click either photo to get started today!
Friends, family and blog-readers only! Get my next e-book two weeks early for half price just by signing up for my newsletter. Click here to download it now for only $3.98! Price goes to $7.99 on release day August 1st.
This month’s martial focus is sparring. All month long we’ll be giving you solo drills you can use to stay sparring-fit (not everyone has sparring partners living in their households like I do). Last week we did some striking stuff. Today we’re going to do some grappling work.
Not a lot of preamble today guys — I need to wrap up the manuscript for Martial Grit and submit it to the publisher today because release date is Aug. 1st.
Shove and Yank: Martial Arts Training Involution #216
Warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, or light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF.
Three rounds of grappling dummy clinch punishment. Set a timer for 3 x 3:00/1:00 and get your floor bag or grappling dummy (or just stuff a big gym bag with soft equipment and linens. Round 1, put it up against a wall and shove, grind, push, cram, gouge, knee and elbow. Round 2, body lock your dummy and squeeze the life out of it with a good palm-to-palm grip and proper forearm cutting. Round 3, back to the wall. Advanced players skip the round breaks and press on.
Yanking practice. Put a rope on your floor bag or grappling dummy and spend a few minutes warming up. Reeling the bag towards you across the mat/floor, lightly pull and yank, etc. When you’re ready to go, set timer for 30 second intervals and practice yanking that bag with maximum aggression. Alternate 30 seconds of action and 30 seconds of rest. Imagine this is your opponent’s arm and really go to town. 5 to 8 minutes of that should be more than enough. Video below.
Pentangle meditation. This month’s symbol is the pentangle or 5-pointed star ★. In addition to symbolizing the five wounds of Christ, it symbolizes the knight in action, the unification of all five senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) and all five faculties (faith, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom). After you’ve cooled down for 3 minutes, set a timer for 10 minutes. Assume posture of choice and regulate breathing to a slow and steady rhythm. Keep your eyes open and do not fidget, wiggle or scratch. Visualize a five-pointed star. Do not think about it in words — just experience the symbol as it is in a state of calm and relaxed awareness. When the timer beeps, record what you did and what you experienced in your training journal.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is a martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. If Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912) — is more to your liking, check out Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts, my for-profit martial art project. Click either photo to get started today!
Yanking is a martial arts tactic too often neglected. Pretty or flashy? Not even a little. Elegant? Only in it’s efficiency. Brutally effective? Heck yes. Intro video below.
Allegorically…
Nobody likes being pushed and yet, in martial arts as well as in life, pushing is the norm. Parents push kids, spouses push spouses, bosses push employees, and so on. Pulling, on the other hand, often works better if you have the patience.
Extend your hand and people will usually take it. Give it a gentle pull and they will walk with you. Wait for an employee to step up and then pull them into a project and you will get far better results than if you pushed. Create an opportunity vacuum and pull collaborators into the open space.
In martial arts, if you are patient, wait for your opponent to push and then give a yank. Then watch what happens.
Morally…
Moralizing — a.k.a. “finger-wagging” — is as old as time. Interestingly, despite the fact that it doesn’t work, everybody hates it, and God said not to do it, holier-than-thou behavior is never out of style.
Here’s the thing: people are really smart, and they copy other people who are smart, successful and worthy of admiration. The best way to get people to clean up their behavior is to shut your mouth and focus on cleaning up your own. Pull other people in the right direction, like moons pulled into a planet’s orbit by gravity. Everybody will be happier including you.
and Mystically
Something that pulls without touching is called alluring which has the same root as lure. A lure is of course a thing used to get a fish on the line so that you can pull it in. So, to pull you into the project that my son and I started this past weekend I’m just going to allure you with a photo set and minimal words. How’s that for yanking your chain?
[Today is the 12th anniversary of my father’s passing and during the project I was conscious that the date was approaching. He was on my mind. And I thought that if he was around, he would’ve really appreciated the mysterious thing that we’re creating. So I made sure to use my father’s tools so that he could be in the project with us. Rest easy Pop, thanks for the help!]
Cement mixing
The banh mi (Thai sub) and shirimp chips I ate after we finished working for the day. Outstanding!
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is a martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. If Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912) — is more to your liking, check out Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts, my for-profit martial art project. Click either photo to get started today!
This month’s martial focus is Sparring and the spiritual symbol is the Pentangle. In the age of COVID, what do you do to in place of sparring and/or to stay fit for sparring? Well read on…
Oops, I almost forgot to give you this month’s constitutional. Breathe deep, you’re going to need it:
Warm-up thoroughly for at at least 8 minutes. Do 2-3 minutes each of (a) jumping rope (b) light calisthenics and (c) shadowboxing, forms, or light heavy bag work, or 8 minutes of MBF.
Wrestling Conditioner — impaired. To simulate having to fight injured, put your dominant arm in a sling, tuck it into your belt, cram it in your pocket, etc. and go it with one hand. Throw your floor bag in the center of your training area and set timer for 4 x 2:00. Round 1, circle the bag with good form. Round 2, take Top Saddle and strike the bag with your good arm. Round 3, Roll to Bottom Scissors and squeeze as hard as you can. When you gas out, swap feet. Round 4, let the bag rest on your your face and chest and strike as hard as you can with hooks, palms, etc.
Take your best shot. 7 rounds of “COVID Sparring.” See video below.
Contemplation. After you’ve cooled down for 3 minutes, set a timer for 10 minutes. Assume posture of choice and regulate breathing to a slow and steady rhythm. Keep your eyes open and do not fidget, wiggle or scratch. Allow your thoughts to dissipate like ripples on a pond and your mind to approach a state of calm and relaxed awareness. When the timer beeps, record what you did and what you experienced in your training journal. If you don’t take bearings and spot landmarks, you might get lost.
TWO MARTIAL ARTS DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE. 100% free and operated through my non-profit, Cabal Fang is a martial arts for personal development, self-defense and fitness. If Frontier Rough ‘n’ Tumble — the fighting arts, survival skills, lifeways and ethos of the colonial and indigenous peoples of North American during the frontier period (1607 – 1912) — is more to your liking, check out Bobcat Frontier Martial Arts, my for-profit martial art project. Click either photo to get started today!
Last week Mark Hatmaker tackled another one of my goofy questions and then wrote a blog post around his answer. In it he called me “Affiliate Coach Mitch Mitchell.” After a week I’ve finally untangled how that makes me feel.
My black and yellow belts, both sacred for different reasons. Ask me in person some time and I’ll explain.
I got my TKD black belt in 1989. Three years earlier I’d been 80 lbs overweight and unable to do a single Push-up. When I tied the belt on I was 155 and I could do fifty Push-ups. But more importantly, instead of blaming the world for my failures I was looking in the mirror. That was a turning point.
In 2011, after years teaching at the YMCA and Recs and Parks, I earned the rank of master from CMAPA. That was a milestone too.
But I set out to earn those those belts and certificates. The tangible reward wasn’t the goal, but it was certainly an expected part of the process. Money changed hands. Boxes were checked. Expectations were met on both sides.
But with Hatmaker it was different. Sure, he’s been calling me “coach” for some time. Last year he gave me the thumbs up to start my Bobcat Martial Arts project built around his Rough ‘n’ Tumble program. But something clicked when he typed out “Affiliate Coach” in that blog post last week.
I dawned on me that I had earned the respect of someone I admire, and it had happened organically. No written requirements, no expectations. It just happened. A seventeen year process that started with his godforsaken Gladiator Conditioning Program back in ’03 passed like weeks. And despite the sweat, pain and difficulty, everything involving Hatmaker has been at once extremely hard and somehow effortless.
And that makes being called “Affiliate Coach” more special than any belt or certificate. Thanks Mark, for things that can’t be put into words.
I teach free of charge through Heritage Arts , a 501(c)(3) educational charity offering free or donation-only classes related to martial arts, fitness, outdoor skills, and spiritual development. Distance learning programs available. Visit the Heritage Arts website to find out more, or click here to join the Heritage Self-Defense group on Facebook.
What is Heritage Rough ‘n’ Tumble? It’s mind-body-spirit form of American Rough ‘n’ Tumble, which began as a manner of no-holds-barred fighting in the Southern Virginia backcountry during the Colonial Era and has since grown, evolved, and adapted to the realities of modern self-defense. An amalgam of the varying techniques brought to America by colonists from all over the world, blended with the fighting methods of the over 900 distinct indigenous tribes, American Rough ‘n’ Tumble is perhaps the world’s most fearsome martial art.
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Robert Mitchell Jr. 