Hope everyone has a great start to the week. I was reflecting about chapter 15 in “Chop Wood, Carry Water” and the comments everyone shared in the discussion afterwards. Between the ideas and philosophies of Sensei Akira and how these words can help us in everyday life, I believe they can help assist people to continue to move forward. Just because the mountain looks rough and uneven doesn’t mean it’s impossible to climb. The journey is by far the most important part and far exceeds the destination. I, for one, have experienced a lot of rough points in my life through culture shock, isolation and feeling like I lost my own identity. However, through the sense of community, I have been able to bond, connect and find my purpose in the crazy world we live in, day by day. I believe community is the foundational base to where everyone can feel comfortable in their own skin. To anyone self-doubting, just remember.. you got this 💪💪

Chapter 15: Rough side of the mountain We had a great conversation this week, with some great conversation from everyone and what they have going on in their lives and how they are overcoming the challenges of life. We meet every Sunday at 4pm PST, 6pm CST, 7pm EST. Reading the book is not required, the focus is on the conversation with the group and applying the principles from the book to our daily life. Comment below or message me directly if you are interested in joining. Hope to see you there!

Just click play and follow along. I guarantee that you will feel a world of difference and be glad you did. No equipment needed. Mobility is super important, not just for athletes, but for anyone and everyone trying to take care of their body, feel good, and move better. Below are some details on the exercises and whats actually going on, for anyone interested. This weeks focus is controlling your core while moving the rest of your limbs. Super helpful for strength in athletics. Exercises: Cook hip lift- This exercises teaches us to move through our hips, independently, while controlling our lumbar (lower back). This greatly improves kicking biomechanics and the ability to drive force in grappling escapes. (simultaneous hip flexion and extension.) Wall abs- One of the best core exercises ever. Trains your transverse abdominal, which is a huge core muscle that affects your breathing, rotation, and general ability to build strength. QP side kick- Most of us don’t actually move our legs from the hips. we swing our leg, but their lower back twists, torso leans, and knee takes over. this help us isolate the movement and do it correctly Reach Back- This exercise is in a lumbar locked position, allowing your upper body to learn to rotate correctly. This improves punching power and balance. While also reducing our likelihood of getting tapped to a shoulder lock. Seated roundhouse- We eliminate everything except how your core, hip, and legs are communicating while strengthening your obliques and abductors. This is a HARD exercise.

I am excited to announce our first giveaway! I will be giving away these supplements to the winner: - Micro factor complete daily nutrient packet - Opti-greens 50 - Opti-reds 50 - Full mega (fish oils) - Magnesium How to enter the giveaway: 1. Post something helpful to the group 2. Reach level 2 within the group 3. Turn on notifications to the group I will personally select the winner based off of who made the most helpful post to the group! This can be anything you have found helpful for yourself as of recently, or ever. It can be a video (preferred), picture (also good), or even just a written post. Just some ideas of what to post: - Martial arts techniques - Quote/mindset tip - Healthy recipe, meal, snack - Book you are reading/have read before - Life hack, tips or tricks - Etc. I will choose the winner at the end of the month so you have until February 28th to make a post, reach level 2, and turn on those notifications! LETS GO!

I love this quote. Those who are willing to dive into the challenge and uncertainty that comes with trying to improve themselves (the void) do not need to explain themselves to people who sit on the sidelines and watch life pass them by. To those who don’t see the value in self improvement, it may seem foolish to spend so much time and effort sculpting yourself into the person you want to become. Don’t let this stop you from working on the greatest project you will ever have: yourself. Jump into the void and don’t worry about whether people understand. Once you bring your dreams into reality, everyone will know why you were working so hard. Until then, let them question.