Today I wrote about a man who had a huge impact on me - Mr. Story. He wasn't my family. But he was such a big part of my life that I feel like he was. Mr. Story was a psychology teacher, made you take your hats off in class, a strength coach when I met him, and coached high school football for many years. If it wouldn't have been for him, I wouldn't be training today. I may not have even started martial arts. He shaped everything - how I train, how I think, who I became as a martial artist and a coach. My Foundation Challenge is daily writing so I can give back. This Substack is part of that commitment. Today's action step: Share a pic of someone who's had a big influence on your life. Could be family. Could be a coach. A teacher. A mentor. A training partner. Someone who's still here or someone you lost. Doesn't matter if they're famous or if nobody knows them but you. Drop the pic + one sentence about what they taught you. If you want the full story about Mr. Story, here's today's Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/tkdjreed/p/how-i-train?r=1xf896&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Let's see who's shaped this community. 💪

@Jolee Josephs said something yesterday that stopped me cold: 'My heart isn't in it right now. I feel broken.' And then she showed up anyway." That's not motivation. That's discipline with tools. Because here's the truth - feeling great or "in the mood" is NOT required to do what you need to do to become who you're going to be. You go through the motions sometimes. That's not weakness. That's the job. So what actually carries you when motivation is completely gone? Here are some tools people use: - Get around people who pull you forward - a coach, a class, a community - Train alone with music that shifts your energy - Podcast or audiobook that gets your head right before you even start - Breathwork to reset before you walk through the door - A non-negotiable routine that doesn't require a decision - you just execute - Reading something that reconnects you to your WHY - Accountability partner who expects you to show up Drop yours in the comments: What's the ONE tool that keeps you moving when everything in you wants to stop?

We all plan our weeks thinking those daily tasks build toward something bigger. But here's what most people miss: your weekly routine should CHANGE based on where you are in your cycle. I've got students 4 weeks out from their 4th-6th degree black belt pre-evaluation. They test once a year - that's it. So right now? Their training, eating, and recovery look completely different than they did 3 months ago. Same goal. Different season. Different execution. You're in one of four places: STARTING - Just beginning a new push toward something. High energy, lots of planning, building momentum. STUCK - You've been grinding but progress feels invisible. The middle sucks. The novelty is gone. APPROACHING - You can see the finish line. The goal is real now. Time to adjust, intensify, or maintain. SUSTAINING - No specific deadline. No competition. Just showing up daily and maintaining the discipline. Building identity through consistency, not chasing a trophy. Here's what I need to know in the comments: 1. Which season are you in - Starting, Stuck, Approaching, or Sustaining? 2. If you have a specific goal/deadline, what is it? 3. Does your current weekly routine match where you actually are, or are you just running the same play on repeat? Drop your answers. Let's see where everyone's at.

No wrong answers. Just honesty. Drop your picks below 👇 ☕ Coffee or Tea? 🍳 Breakfast or Skip It? 🥩 Meat or Plants? 🎧 Music or Podcasts (while training)? 💊 Pre-workout or Nah? 🏠 Home gym or Commercial? 😴 Early to bed or Night owl? Bonus: Defend one of your picks. Let's see who's got the best argument. 💪

No overthinking. One sentence is enough. What did your training look like in the last 48 hours? Did you: 🫁 Breathwork 🚶 Walk or cardio 🏋️ Lift🥋 Martial arts 🌀 Vibe plate 😴 Miss it completely All answers count. This isn’t about perfection. It's about awareness and momentum. Drop one line below and log your rep. 💪