It still amazes me that in some corners of the martial arts world, people are still saying that lifting weights will make you bulky—and therefore slow.
Even more bizarre? These same folks will also claim:
“Weight training takes too long to work.”
But also, “Just looking at a barbell will make you blow up like Arnold.”
Let’s be clear: that’s nonsense. Unless you’re eating and training like a competitive bodybuilder, you’re not going to “accidentally” get huge.
And even if you could? Being stronger makes you better at martial arts. Period.
You Don’t Need to Train for Hours
If you’re spending more than 60 minutes, three times a week on resistance training, it’s probably more than you need. Efficient programming and consistency beat volume every time—especially if you’re cross-training with martial arts.
Injury Prevention Starts With Strength
I used to think that flexibility alone would protect me from injury.
So, I stretched all the time.
But I also avoided strength training because I believed it would make me stiff and slow.
And yet… I kept getting injured. Weird injuries. Like the time I threw my back out catching a 4-pound medicine ball. Why? Because I had no muscular support for my range of motion.
Flexibility without strength is a liability.
– Author
Real, functional mobility comes from strong, supported joints. Resistance training teaches your muscles how to engage, not just stretch. That improves:
Energy efficiency
Coordination
Joint stability
Injury resistance
Stronger = More Useful
Let’s keep it simple: strong people are more useful—to themselves, their families, their training partners.
If you’re stronger, you’re probably:
Healthier
More mobile
More durable
Less stressed
And when it comes to martial arts? Strength amplifies everything:
You hit harder
You move faster
You absorb impact better
“Strong people are just more useful—to themselves and to others.”
– Author
Where’s the downside?
How Strength Is Built (and Why Reps Aren’t Enough)
All strength gains follow the same basic formula:
Stress → Recovery → Adaptation
If you’re detrained, anything makes you stronger—even walking or doing bodyweight exercises. That’s why beginners make fast progress.
But once your body adapts to those inputs, progress stalls. You’ll hear people say:
“You just need to do more reps.”
That works—for a while. But if you want to go further, you need to be specific. You need real resistance.
The Big Four: The Foundation of Strength
“If you want to get better at martial arts, you need more than just reps. You need resistance.”
– Author
Once you’ve moved past basic calisthenics, it’s time to add compound lifts. Start with:
Low-Bar Back Squat
Deadlift
Bench Press
Overhead Press
These lifts train your body as a system. They engage multiple muscle groups, force full-body coordination, and build resilience like nothing else.
The Art of Manliness – YouTube playlist covering the Big 4 lifts and a couple extra.
A Simple Plan:
Learn correct form (get a coach or reputable guide)
Warm up properly
Lift progressively heavier weights over time
Rest at least 48 hours between lifting sessions
Yes, you’ll be sore at first. Stick with it—your body adapts quickly.
Training for Your Art
Once you’ve got a base of strength, shift your focus to specificity.
That means:
Keep lifting 2–3x per week
Add mobility work on off days
Drill footwork under light resistance
Use isometrics to strengthen martial movement patterns
Strong muscles only help if they support strong technique. Build both.
Voluntary Hardship is a Superpower
Strength training is uncomfortable. So is martial arts. So is growth.
But leaning into discomfort builds mental calluses. It trains you to:
Push past resistance
Delay gratification
Stay calm under pressure
That’s not just good for fighting. That’s good for life.
This is the same discomfort that helped humans build civilizations. It’s a superpower most people never develop.
Don’t run from discomfort—train it.
“Voluntary hardship is a superpower—and strength training is how you train it.”
– Author
Final Thoughts
Lifting weights won’t make you bulky. It won’t make you slow. It won’t hurt your martial arts—it will enhance them.
With strength comes:
Resilience
Speed
Power
Confidence
That’s not a distraction from martial training. That’s the foundation of it.
“You need experience to know the right questions to ask—but the humility of a beginner to actually ask them.” — Eye Square Martial Arts
Start Where You Are, Not Where You Think You Are
I’ve been around martial arts for a while now, and I’ve realized something: I may not have any natural talent—but I do have one advantage.
I can set aside what I think I know and approach training with the mindset of a beginner.
That mindset? It’s everything.
🍵 The Lesson of the Full Cup
Senior Grand Master Ed Parker Sr. once shared a story:
A potential student came to visit a master. As the master began to demonstrate some basic movements, the student kept interrupting:
“Oh, you mean like this?”
Each time, he’d perform his own version of the movement.
Finally, the master stopped and said:
“I’d like you to practice these two things.”
He showed the student two deceptively simple techniques and told him to return in a couple of months.
The student did as instructed. When he came back, the master asked him to demonstrate.
The student replied:
“I practiced those two movements so much… I forgot everything else I knew.”
The master nodded.
“Good,” he said. “Now you’re ready to begin.”
🧠 The Beginner’s Mind
If you’ve trained even a little while—maybe just enough to earn a green belt—you’ve probably started building a mental collection of techniques you think you understand.
Then you visit another school.
It’s different. The movements feel off. Maybe even wrong. And yet… something about it sticks.
“You can imitate technique—but you can’t fake understanding.”
There are always skills that transfer across styles, but martial arts isn’t just mechanics. It’s mindset. It’s movement with meaning.
🔄 Try Emptying Your Cup
Walk into a new style as if you know nothing. Leave your “technique backpack” at the door and just… learn.
Ask yourself:
🟢 What’s different?
🟢 What feels familiar?
🟢 What’s the intention behind these movements?
🟢 What strategy is this art trying to express?
There’s an odd paradox in martial arts:
You need experience to know what matters— But you need the humility of a beginner to see it clearly.
💡 Final Thought: Return to Zero
The more you grow, the more important it is to let go.
True mastery doesn’t mean knowing everything. It means returning—over and over again—to the beginning.
Empty your cup. Then refill it. Then empty it again.
“Cultural Preservation… with Bruises.” — Eye Square Martial Arts
When I started martial arts 20 years ago, I was a lanky, uncoordinated mess—about 6’2″ and 165 pounds soaking wet. I hadn’t played sports beyond the bare minimum in PE, and to top it off, I had borderline-high blood pressure.
In short: I had nothing going for me.
So when someone tells me,
“I’d love to train, but I’m out of shape,” it hits a nerve.
Right. Because I started off in peak condition?
💥 You Will Be Uncomfortable
About ten years in, I realized I was drifting into “married blob” territory. My grandma even said,
“Looks like marriage is being good to you,” which is family code for “you’re getting fat.”
So I joined a gym. I started lifting.
My then-wife wanted to join me, so we trained together. At least for a while.
But certain exercises—deadlifts, squats, dips—she found uncomfortable. And when she didn’t see results, she was surprised.
Go figure.
🧱 Discomfort Is the Cost of Growth
Martial arts are no different. You will be uncomfortable. You’ll struggle. You’ll fail. You’ll want to quit.
But here’s the thing: If you want something of value, you have to give something up. Time. Energy. Sweat. Ego.
Discomfort is the toll you pay for transformation.
Whether it’s the weight room or the dojo, it’s not about starting strong— It’s about showing up anyway.
There are martial arts from all corners of the globe—many with lineages that stretch back centuries or more. These arts didn’t stick around by accident.
They’ve endured because they work. They work in the context of conflict, and more importantly, they work for the human body.
🧍♂️ A Common Platform
People often claim, “That move looks just like the one from Art X—it must have come from there.” Never mind that these arts may have developed continents apart.
More likely? Similar movements evolve from the same foundation: the human body.
Two arms, two legs, a head, a torso. That’s the platform.
And with it comes some hard truths:
Cut off blood to the brain? You lose consciousness.
Restrict air? The body fails.
Push a joint past its range? It breaks.
It’s not about style—it’s about structure.
⚙️ Good Body Mechanics
A good martial art teaches you to move efficiently:
Without hurting yourself
While making it easier to hurt your opponent (if necessary)
It respects the mechanics of your own body, and shows you how to exploit the weaknesses in someone else’s.
It should also scale with you—whether you’re 18 or 80. If it breaks down when your joints do, that’s a problem.
🧩 The Big Picture
A good martial art should:
✅ Support your personal training goals
✅ Minimize risk to yourself while maximizing effectiveness
✅ Adapt with you over time
Outside of those factors, the question stops being “Which martial art is good?” And becomes “How well can I use what I’m learning?”
Even the most “effective” art in the world is useless if you can’t apply it.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about the art—it’s about the artist.
So maybe the better question isn’t “Which martial art is best?” But rather: “Which one is best for you—and are you willing to do the work?”
There’s a persistent idea in martial arts that there are secrets—hidden techniques, esoteric knowledge, or mystical wisdom reserved only for the chosen few.
Maybe there still are. I don’t know everything. But here’s what I do know:
Unless we’re talking about supernatural nonsense (most of which is B.S. anyway), there are no secrets. There is only physical ability and hard-earned skill.
🧵 Demonstration ≠ Disclosure
Years ago, my Kung Fu instructor demonstrated the entire Wing Chun system to a guy who just walked in off the street. A total stranger.
He showed:
The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd empty-hand forms
The wooden dummy form
The double knife form
The pole form
I don’t think he went over stick hands, but that’s application anyway.
“But isn’t that giving away secrets?” Not really.
If the guy was a beginner, he wouldn’t know what he was seeing. If he was experienced, he’d either recognize it—or he’d see something new and get curious. Either way, nothing was “lost.”
🕵️ Why Were There Ever Secrets?
In martial cultures, the stakes were higher. A challenge wasn’t a sparring match—it was possibly life or death. Having techniques no one expected made sense. That surprise might be the only thing that saved your life.
Makes sense… in that world.
🚌 The “Bus Test”
Here’s the real danger of secrecy:
If the head of your martial arts system got hit by a bus, how much knowledge would die with them?
Before World War II, Okinawan Karate masters often kept secrets locked inside their schools. Then war came—and many of them died.
So did their knowledge.
Afterward, the surviving masters realized: If you don’t share what you know, it can disappear forever. And so they began to teach more openly. The “Bus Test” was finally passed.
🧠 Advanced Doesn’t Mean Secret
The truth is, most “advanced” techniques can’t be applied without years of timing, pressure training, and precision.
A Jujutsu master could break down every piece of a move and walk you through it. You could understand it intellectually. But you still wouldn’t be able to pull it off without:
Repetition
Patience
Application
And a lot of practice
🥋 The Master Ken Conclusion
So let me channel my inner Master Ken for a second:
“Secrets in the martial arts are BULLSH*T!”
Train hard. Share knowledge. Leave a legacy. That’s how martial arts survive.
That was a question my Wing Chun instructor used to ask me all the time. For a long time, I didn’t have a good answer—other than I just wanted to. And honestly, that was enough to start.
I’ve always thought martial arts were cool, and over time, I’ve come to realize that’s as valid a reason as any. But along the way, I’ve also learned something important:
Knowing why you train helps you train smarter.
Having realistic goals keeps you focused—and it helps you recognize what you can and can’t judge yet in your journey.
🧭 Six Functional Reasons to Study Martial Arts
There are lots of reasons someone might train, but most fall into a few core categories:
⚔️ War
“The arts of Mars.” Martial arts were originally created for warfare.
🏅 Sport
Combat skills adapted into structured competition.
👮 Policing
Controlling and apprehending others as part of the justice system.
🛡️ Self-Protection
Using force to defend yourself from harm.
👥 Bodyguarding
Using force to protect others from harm.
🌱 Self-Development
Discipline. Health. Confidence. Coordination. The “everything else” bucket.
Understanding why you train shapes how you train. A cop, a soldier, and a sport fighter all need different tools—even if they share some techniques.
🎯 Align Your Goals with Your Training
When I started, I just needed something physical to get in shape. These days, I’m more interested in understanding and cataloging systems.
Over time, your reasons might change—and that’s okay.
But what doesn’t change is this:
Your training should match your goals.
⚠️ Sport vs. Self-Protection: A Reality Check
There’s a real tendency for some instructors to try to be all things to all people—especially when there’s money involved. But the differences between sport and self-protection are more than just surface-level.
Sport has rules, time limits, safety gear, and referees. The goal is to win without causing serious harm.
Self-protection doesn’t come with rules. If you have to fight back in real life, chances are:
You’re surprised
You’re outnumbered
You’re protecting someone else
You’re starting from a disadvantage
In those moments, you’re not looking to “win points.” You’re looking to survive.
🧩 Can You Have Multiple Goals?
Absolutely. You can train for self-confidence, get in shape, and maybe even compete.
But not all goals mix well.
Want to be a battlefield operator and an Olympic athlete? You’re going to face some trade-offs.
The important thing is that your goals are generally compatible. And that you’re honest about what you’re training for.
❤️ The Heart of the Matter
At the end of the day, only one thing really matters:
Know why you train.
Keep that reason close. Let it guide your training choices. And make sure the instruction you’re getting lines up with your goals.
No reason is better than another. But delusion is the enemy—whether it’s yours or your instructor’s.
🧠 One Last Thought
So I’ll ask you the same question my instructor asked me:
We’ve been cooking up something special behind the scenes—a lightweight, durable clip designed to securely hold your training sticks while you’re on the move.
I’ve been collaborating with a friend who’s a whiz with 3D printing, and after several iterations, we’ve landed on a working prototype we’re excited to share:
🔧 Designed for Utility
The Kali Klip is engineered to attach seamlessly to your belt or pocket, offering easy access to your sticks during training, events, or demos. It grips tightly and securely holds sticks with diameters around 1 inch—no wobble, no hassle.
Whether you’re carrying rattan sticks, synthetic trainers, or heavier bastons, The Kali Klip gives you hands-free convenience without compromising security.
🔄 Coming Soon: Slim Stick Version
We’re already working on Version 2 of The Kali Klip, which will support smaller-diameter sticks commonly used in Arnis, Eskrima, and Kali practice. We’re refining the fit, grip tolerance, and clip angles for maximum comfort and retention.
📣 We Want Your Feedback
Got ideas or suggestions for features you’d like to see in The Kali Klip? Drop a comment below or reach out directly—we’re building this for the FMA community, and your input could help shape the final product.
If you’re interested in being one of our first field testers, sign up [insert link or contact form here] and we’ll keep you in the loop.
⚔️ Built for Practitioners, by Practitioners
This isn’t just gear—it’s a tool born from real training needs. Whether you’re walking into class, prepping for a demo, or sparring in the backyard, The Kali Klip is built to make your stick training more accessible.
After intensive months of training, testing, and teaching alongside Grand Tuhon Nate, (along with decades training in the martial arts!) I’m honored to share a major milestone in my personal martial arts journey.
While I still have much to learn and refine as a Kali practitioner, Grand Tuhon Nate has promoted me to the rank of Tuhon (Master Instructor). He believes I’ve demonstrated a level of mastery in both training and teaching that reflects the spirit of our art. It’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.
We held a formal test on May 10, 2025, and I’m proud to announce the following well-earned promotions:
🥋 Promotions:
Brandon Scriver – Tuhon (Master Instructor)
Sean Ricks – Lakan Lima (5th Degree Black Belt)
Judson Finley – Lakan Isa (1st Degree Black Belt)
Congratulations to my fellow martial artists — your dedication, discipline, and grit showed through during testing. Let’s keep sharpening each other.
