Fight for a Happy Life with Sensei Ando: Martial Arts for Everyday Life

Welcome to Episode #125 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Killer Instinct.” Speed, power, and flexibility are all important, yes… but here's the truth– They're not enough! When it comes to surviving a real-life attack (or even just winning a tournament), you need killer instinct! You need to release your full fighting spirit!... The post #125: How to Train Your Killer Instinct [Video Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #124 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Stop Pulling Your Punches.” It might sound harsh, but most people are holding back… not just on the mats, but in every aspect of life. They're NOT maximizing their efforts and, therefore, NOT maximizing their successes. (Yes, including me!) The question is WHY?... The post #124: Stop Pulling Your Punches [Video Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #123 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Build Courage in Martial Arts.” Many people worry that they won't have the courage to fight back against a real-life attacker… and that includes martial arts students! It makes sense, really. You can build strong muscles and practice cool moves all... The post #123: How to Build Courage in Martial Arts [Video Podcast] first appeared on Sensei Ando. The post #123: How to Build Courage in Martial Arts [Video Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #122 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Yin or Yang: A Tale of Two Black Belts.” There are many paths to choose from in the martial arts… but how do you know if you're on the right one? Wait—there's actually an even bigger question to think about— Should you be... The post #122: Yin or Yang: A Tale of Two Black Belts [Video + Podcast] first appeared on Sensei Ando. The post #122: Yin or Yang: A Tale of Two Black Belts [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #121 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Hero Worship in the Martial Arts.” We all need teachers and role models in the martial arts… but can following a leader become harmful at some point? Is it possible to show a teacher too much respect? YES! If we're not careful, our... The post #121: Hero Worship in the Martial Arts [Video + Podcast] first appeared on Sensei Ando. The post #121: Hero Worship in the Martial Arts [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #120 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Use It or Lose It.” Some people say martial arts is like riding a bike… I don't! I say use it or lose it! The fact is that no matter how hard you train, you can't practice everything all the time, which means... The post #120: Use It or Lose It [Video + Podcast] first appeared on Sensei Ando. The post #120: Use It or Lose It [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #119 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Lighten Your Load – The Double-Weighted Error.” The art of Tai Chi Chuan is often criticized (or even mocked) in modern martial arts circles. Of course, much of that criticism comes from people who have never researched or practiced the art whatsoever! Typically,... The post #119: Lighten Your Load – The Double-Weighted Error [Video Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #118 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Get More from Your Martial Arts Practice.” You train hard… but are you getting everything you can out of your martial arts practice? Probably not! Don't worry—in this episode, I share three practice tips that will pay you back with BIG... The post #118: How to Get More from Your Martial Arts Practice [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #117 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Bad Advice in the Martial Arts.” You get a lot of advice as a martial arts student… you probably give a lot of advice, too! But is it possible that all of that good advice is actually bad advice? In this episode, I'm... The post #117: Bad Advice in the Martial Arts [Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #116 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “You Got This.” Confidence is a tricky commodity. If you have too much—trouble. If you have too little—trouble! Especially in the martial arts, place too much faith in your skills, you might wind up dead. But place NO faith in your skills, you... The post #116: You Got This! Confidence in the Martial Arts [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #115 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Be a Good Judge.” Are you a good judge or a bad judge? In the martial arts (and in life!), I've definitely been both. But as I get older, I'd like to think I'm getting better at passing judgement. Whether we're... The post #115: How to Be a Good Judge in Martial Arts and Life [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #114 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Driving Without Brakes.” I've done some stupid things in my life… but driving without brakes may be the stupidest! Of course, I didn't plan on putting myself (and everybody on the road around me!) in danger, but it also wasn't a big surprise.... The post #114: Driving Without Brakes – A Warning for Martial Arts and Life appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #113 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “The First Technique in Martial Arts.” Do you remember the first technique you learned in the martial arts? Was it a jab? A block? Maybe a breakfall? Whatever it was, let me ask you—would you say it was also the most important technique?... The post #113: The First Technique in Martial Arts [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #112 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Lessons From Being Choked Out.” When I started training in the martial arts, I practiced a long list of moves to escape from chokes. No air, no problem… right? WRONG! It turned out that there's a big difference between a “practice choke” and... The post #112: Lessons from Being Choked Out [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #111 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “How to Make Martial Arts Techniques Work.” You see a move. You learn a move. You try a move… …but it doesn't work! ARGH! So frustrating. The truth is, sooner or later, we all hit a wall in our training. We all get... The post #111: How to Make Martial Arts Techniques Work [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #110 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Close Your Mind to Learn More.” We all know that a martial arts student should keep an open mind, right? But should it stay open forever? Is it possible that you can keep learning even when you close your mind to new information?... The post #110: Close Your Mind to Learn More [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #109 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Panic and Pandemonium.” In self-defense, facing a single attacker is never easy. Now imagine defending yourself from 80,000 people! That sounds crazy, but that's basically what happened to me. In this episode, I'll share the story of a young, inexperienced security guard (that's... The post #109: Panic and Pandemonium | Self-Defense in a Crowd [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #108 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “The Hardest Part of Self-Defense.” I have some bad news–the hardest part of self-defense is something you can't change or stop. What am I talking about? Knowing how far to go when defending yourself. Here's the problem–bad guys have a plan. They know... The post #108: The Hardest Part of Self-Defense [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #107 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “The Art of Moving Furniture.” I moved twice in the last year—first from L.A. to Raleigh and now to a new place 6 miles up the road. That means I have spent a ridiculous number of hours packing, lifting boxes, and hauling furniture.... The post #107: The Art of Moving Furniture [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #106 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “It's Okay to Suck at Martial Arts.” After almost two years of hiding out from Covid, I finally stepped outside and joined a BJJ school. Well, re-joined, actually. And guess what? I SUCK! Yup. I may only be two years older, but I'm... The post #106: It's Okay to Suck at Martial Arts [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #105 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Waiting to Die.” My wife and I once found ourselves in a scary situation. Fortunately, we lived to tell the tale… so I'm going to tell it! Of course, you don't need to survive a scary situation to remind you that life is... The post #105: Waiting to Die [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #104 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Participation Trophies.” Awarding trophies for participation, as opposed to the actual winning of an event, is a controversial topic. But should it be? Over the years, I've seen the good and the bad side of awarding participation trophies… and the crazy side! In... The post #104: Participation Trophies [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #103 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Tools Not Rules.” Is there a difference between sticking to a routine and being stuck to one? YES, absolutely! If you've ever felt like a failure for skipping a workout or been stressed out for missing a class, this episode is for you…... The post #103: Tools Not Rules [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #102 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “3 Halloween Self-Defense Lessons.” When I was a kid, Halloween was a big deal. That's because in our town, you were allowed to “trick or treat” for TWO nights instead of just one! Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that while life can... The post #102: 3 Halloween Self-Defense Lessons [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #101 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “You Are the Dojo.” A few years ago, I made a video called, The World Is Your Dojo. The message—that you can learn anywhere, from anyone, at any time—is still a good one. However… …it's not the whole story! In fact, I'd say... The post #101: You Are the Dojo [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #100 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Throw the First Punch.” That's right! We made it to Episode 100. I say “we” because if you weren't here, I wouldn't be here either, so thank you for your support!

Welcome to Episode #99 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “You Are a Master.” Do you ever feel like a martial arts “loser”? Ever feel like you're so far away from achieving your goals that you might be better off just giving up? STOP! I bet you're doing just fine. In fact, I... The post #99: You Are a Master [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #98 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Tame Your Brain to Win the Game.” Are you too smart for your own good? Does overthinking get in the way of performing at your best? If you're like me, the answer is YES! My mind is so busy judging, worrying, and arguing... The post #98: Tame Your Brain to Win the Game [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #97 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Little Pain, Big Trouble.” Pain is part of life… especially if you’re a martial artist! But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to minimize injuries and avoid trouble. Those should be your first priorities in studying self-defense, in fact! Even though I KNOW... The post #97: Little Pain, Big Trouble [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #96 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Decision and Action.” It’s common in self-defense training to focus on the speed of your punches and kicks… but how fast can you make a decision and take action? Like it or not, no matter how good you are at performing your martial... The post #96: Decision and Action in Self-Defense [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #95 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Respect for McDojos.” Is your martial arts school a “McDojo”? Could that term of derision ever be a good thing? I say YES! If your school or teacher is helping you reach your goals and improve your life, then keep going! Only you... The post #95: Respect for McDojos [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #94 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Don’t Be Water, My Friend.” We’ve all heard Bruce Lee say, “Boards don’t hit back.” You probably also remember his admonishment, “Don’t think–feel.” No doubt about it… Bruce Lee was full of good advice. But that doesn’t mean I agree with everything he... The post #94: Don’t Be Water, My Friend [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #93 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Cross-training Tips for Martial Arts.” Actually, a better title for this episode would be, “My First Ballet Class!” That’s right! I started taking online ballet classes a few weeks ago. No, not to become a better dancer, to become a better fighter! That’s... The post #93: Cross-Training Tips for Martial Arts [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #92 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Shouting at the Moon.” Stress is a part of life… especially this year! The challenge—if we want to maximize our health and happiness—is to find effective ways to face and manage that stress. Is martial arts training one way to do that? Absolutely!... The post #92: Shouting at the Moon [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #91 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “The Dark Side of Self-Improvement.” We all want to make our lives better in some way, right? Unfortunately, it might sometimes seem that the harder we work, the more difficult and frustrating life gets! That’s because self-improvement has a bright side AND a... The post #91: The Dark Side of Self-Improvement [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #90 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “12 Tips for a Happy Life.” We all a love a list, don’t we? Well, here’s a new one for ya! To be honest, I actually compiled this list a few years ago thinking it would make a nice poster someday… and maybe... The post #90: 12 Tips for a Happy Life [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #89 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Living in a Lockdown.” The Covid-19 lockdown has changed all of our lives… but is it possible that it might be for the better? My old routine and training habits have been shattered over the last 6 months, but I’ve been happily surprised... The post #89: Living in a Lockdown [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #88 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Sensei Andrea Harkins. Andrea Harkins is the powerful voice behind The Martial Arts Woman—a blog that offers a female perspective on the world of martial arts. She is also a life coach, the host of her own podcast, and the... The post #88: Andrea Harkins Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #87 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Sensei Kris Wilder. Where do I begin…? First off, Sensei Kris is the owner and chief instructor of the West Seattle Karate Academy. He’s also the host of not one, but TWO podcasts— The Back Channel Martial Arts & Life... The post #87: Kris Wilder Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #86 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Sensei Seth Adams. Sensei Seth is a lifelong martial artist-—his first Karate teachers were his own Mom and Dad! By the age of 14, he was responsible for teaching kids classes-—a calling he still enjoys to this day. Armed with... The post #86: Seth Adams Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #85 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Ramsey Dewey. Fighters aren’t always the best teachers… or best communicators! So, it was a special pleasure to sit down with Ramsey Dewey, an MMA coach working in Shanghai, China. That’s right! Ramsey left the USA to open his own... The post #85: Ramsey Dewey Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #84 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Sensei Jesse Enkamp, founder of KarateByJesse.com. You already know Jesse… and you probably LOVE him! Jesse Enkamp was born into Karate family and has devoted his entire life to developing and spreading that legacy far and wide. Student, teacher, blogging... The post #84: Jesse Enkamp Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #83 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Sensei Jaredd Wilson. Who is Jaredd Wilson? Jaredd is the host of the long-running Martial Thoughts Podcast. For martial arts junkies looking for some intelligent and entertaining conversations, you’ll want to check it out. Oh, did I mention that I... The post #83: Jaredd Wilson Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Forms and kata… a functional, practical training tool in the martial arts or a big waste of time? Join me and special guest, Sifu Randy Brown, for a lively discussion on the pros and cons of forms training. We’ve both gone through through phases of LOTS of kata and NO kata, so I think you’ll... The post #82: Are Forms and Kata a Waste of Time in Martial Arts? [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #81 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “The Law of the Jungle and Self-Defense.” Can a smaller, weaker animal survive an attack by a larger, stronger animal? The truth is UGLY, but I’m going to tell you anyway! If you can handle it, I’m going to examine the benefits of... The post #81: The Law of the Jungle and Self-Defense [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #80 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Menamy Mitanes. You can find a lot of show-offs in the martial arts… Menamy Mitanes is not one of them. But he could be! Menamy has not only earned black belts in Judo and BJJ, he is a certified instructor... The post #80: Menamy Mitanes Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #79 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Two Teacher Types.” There are two major teacher types in the martial arts. Each has pros and cons, depending on what type of student you are! In this episode, I’ll share my experiences with both teacher types and offer my advice on how... The post #79: Two Teacher Types in Martial Arts [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #78 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “My First Fight.” When I was seven years old, my babysitter set me up to fight another kid in the neighborhood. Surprise! Even though the situation was totally ridiculous, the lessons I learned from that fight have stayed with me to this day.... The post #78: My First Fight [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #77 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Paul Read. If you don’t follow Paul’s work as a Tai Chi instructor, you should! Many people talk about expressing themselves through their martial arts training, but Paul is one of the few who actually does! I’ve been of a... The post #77: Paul Read Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #76 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast with special guest, Chris Hanson. Chris Hanson is a school teacher, father, lifelong martial artist, founder of Karate Unity… and a really nice guy! As you’ll hear, Chris is on a mission to bring the martial arts community together by training with as... The post #76: Chris Hanson Interview [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.

Welcome to Episode #75 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Talk to Your Body.” Question—how well do you know your body? If you’re like me, you probably think some parts are strong and healthy… but you label other parts as weak, stiff, or just plain “bad”. You gotta stop that! Whether it’s due... The post #75: Talk to Your Body [Video + Podcast] appeared first on Sensei Ando.