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Thursday, July 2, 2009

Training with Gene Lebell and Gokor Chivichyan

As you might of noticed I haven't been writing recently because of something important.

You know how I'm constantly trying to push you to reach for your goals, to step out of your comfort zone, and really reach for what you want in life.

The same thing applies to me and my family.

We practice what we preach.

I'm in Los Angeles right now.

Only 4 days have gone by and I've already worked with some of the biggest names in the martial arts world.

And you know what?

No Attitude. No Egos. No childish whining like what usually goes on martial art forums and discussion boards. Just training and sharing.

And I'm loving it!

The best schools in the world are the ones who promote harmony between the different styles and schools and focus on one thing:

Making sure more people practice martial arts.


The very first school I visited was considered the toughest so I thought, why not start with that one!

Gene Lebell is the last of a dying breed. Before meeting him I could just imagine how the strongmen of old and the oldtime wrestlers would interact.

Imagine? No more.

Dubbed the "Godfather of Grappling" it was a privilege for me to meet and train with his students and get to roll with his # 1 student, Gokor.

A great experience and a start of a long term relationship with their organization.

What I like about this school is even within their grappling they do not limit themselves to one style. Not just Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or not just Judo. They borrow from all styles aforementioned as well as Sambo and Catch as Catch Can.

























Gene Lebell and Gokor "The Armenian Assassin" Chivichyan

My stay here is looking to be very productive and fruitful for FSD. I'll let you know tomorrow who I worked with on my second day here.

Stay tuned,

Sibok M

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Friday, June 26, 2009

It's Louse Time! Because it feels Good!

If you're new to my list of focused, motivated, self- starters, Welcome.

(if you're not new jump right away to today's lesson below)

Every day I communicate to you the best ways to train and the kind of mindset it takes to get results either in your physical fitness or martial art training.

Friday is always what I call: "Louse Time". Modeled after Bruce Lee's strategy in Enter the Dragon.

You know that part where he's having tea with the government agent but he's disturbed by one of his students and Bruce Lee tells the agent: It's Louse Time! The agent replies with his British accent: "yes of course".

Since I'm 6 years old that scene has always stuck with me and I'll be using that same strategy with YOU every week.

Friday is where I share with you Life Lessons and Direction given to me by my dad (and Sifu) every Friday.

The purpose of Louse Time is to challenge a belief you might have or make you look at your training or life in general from a different perspective.

Today's lesson is: Because it feels Good!

Often times people ask me how am I able to stay motivated after having trained for so long. Some people don't even stick with their fitness program more than 30 days let alone almost 30 years.

I'm here to tell you: "What I have done, you can do".

If you simply put in practice a few important words of advice as taught to me by my dad a long time ago, you'll never stray away from training or martial arts in general.

One thing you must implement immediately is what you do and think AFTER your workouts.

It's so simple most people miss it completely.

The worst part is it only takes a few minutes yet for many the first thing on their minds after a workout is:

Water!

or

Shower!

I'm tired!

Eat!

I'm late!

The first thing you should do after a workout is... Listen.

Sit, Kneel or Lie Down and just listen.

The best sound in the world is nestled in your chest...your heart beat.

How precious is a heart beat?

If you're a parent you still remember the feeling of relief the first time you heard your baby's heart beat at the first ultra-sound.

You definitely remember the first time you and your lover were pressed up against each other in bed after intercourse.

And especially after a workout, how precious it is to just listen and feel your pulse.

It screams out at you: "You're Alive!"

How great it is to be alive.

This IS what it is for me. After every workout, it's a reminder to always be happy to be alive, my time here is precious, my life and my health is precious, no matter how hard it was to get myself to train or whatever I'm going through in my life, I have a heart beat, I'll be okay.

It's this kind of association with training I have created, so you see, I have to train.

It doesn't have to be long, take a few minutes to listen after your workout and get fired up to tackle the rest of your day.

A training day like my heart beat, I can't miss one!

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

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Thursday, June 25, 2009

Talking vs Training

Which one are YOU doing?

My father always tells me: "You have 2 eyes, 2 ears, 1 mouth. Watch more, Listen more. Talk less".

It's a golden nugget of advice I've always followed and I hope you use it as well.

In martial arts as well as in life, in the end it boils down to what you DO.

Who you model, who you take advice from and what you follow through on, on a daily basis that determines the results you're going to get.

You should treat training as you would a job.

We all know what happens if you miss work, call in sick too many times, or show up late.

You're FIRED!

Only this time it will be your body saying it with low energy levels, moodiness, disease, and fat.

When you start thinking of your training this way it removes all forms of procrastination.

First, set the time you'll start each day along with what you have to do according to your martial art and fitness goals, treat this workout time as a job that simply needs to get done everyday, no questions asked.

Your body and mind will thank you for it.

This is just one of the ways I use to stay consistent when it comes to my physical fitness and martial art practice.

I'd love to be able to personally help you even more to reach your goals if you'll let me. I do this through my Monthly Inner Circle Membership.

Let's get to work together, sign up here.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

P.S. This group is filled with people just like you that need to be reminded of the daily practice and dedication to training. Watch as every month I give you some of my personal workout circuits, unique equipment to add to your routine and what foods you need to eat to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Test it out for one month and see what I mean. Inner Circle Test Drive

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Monday, June 22, 2009

Grand-Opening of St-Leonard Kung-Fu School

This Saturday was our Grand-Opening Celebration for our St-Leonard School in Montreal, Qc.




























It's always special to do these kinds of gatherings, gives me a chance to meet new students, gives the students a chance to be taught by someone different.

Some times the chief instructor of a school might say something or repeat a principle a dozen times to the students without it ever sinking in.

When that same principle is said by a guest instructor, it might click right away.

Don't ask me why but that happens regularly.

Are students more concentrated and listening better when there's someone different teaching them? Maybe.

Maybe it was what I was teaching.

The kind of seminar that instantly makes you understand where to press on the body to get compliance from an attacker.




























Pain is a great teacher as you can see on Vincent's face above.

What I was teaching was the Kubotan training.

A tiny little piece of wood you can rely on when the odds are against you.

Since it's so small it can penetrate through muscle tissue and ligaments to deliver enough pain to control somebody or cause massive trauma when the weapon is used to actually strike the different areas of the body.






















Mainly this weapon is used for control and personal protection. Once you complete the course you realize you don't need the weapon in hand to apply the principles you've learned.

Most of it is based on body manipulation and leverage.






Just like this section of the course where I explain:

"Where the head goes the body follows"

A critical element to unbalancing your opponent.

Being able to move your partner where you want them to go gives students a major confidence boost and hearing your partner moan in pain makes you realize not much pressure is needed to make it work.










Just like this teenager learned in the seminar, even if you're smaller you can still defend yourself against a bigger opponent when you know important lessons in human anatomy.




























Working with different age groups and different sizes gave everyone in the seminar a chance to adjust themselves and improvise what they learned because in the end you don't choose who your attacker will be.






















Think you might be interested in learning to use this innocent looking weapon?

Why be unprepared when you can have the tools to help you protect yourself or your family?

Pick up a copy our Kubotan Training on DVD. The only drawback of this training is finding a partner to work with after the first session. Ouch, It works!

Master Yourself,

Sibok M

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Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Optimist Club Celebration in Casselman

Being part of our community is very important to us.





















Here's Sifu Silvain, Sifu Patrick and myself (not pictured here) leading some kids through some drills to increase listening and concentration skills at a recent Optimist Club Clebration Day in Casselman.

The Optimist Club in Casselman is also celebrating 30 years this year.

30 years of helping kids and families in general come together for the greater good of the community.

Both of our organizations share the same goals which is why we quickly accepted their invitation to offer some martial art training at their event.























Taking the time to teach kids and their parents the wonders of martial art training was an eye opening experience for most of the parents watching.

It is impressive to see your kids stand at attention with perfect focus.

Seeing them strengthen their bodies with simple calisthenics.

Or getting them to increase motors skills and body awareness with fun drills that help build confidence.

I had a chance to meet an old Teacher of mine from High School. As we were talking we got into the subject of parent - child relationships and couldn't help notice the disconnect we see today.

Both parents working, kids being raised by the day care, quality time is reserved for Sundays at best.

It's hard to change this situation I know, most parents don't have a choice but they do have a choice as to where they bring their child for guidance and leadership.

Sports are great but greater is an activity where the child learns important life skills and where the main focus is on personal development.

No wonder our Martial Art program is so popular, when you walk into the school or when you hear the instructors teach, it's very sincere.

When I'm working with a group of kids I teach them as If they were my own. I want all of them to become strong, independent, confident, happy individuals.

Our Summer Camp for Kids is just around the corner. Many camps are offered during this time of year but few have the facilities and set-up that we have at our private training center in Casselman.

If you're a member or non-member and wish to have your child participate this year, visit the link below for the location near you, call them or e-mail your request to participate.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

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A little 4 letter word

It almost didn't happen.

The Focus on Results Seminar.



























It's a tradition to hold one every year at my Montreal, St-Denis location and have done so for the past 12 years but someone threatened this from happening again this year.

Bob Wall.

The F.O.R Seminar is always held in May of every year but since Bob was in town almost all of that month we were unable to keep with that tradition this year.

It's such a powerful experience, both rejuvenating for the people returning to do it and electrifying for the ones who are experiencing it for the first time.

It's a chance to recharge your batteries, regain focus on what you want if you feel like you're swaying away from your goals and it's a powerful metaphor for change.

Why change?






















I'm not talking about changing who you are. I'm talking about changing certain habits that might be holding you back.

Your success or failure depends on very specific actions and choices you make.

Success in the end is only dependent on how many times you made the right choice.

Not necessarily what felt the best, because we all know some choices we need to make are often times painful at first, that's why most people choose the other, easier route.

Deliberately failing to act on what it is you really want because of a little 4 letter word: F.E.A.R























Well, F.E.A.R during this seminar kinda gets thrown in a blender and taken apart to a point where you are F.E.A.R-less.

What would you do or start immediately if you knew you couldn't fail?

If there was absolutely no Fear and no chance of failure, and only followed your heart, how would you design your ideal life?

These are the kinds of people training in our schools. People of action. Determined and focused.
Not willing to make excuses or whine about their situation, armed with the belief that any challenge or obstacle can be surmounted and finally, the resistance you might encounter while reaching for your goals come from only one place, you're own mind.

If you haven't already done so, join us here.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Tree Grow Forever

Some guy didn't get it yesterday.

You know.

The saying: "Trim tree everyday. Change Pot regularly. Tree grow forever"

What I was trying to say is:

Spend time working on yourself everyday.

Like my father would say: "Your life is like a garden, positive thinking won't stop the weeds from growing, so tend to it daily".

Maybe there are weeds in your thinking resulting in a poor attitude.

Maybe you need to: "Chip away at the unessentials" like Bruce Lee famously stated.

"Trim tree everyday" so you can make room for more growth in all areas of your life.

"Change Pot Regularly".

This one is pretty straight forward.

You all know what happens when we get settled in and comfortable.

You stagnate!

Constantly make efforts to step out of your comfort zone to expand and attract new opportunities for personal development.

"Tree Grow Forever"

I hope you realized that YOU are the tree.

What you become, what you grow into, is your responsibility.

What a shame to live your life thinking you're a little shrub when in reality you had the potential to grow into a Giant Cedar.

With the right values and habits in place you'll truely feel like there is no end to your growth, you'll really realize that your life, your martial art training, is a journey, not a destination.

"Tree Grow Forever?"

That's right.

Master Yourself,

Sibok Martin

P.S. Making sure you are constantly growing is my top priority and main motivator. That's why you'll find so many products on our website to stay on the path of learning and growing, get started on one here.

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