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Jeff discusses the role of stances in the martial arts.
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71 We Don’t Fight Like That Around Here!
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Jeff discusses the influence that cultural taboos have had on the martial arts.
70 Any Port in a Storm
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Jeff discusses a concept common among a wide variety of martial arts styles; positions where you can find a moment of order in the chaos of combat.
69 Them is Fightin’ Words!
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Jeff discusses common words and phrases from English that have their origins in combat and the martial arts. Some of them may surprise you.
68 Taking Down the Dragon
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Jeff discusses the many problems he has with the Bruce Lee ‘biopic’ “Dragon, the Bruce Lee Story.”
67 Martial Jocks Vs. Martial Nerds
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Jeff discusses the spectrum which is straddled by the intellectually bound and physically bound martial arts students.
66 For Worse or Better
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Jeff discusses the problems of using your own brain to assess your progress as a martial artist.
65 Respect My Authority!
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Jeff discusses the importance of discipline and respect in the martial arts, AND the importance of being able to perceive the difference between form and substance of discipline and respect.
64 Stupid Chi Tricks Revealed-Part 1
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Jeff discusses how the martial arts demonstration trick called “The Unliftable Man” is done. Hint; there is no magic involved.
63 We Have Met the Enemy and He is Us!
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Jeff discusses the importance of stress management as a means to live a long life as a modern human, and the importance of the martial arts as a means to do so.
62 I Don’t Think You Appreciate the Gravity of the Situation-Part 2
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Jeff continues the discussion from Episode 57 on the subject of fighting outside of Earth’s gravity. In this episode he covers fighting on the Moon, an asteroid, in zero gravity, and on exoplanet Kepler 438-B.
Yarger Fencing Academy
The Yarger Fencing Academy is contained within the Rising Phoenix Academy, but is a separate business.
John Yarger is the instructor of the fencing classes. John was a very successful competitive fencer for the better part of two decades. He brings his knowledge and experience to each class he teaches. He earned the title of Prevost from the United States Fencing Coaches Association, and has been teaching fencing at the Academy since 1993.
The fencing class is held on Saturdays from 10:30 AM until noon. The cost for one class is $20, and for a month is $60.
Children and adults are welcome.
Beginners should wear flexible athletic clothing, relatively flat athletic shoes, and a protective glove for their weapon hand.
Weapons and masks are available at the Academy, with the understanding that “If you break it you bought it.”
61 The Sweet Taste of Emotional Candy
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Jeff discusses and offers tips for dealing with the instructor’s dilemma of striking the right balance between repetition of old material and the introduction of new material.
60 The Arrow of Time
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Jeff discusses time management as it applies to the martial arts and life.
56 Honor in the Martial Arts
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Jeff discusses the definitions of honor throughout history and in a number of cultures, and how honor relates to how a modern martial artist should behave.
59 The Misanthropic Principle
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Jeff takes a new slant on the ridiculousness of racism, sexism, and homophobia.
58 The Mathematics of Not Falling Down
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Jeff discusses the physics of keeping your balance, when stationary or moving.
57 I Don’t Think You Understand the Gravity of the Situation!
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Jeff discusses the implications of trying to fight on Mars.
55 Trust Your Instincts?
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Jeff discusses the wisdom and the foolishness of following the advice of the old adage “Trust your instincts!”
54 The Price of Cruelty
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Jeff discusses the negative aspects of humanity’s failure to recognize the positive contribution of nerds.
53 If You Know What’s Good For You!
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Jeff discusses nutrition, toxicity, and the dose response.
52 The Evolution of the Martial Human
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Jeff describes the relationship between human physical and cultural evolution, and the martial arts.
51 Building Your Grappling Game
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Jeff shares his philosophy on the most efficient path to an effective grappling game.
50 Weird Tales of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Part 2
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This is the second episode in a series of stories of Jeff’s encounters with weird and eccentric characters during his martial arts career.
49 Play is the Thing
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Jeff discusses the importance of a balance of work and play in martial arts training.
48 Hacking Away at the Unessential is Essential
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Jeff discusses the logistics of building a martial arts game, constructing training schedules, and feeding horses in enemy territory.
47 Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
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This is another in a series of episodes describing logical fallacies that humans commonly employ. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc is the fallacy that if event 2 happens after event 1, it was CAUSED by event 1. Jeff ties this in with the martial arts.
46 But Mommy, I WANT There to be a Santa Claus!
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Jeff discusses the cognitive bias known as “motivated reasoning”. He uses the gi vs. no-gi grappling debate to illustrate his points.
45 Weird Tales of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy
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Jeff shares stories of strange and bizarre encounters from his decades of history of dealing with people interested in the martial arts.
44 Can Rocky Beat Rambo?
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Jeff discusses the peculiar human trait of hierarchical thinking and how it applies to the martial arts.
43 The Dunning-Kruger Effect
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Jeff discusses the being humble in the face of our ignorance.
42 Martial Arts, or Martial Science?
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Jeff discusses one way in which your creative skills can be applied to the problems that arise when quirky humans practice the martial arts.
41 The Dark Side of Genius
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Jeff discusses the potential negative features of humans with genetic gifts.
38 The Tao of the Perfect Collision
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Jeff discusses the physics of collisions as it relates to what happens when a martial artist executes striking techniques.
40 The Five Levels of Commitment
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Jeff discusses five levels of commitment in striking, and how selecting the right level for the job at hand enhances your fighting outcome.
39 A More Precise Take on Precision Striking
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Jeff discusses how to enhance the effectiveness of your striking by focusing on five factors that lend precision to your strike.
37 This Technique Always Works!
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Jeff discusses the cognitive bias known as “Confirmation Bias” and how it relates to the martial arts.
36 I’d Give My Right Arm to be Ambidextrous!
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Jeff discusses the pros and cons of “training both sides”.
35 That’s Funny, it Worked on YouTube!
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Jeff discusses the pros and cons of learning martial arts on-line.
34 Drop and Give Me Fifty!
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Jeff discusses the bizarre power dynamic between the commercial martial arts studio owner and his customer, the student.
33 The Way of the Intercepting Myth-Part 2
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Jeff discusses myths and misconceptions about Jeet Kune Do.
32 The Way of the Intercepting Myth-Part 1
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Jeff discusses common myths about Bruce Lee.
31 Zen and the Art of Revisionist History
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Jeff discusses misconceptions regarding the connection between Zen Buddhism and the Japanese martial arts.
30 How DARE You Question My Omniscience!
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Jeff discusses the culture of many martial arts traditions, in which asking questions is discouraged, and why he disagrees with it.
29 Stand Up Straight and Breathe, Grasshopper!
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Jeff discusses the REAL reasons for developing good postural and breathing habits, and how claims that these are for the development of Chi Power only muddies the waters.
28 Logic is Like a Sword
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Jeff discusses the value and practicality of the apparently anachronistic practice of training with non-firearm weapons.
27 The Golden Age Fallacy
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Jeff discusses the logical fallacy called the Golden Age Fallacy. In it he warns of the human tendency to long for the “good old days”, both in life and in the martial arts.
26 The Student Shall Be the Teacher!
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Jeff warns of the dangers of arrogance in a martial arts instructor, and describes the amazing power of the human mind to learn, even despite bad teachers.
25 Nobody’s Perfect, and That’s Unforgivable!
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Jeff discusses the dangers of making the perfect the enemy of the good; in life and in the martial arts.
24 Defeating the Straw Man
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Jeff discusses the logical fallacy called “The Straw Man Argument”, and compares it to some typical discussions about the martial arts.