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It can be difficult to use kicking techniques without doing damage to your own kicking leg or foot. Jeff discusses the details.
Podcast: The Martial Brain
The Martial Brain Podcast covers topics relating to the intersection between the martial arts, science, critical thinking, scientific skepticism, and that wacky organ that floats between our ears.
185 The Dilemmas of the Kicker Part 2
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Jeff continues his discussion of the inherent dilemmas for the beginner in the art of kicking.
184 The Dilemmas of the Kicker Part 1
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Jeff begins a series on the problems inherent in learning to kick well.
183 An American Muay Thai Tale Part 6
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Jeff concludes his series about his Muay Thai teacher, himself, and his journey towards becoming an instructor.
182 An American Muay Thai Tale Part 5
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Jeff finishes telling the story of his attempt to take the instructor test for the Thai Boxing Association of the USA .
181 An American Muay Thai Tale Part 4
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Jeff describes the notorious Thai Boxing Association Instructor test, and his decision to take it.
180 An American Muay Thai Tale Part 3
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Jeff describes the early years of his Muay Thai education.
179 An American Muay Thai Tale Part 2
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Jeff describes his misconceptions about and experiences with Muay Thai in the early part of his martial arts career.
178 An American Muay Thai Tale Part 1
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Jeff begins a series of episodes about his journey in Thai Boxing.
177 Come At Me, Bro!
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Jeff discusses the bizarre behavior of humans just before they fight.
176 Honor Thy Adversary
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Jeff answers a challenge from a listener in discussing what a college class can learn from a good martial arts school.
175 Weird Tales of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy
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In this archival episode, Jeff re-presents his first lame attempt at spinning humorous stories of some of his martial encounters.
174 The Evolution of the Martial Human
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This is the second of three successive archival re-postings, in this case from episode #52. In it Jeff discusses the relationship between our development as a species and as martial artists.
173 Drop and Give Me Fifty
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This is a re-posting of archival episode #34. In it, Jeff discusses the bizarre power dynamic between the commercial martial arts studio owner and his customer, the student.
172 Enjoy Your Self!
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Jeff discusses the importance of taking full advantage of the fact that you have a body and a brain.
171 Three Dimensional Striking
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Jeff discusses his history of training to strike from the ground.
170 Letting Go
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Jeff discusses the emotional pain experienced when a long-time student leaves the academy.
169 The “Ugly American” Martial Artist
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Jeff discusses the dangers of cultural ignorance and arrogance.
168 Momentum, the Dead Angle, and Filipino Triangles
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Jeff discusses the advantages of the distinctive triangular footwork of the Filipino Martial Arts
167 Vulcans, Klingons, Muses, and the Martial Arts
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Jeff draws on examples from Star Trek to examine human creativity.
166 Moving in the Moment
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Jeff discusses how to use principles of mindfulness to help you learn to get up off the couch and exercise.
165 Crystal Spheres and Reticles
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Jeff describes what it’s like to move through your environment as a trained striker.
164 Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock
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This is an archival reissue of The Martial Brain #23. In it Jeff draws parallels between the game “Rock, Paper, Scissors” and various aspects of the Martial Arts.
163 The Mass Combat Dilemma
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Jeff discusses self defense when more than two combatants are involved.
162 Weird Tales of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Part 5
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Jeff describes the bizarre behavior of a fellow martial arts instructor.
161 Didn’t History ALREADY Happen? Part 6
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Jeff FINALLY wraps up his series on the importance of understanding history.
160 Didn’t History ALREADY Happen? Part 5
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Jeff finally explains how recent scientific findings explain the collapse of Western Europe at the beginning of the “Dark Ages.”
159 Didn’t History ALREADY Happen? Part 4
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Jeff begins a description of how recent scientific discoveries help fill in the gaps in history.
158 Didn’t History ALREADY Happen? Part 3
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Jeff discusses the fall of the Roman Empire and the onset of the “Dark Ages.”
157 Didn’t History ALREADY Happen? Part 2
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Jeff discusses some contributions that science has made to our understanding of history.
156 Didn’t History ALREADY Happen? Part 1
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Jeff discusses the importance of studying and appreciating history.
155 We’ve Got the Enemy Right Where We Want ‘Em! Part 3
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Jeff wraps up his 3 part series on the military concept of “interior lines.” In this episode he draws comparisons between the this concept and solo combat in the martial arts.
154 We’ve Got the Enemy Right Where We Want ‘Em! Part 2
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Jeff continues his comparison of military doctrine to the martial arts, today describing the Battle of Rorke’s Drift.
153 We’ve Got the Enemy Right Where We Want ‘Em!
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Jeff begins a three part series in which he describes the military principle of “interior lines,” and gives two examples from history.
152 Turns Out My Sensei DOESN’T Know Everything!
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Jeff discusses the scientific method vs. “ancient wisdom,” and the importance for martial arts instructors of regularly updating their curricula.
151 Only Who is Left
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Jeff discusses the cognitive bias known as “survivor-ship bias.”
150 Photoshop Effect
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Jeff draws a comparison to a popular software product to explain what he thinks constitutes a “legitimate” variation of a martial arts technique.
149 The Power of Continuing Education Part 2
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Jeff offers some tips for organizing your work when researching a topic.
148 The Power of Continuing Education Part 1
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Jeff discusses the importance of continuing to learn after your school days.
147 Why Does My Sifu Do That?
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Jeff offers answers to some questions that he thinks some martial arts students fear to ask.
146 Stupid Chi Tricks Revealed Part 3
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Jeff deconstructs the traditional demonstration of the alleged internal energy called “chi” known as “The Iron Throat.”
145 Brain Myths
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Jeff discusses several common myths about the human brain.
144 Weird Tales of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Vol. 4
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In the fourth installment of Jeff’s miniseries regarding strange behavior in and around the martial arts, he describes the antics of a man we will call Sifu Wu.
143 Chuck Norris Doesn’t Do Podcasts
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Jeff gives us some real facts about the man behind “Chuck Norris facts.”
142 The Tactical Wheel Part 2
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Jeff winds up his two part podcast on one way that sport fencing organizes tactical thinking.
141 The Tactical Wheel Part 1
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Jeff discusses a traditional tactical paradigm from sport fencing.
140 This is Sparta? Part 4
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Jeff completes his 4 part series on ancient Sparta with the story of Epaminondas.
139 This is Sparta? Part 3
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Jeff continues his mini-series on the movie “300.” This time the topic is the poorly concealed racism of the film.
138 This is Sparta? Part 2
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Jeff continues to discuss misconceptions that watching the 2006 film “300” might create. This week he gives a more historically accurate description of the Battle of Thermopylae, and how the military skills of Spartans, Persians, and non-Spartan Greeks differed from the way the movie depicts.
137 This is Sparta? Part 1
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Jeff begins a new miniseries on the topic of the 2006 film, “300,” which had a strong impact on lots of young martial artists. In part one he discusses how the film over-idealizes the Spartans, and over-demonizes the Persians.