Shugyo 修行

09/17/2026

Knowing a technique is one thing. Being able to use it under pressure is another.

In this episode of the Shugyō Podcast, I talk with Eugene Morales about Aikido for self-protection—and the training that goes beyond learning the moves.

Eugene shares lessons from his 17 years with Sensei James Nakayama, how he helps beginners learn to practice, and why awareness matters before a physical confrontation ever starts.

We also get into running a dojo: why bringing in more students wasn’t necessarily building the community he wanted.

Watch “Aikido for Self-Protection: Beyond Technique | Eugene Morales”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4RGtZPN0Xs

What has helped you move from knowing a technique to being able to use it?

09/15/2026

Last Saturday, Sensei Santiago Ardines, an old friend of Sensei Ty Aponte, visited us at the Defense Arts Center

Sensei Santiago is 73, but he still moves with power, speed, and strong kime. As the host of the Shugyō Podcast, I often think about what lifelong training really looks like. Watching him gave me a good example.

I wonder—what will my training look like when I’m 73?

09/14/2026

Are you training to improve, or are you training to fight?

Most of us train because we love martial arts. We want to improve, stay healthy, build skill, and keep showing up. But preparing for an actual fight is different — the training, recovery, intensity, and mindset all have to match the goal.

My conversation with Steve Milles of Five Points Academy: Muay Thai & Fitness in New York City. Steve has lived this from many sides — as a Muay Thai fighter, a coach of competitive fighters, and a strength and conditioning coach helping martial artists train smarter.

We talk about the difference between recreational training and fight preparation, what it takes to build a fighter, and how strength training can support the art without replacing it.

Check out the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHhFbCWwdf0&t=9s

What are you training for right now — improvement, competition, longevity, or something else?

09/14/2026

Strength training for martial artists is not just about lifting heavier weights.

In this clip, Andżelika Stefańska TigerZone - Trener Kettlebell / StrongFirst Master explains that real strength shows up in how you express power — switching from maximum tension to maximum relaxation, creating speed, staying stable, and transferring force from the ground into your punches.

That is why strength training should support your martial arts, not replace it.

09/10/2026

Martial artists often chase deeper stretches, higher kicks, and bigger splits.

It is not just about stretching, but about owning the range of motion.

Full episode:
https://youtu.be/d7tw0ZPm0ek

09/04/2026

Training for longevity is not just about doing harder workouts.

As we age, confidence, mindset, and proper progression matter even more. In this clip from Finding the Flow, Tori Brillantes explains how she helps older clients build strength by starting where they are — and giving them the tools to move better.

Full episode:
https://youtu.be/wSk72qwWrOw?si=vz2LN9gWPfh0-OdO

09/04/2026

09/02/2026

Why should every martial artist train with kettlebells?

That is the question we explore in this new episode of the Shugyō Podcast with Andżelika Stefańska , a Kung Fu practitioner, international competitor, and StrongFirst Certified Master Instructor based in Kraków, Poland.

Andżelika represented the Polish National Team at the Traditional Wushu Championships in China, winning medals in Shiyan in 2010 and Huangshan in 2012. She later became deeply involved in StrongFirst and Flexible Steel International , using strength training to support her martial arts practice.

We talk about why kettlebells can help martial artists build explosiveness, stability, mobility, breathing, recovery, and longevity — without becoming bulky, slow, stiff, or exhausted.

One of my favorite ideas from the episode: strength training should help your martial arts, not steal energy from it.

Check out the episode here:
https://youtu.be/d7tw0ZPm0ek

09/01/2026

As we get older, we need more muscle — not just for looks, but for movement, recovery, stability, and healthspan.

In this clip, Tori Brillantes explains why strength training becomes even more important as we age.

Full episode: Finding the Flow with Tori Brillantes on the Shugyō Podcast.

08/31/2026

What is 站樁 / Zhan Zhuang?

It looks like standing still, but Jonathan Snowiss explains how this qigong practice can help martial artists notice posture, tension, balance, breath, and structure.

This is a short follow-along clip from the Shugyō Podcast episode:

What Qigong Really Does for Martial Artists

Have you practiced 站樁 before? Let me know in the comments.