Attack Life, Not Others

Here are some of the topics on this episode: Faith, family, and friends The definition of “martial arts” Strength through relationships, tribes, and “villages” Keeping life simple — learning what’s real and what’s not Human hands are used in many ways and for many purposes Our hands can be used in a destructive way or in a peaceful manner Life is chaotic — we're on a “collision course” all the time — whether we like it or not Some of these “collisions” are good, some aren’t — but the better we get in navigating through life’s chaos, the better off we will be Communication in society today is structured where we are being removed from direct, immediate contact to avoid "bumping" into people While sometimes a situation calls for the avoidance of chaos, doing it all the time destroys our ability to effectively handle adversity when it arrives Discussion on the words "transference" and "experience" while previewing next week's episode with Marine Corps Veteran Anthony Droz from Outward Bound

In Episode 051 we talked about healing from injuries and dealing with pain. Tricia Butynskyi, MPT, DPT from Good Shepherd in Macungie, Pennsylvania is back again — this time to talk about the integration of the martial arts and Western medicine. We talk about the proper way to breathe, why our breath is so important, and more.

We’ve talked before about the importance of maintaining a high quality of life. We’ve also discussed how even though martial arts are rough and physical, training should not decrease your longevity. If it does, that would be counterproductive. Because, after all, martial arts are ultimately about the preservation of life — and with that comes life quality. Sensei Hoover talks about how he treats days that he trains a little differently. This includes drinking more water, eating greater nutrient-rich food, and getting good sleep the night before. Ideally, we’d be better off if we could treat every day like a training day. Realizing that’s not possible, we should strive for at least a few days like this per week.

In Episode 047 we talked about eliminating the word “almost” in order to become better, stronger people and have greater relationships. On this episode we talk about the opposite. It’s good to be aware of absolutes in life. With absolutes, we feel secure, safe, and strong. They are black and white, there are no gray areas. Absolutes are foundations we can lean on — pillars upon which we can build our lives. They provide a framework for everything else. Realize what you absolutely feel and know to be true. These absolutes will be your priorities. Your priorities will be valuable to you. Because they are valuable, you need to maintain them so they don’t lose that value. In turn, these absolutes in your life will guide you in the right direction and serve you well. “Are you absolutely sure there are no absolutes?” — Patrick Friar

Pain can be felt emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Last week we talked about how we all deal with adversity, and how no one gets by without dealing with some type of pain and hardship. Today we're talking about pain as it pertains to physical injuries, surgery, or overuse. Our guest on this episode is Tricia Butynskyi, MPT, DPT from Good Shepherd. She is the Site Manager at their Outpatient Physical Therapy location in Macungie, Pennsylvania. She has successfully treated a wide variety of neck, back, hip, knee, and shoulder injuries, as well as arthritis, neurological disorders, and work-related and sports-related conditions. Tricia has a bachelor’s degree in general science, a master’s degree in physical therapy, a doctorate in physical therapy, and she is a 4th degree black belt training under Sensei Hoover. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a weekend warrior — you will appreciate this episode. Key takeaways include: The importance of stretching How long you should hold a stretch

In case you missed them, be sure to check out the last two episodes where Mike Mittman joined Sensei Hoover and Steve Mittman. They talked about the struggle Larry Holmes had against the odds to become the Heavyweight Champion, how he was determined to fulfill his dreams, and what we all can learn from how he did it. This week's conversation includes: How hardship builds character When you give up on one thing, you start giving up on a lot of things We all deal with adversity — no one gets by without dealing with hardship The hardship Sensei Hoover’s dad lived with all his life, yet never did he pity himself "If you’re going through hell, keep walking until you reach heaven.” — Matshona Dhliwayo We preview next week's episode when our "resident" physical therapist joins us to talk about: The importance of stretching and flexibility for overall health A holistic view of our bodies — how everything is connected and affects everything else

Last week Mike Mittman joined Sensei Hoover and Steve Mittman. Mike shared his unique insight and some rare stories about Larry Holmes. He talked about the boxing legend’s struggle against the odds to become the Hall of Fame Heavyweight Champion we now know him as. Part of his rise to the top included being a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Earnie Shavers. But “The Champ” eventually realized to live his dream he would need to become his own boss and prevent getting “sparring partner syndrome.” The sparring partner mentality is an example of how consistency dictates results. We talked before about how powerful consistency is — good or bad. When a boxer consistently "holds back" in the gym (because that might be his job as a sparring partner), they tend to not be able to push into high gear in an actual fight. Although at that point it’s not necessary to hold back — that limiting mindset kicks in — as a result of constant repetition. This week, in this special several-part series, key takeaw

Larry Holmes, Hall of Fame Heavyweight Champion, is the topic of discussion as Mike Mittman, Steve’s dad, joins us on the show. Mike has a unique perspective and exclusive insight into both the iconic career of The Easton Assassin, and also the personal side of the boxing legend. Some of the things you'll hear include: How and why Larry became a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier As discussed in last week's episode, Larry didn't believe in "almost" doing something How Holmes turned a negative into a positive after Frazier broke his ribs while sparring The inside story of the severe bicep injury Larry incurred right before his heavyweight championship fight with Ken Norton — and the handicap he had going into that fight that no one knew about until after Larry won the WBC Heavyweight Title How to apply some of the spirit, the work ethic, and determination that Larry Holmes has so that you, too, can be a champ and not a chump

"The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter — it's the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” — Mark Twain We talk about Twain’s quote and how it can change our lives on this last episode of 2018. We must work on eliminating the word “almost” if we want to become better, stronger people and have greater relationships. Next episode — the first of 2019 — we kick off a several-part series with Steve’s Dad, Mike Mittman, talking about boxing legend Larry Holmes and what we all can learn from him. Happy New Year!

Tirun Gopal MD, is the Medical Director of the Department of Ob-Gyn at St Luke's Hospital in San Francisco, CA. After completing an internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Bombay, he came to the US in 1974. He completed a second round of internships and a residency program in the US and began his practice in Allentown, PA. Dr Gopal received formal training in Ayurveda from the Open International University of Complementary Medicine and the New England Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine. Having incorporated this into his Ob-Gyn practice, he realized that other modalities would enhance the care he provided. Dr Gopal is the doctor that delivered both of Sensei Hoover’s daughters, and he’s our special guest on this episode. Hear him talk about: Why we must respect our bodies by providing appropriate food AND thoughts too How every single sense should be involved with the process of eating How undigested thoughts are just as harmful as undigested food Why he purposely consumes very few calori

We talk about the importance of good choices, good practices, and quality rituals. The definition of a ritual is: “An act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner.” Another way of saying “regularly repeated” could be consistent. Two things that help us become more consistent are leadership and fellowship. Even though consistency is so powerful, results are not able to be observed right away. And because we are hardwired to seek instant gratification (especially in today’s world), it is often difficult to maintain and sustain being consistent. Being consistent means you commit yourself to a task, activity, or goal — and to stay engaged without distraction over the long-term. It sounds very simple, but it's not easy. And although it's not easy, it simply works. It's the most important factor in leading to accomplishment and success. Hear some of our suggestions on how to become consistent in making wise choices and developing beneficial habits.  “What You Do Every Day Matters

Out of an impromptu talk with a teenage black belt came the discussion for this episode: RELATIONSHIP It’s important to cultivate REAL relationships. People are in our lives either for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Learn the difference. LEADERSHIP Leadership is like an arrow. The arrow’s tip (the leader) must have mass behind it (quality relationships), otherwise it’s nothing. Find good leaders and mentors (ones with no hidden agendas). Follow them and emulate them. HARDSHIP Realize that not only WILL you fail, you NEED to fail in order to grow. Endure hardship. Know that there WILL be suffering at times. We must learn and grow (mentally, physically, and/or spiritually) from failure and suffering. Last week we talked about remaining calm to “weather the storm.”

If you’ve heard our show before you’ll know we use principles from the martial arts as the foundation for discussion, but in a way so that the concepts can be appreciated by everyone — even those who are NOT martial artists. Our show is intended for anyone who’s looking to live a healthier, cleaner, more vibrant, fulfilling life and become a better, stronger person. We continue to follow that format, however, if you ARE a martial artist you’ll really appreciate this episode. Sensei Tim Speiss, who is also a federal agent, is another very experienced, accomplished martial artist. He and Sensei Hoover, in fact, have a common teacher. For many years they both trained under Master Tim Hawk. They discuss how martial arts are seamlessly woven into the fabric of their lives. Hear about: The 45 degree angle principle to get a different perspective on things The hurricane concept, and how remaining calm when faced with “high winds” and dynamic activity can help you “weather the storm”

The Hebrew word Kadosh (קדוש​) translates to "holy" but really means "to separate" or "to set apart." Therefore, a HOLIday is a SEPARATE day — a day that is to be treated unlike others. There is appreciation, respect, and caring that isn't present at other times. On this holiday — Thanksgiving 2018 — Sensei Hoover and Steve Mittman talk about their blessings and blessings we can all be grateful for. Being thankful makes your life better in more ways than we could ever cover in our podcast. One thing is for sure — the more thankful we are, the better life becomes. And the better life is, the more there is to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! What does Madonna have to do with this episode? You’ll have to listen to find out!

Anger, aggressive behavior, and conflict is on the rise among drivers, coworkers, all over social media, and even within families — locally where we are based in Allentown, PA and the Lehigh Valley area — and also worldwide. There are scientific studies that prove this, but even setting those aside it’s very apparent that aggression is rampant. Aggressive behavior sneaks up on you when you're least expecting it It’s easier said than done, but we must strive to ignore what other people are thinking When aggression is directly in front of you and it cannot be avoided — that is different In that case it needs to be handled accordingly — hopefully self-discipline and control of your emotions kick in to address the situation appropriately

This episode is especially for anyone in a leadership position — teachers, coaches, managers, etc. It's a great reminder that by helping others — YOU will be more fulfilled. Conversely, by taking care of yourself — THOSE AROUND YOU will be more fulfilled. Again, the duality of yin and yang is present. Raul and Julie, husband and wife, are two martial arts students from HKA. They join Sensei Hoover and Steve Mittman to talk about the opportunities teachers have to change lives. Julie has been a teacher for many years and has used her position to positively affect countless students, in numerous and various ways. She's able to do these things — major to minor — because she comes from a source of mental, physical, and spiritual strength. She has this strength because she does what it takes to nurture it. Because she is "in a good place" she has "it" to give to others. She takes her role as an educator very seriously, as all teachers should. Listen and you'll see for yourself. You'll also hear us talk about: Ho

We all need something that comforts us. If you don’t have someone, something, or some place — you MUST find one. Having a source of comfort allows one to handle uncomfortable moments. Just like the song “Turn! Turn! Turn!” says, “There is a season (Turn, Turn, Turn), and a time to every purpose under Heaven” — there is a time to be a “tough guy or gal” and a time to not be. Being kind, compassionate, loving, thoughtful, and considerate, does NOT make one any less tough. In fact, embracing those traits makes one even stronger — stronger mentally, physically, and spiritually. Having a comfort zone is one of the ways you can deal with being uncomfortable. No need to “act” tough. True strength comes from within when you own your space. A peaceful warrior is a good soul — a good person — one who doesn’t care what others think about them.

It's Sensei Hoover's birthday — and being the kind of guy he is, his idea of celebrating is working on becoming a better person and helping others do the same. He and Steve Mittman are joined once again by Frank Grigoli. They all share thoughts on ways we can fix some of the problems in the world today. Hear the following and more: The paraphrased version of a statement Mother Teresa made — “I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there.” Being selfish is a good thing; No matter what you’re talking about — money, love, compassion, respect, or ANYTHING else — one needs to be selfish and acquire it for themselves in order to give it to others; You can’t give what you don’t have A little cold water on your face can set the tone for your entire day Perseverance is a guard against helplessness and self-pity A dark room can be lit with just one match As a gift for Sensei Hoover’s birthday, p

You can’t respect others until you respect yourself, and that begins with respecting your own body. Martial arts exist to strengthen and preserve our minds, our bodies, and our spirits — not tear them down. While we are the first to say hardship builds character — and just like muscles, sometimes things need to be broken down in order to grow stronger — we’ve seen many regret wearing out their bodies simply for ego and financial gain. Unfortunately, that’s what primarily is being promoted with the sport of MMA. And that’s what often attracts young practitioners. Mixed martial arts are what we study at Hoover Karate Academy, yet NOT for the combat sport of MMA in which two competitors attempt to achieve dominance over one another. Our system is reality-based and intended for life outside the ring or cage, where there is no referee present and no rules. The physical tools are designed to save your life if needed, yet we understand the importance of avoiding injury. Training shouldn’t interfere with work and sch

We’ve talked before about becoming comfortable in your own skin and how to deal with uncomfortable situations. “Owning your space” is self-explanatory when it comes to the physical. If someone invades your space with intent to harm your physical body — it’s obvious that self-defense could, and should, be used. No one has the right to touch you with bad intent, and certainly not hurt you — physically. But think about this. On a metaphysical level, how often do you let people “hurt” you? Make no mistake about it. If they pull you into “their space” — by influencing you to think something or participate in something that deep down inside you know isn’t the right thing, the safe thing, or simply the good thing to do — you are allowing them to harm you. It definitely harms you spiritually, but possibly mentally and even physically as well. The world is full of bullies. They will draw you into their negative space. They will eagerly invite you into their inappropriate conversation. Or they will pull you into thei