#13: Fariborz Azhakh – How To Be A Master Teacher

01/26/24 • 87 min

“I never wanted to be the greatest martial artist ever, I always saw myself as a teacher. I want to influence people, I don’t want them to be impressed by what I do, I want to be a vehicle for them to learn. To me integrity is a moment by moment choice. My work is to challenge myself to choose the way I respond to situations. Who we are is more important than what we do.”

My guest this episode is Fariborz Azhakh, who is a master of Hapkido and a student of Master Steve Sexton. He is the founder of Team Karate Centers and over the years has built on the foundations of Hapkido to develop a system of multicultural martial arts based on usefulness; one that draws upon principles from a variety of fighting styles and ranges, including kickboxing, grappling, trapping, weapons, joint locks, and meditation. The “Hapkido Blend,” allows all students to cultivate their own individual art within the traditions of Hapkido. Throughout his journey, he repeatedly cites his teachers and heroes as his greatest inspirations, among them: Benny Urquidez, Ji Han Jae, Ron Balicki, Stuart Quan, and Simon and Phillip Rhee. Sensei Fariborz is also a pioneer of martial arts on the internet, he created the first major martial arts resource website and online magazine back in the 1990s when websites were almost unheard of.

This episode is all about becoming a master teacher. My key takeaway is that self-defense and self-development must be taught as in integrated curriculum. As martial artists and martial arts teachers we have a responsibility to our students and to ourselves, to learn, practice, master, functionalism and maintain not only our physical skills but also our personal and interpersonal skills as a combined approach. We also dive deep into the distinction between a Teacher, Instructor, and Coach. Sensei Fariborz and I also discuss that the common thread amongst the great masters is that they are real. Their character and competency are congruent on and off the matts. Martial Arts is a way of life, and to truly understand the life changing benefits of the Arts we must have great teachers that can be pointers to the way. I had a great time talking story with Sensei Fariborz, his knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of the way of martial arts is truly inspirational. Tune in for another fantastic episode.

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#12: Tom Callos – The Martial Art of Kindness

“The real goal is not to be a great martial artist, but to be a great human being. A Black Belt is a good human being that is constantly working on themselves, it is somebody of a high level of skill, that brings their practice to life in ways that makes other people stop and look and listen. It’s about the Artist that brings the practice to life.” – Tom Callos

My guest this episode is Tom Callos, who is a Black Belt in BJJ and a 7’th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is a professional consultant, curriculum designer, and educational activist working within the international martial arts community. His mission is to bring valuable new ideas, methodology, practices, and programs to the martial arts world. His specialties are marketing, social networking, martial arts school management, black belt test design, writing, speaking, and developing future Leaders.

This episode is all about taking action and becoming good human beings. My key takeaway is that martial arts is so much more than punching, kicking, and choking. Martial Arts are a vehicle to empower kindness and develop compassionate guardians of our community. As martial arts teachers we have a great power and responsibility to use the power of our words and actions to inspire greatness in our students and communities. We dive deep into the transformative teacher student relationship and how just a few simple words or pointers can shatter limiting beliefs and self-imposed barriers. We discuss the martial arts industry, philosophy, and the importance of consistent deliberate practice. This was a truly special episode with one of the most influential mentors in the game. Tune in as Mr. Tom Callos shares his wisdom, stories, and practical advice on how you can show up and make a difference.

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#14: Nicolas Saignac – Express Yourself and Be Free

“You want to find this place with the person that you are working with, sparring is working with people, it’s not working against people, you are going to receive what you give. If it’s too hard, and you do not respect the parameters that are set, something is not going to go right. Work with people in the gym, don’t work against them. You express your skills and give them a chance to express theirs. You want people to express themselves so that they can be the best that they can be, so this way you have the best partners to work your skills against.”—Nicolas Saignac

My guest this episode is Professor Nicolas Saignac, who is a master of Savate. He reached the finals of the French cup in 1987 and won the title the following year. He was awarded the title of Professor from the Ministry of Sports in Savate and Boxing, and holds a silver glove 2nd degree, which is the highest Savate rank in the US. He is one of the leading promotors of the sport and has led US teams to several World Savate Championships. Professor Saignac has taught at the internationally famous Inosanto Academy and worked with martial art legends such as Ron Balicki, Erik Paulson, and Josh Barnett. He has been featured in many articles, documentaries, and training videos.

This episode is all about getting the best out of yourself and those you work with. My key takeaway is that the martial arts can and should be used as a vehicle for honest self-expression. We must not become rigid within the style or seek to copy our teachers. We must use the style, the training, and the sparring to find our own expression of our skills, especially under pressure. We dive deep into the history of Savate, the usage of the shoe as a weapon, and how to excel at the highest levels of sport competition. We also discuss what it takes to become a great teacher and how to create champions inside and outside the ring. Tune in for another spectacular episode, with one of the most humble and genuine masters of their craft.