#4 : Justin Wren – Be Resilient, Never Quit and Overcome all Obstacles

03/04/22 • 82 min

“Live to Love and Fight for People” – Justin Wren
My guest this episode is Justin “The Big Pygmy” Wren, a humanitarian, author, speaker, and a professional mixed martial arts fighter who has inspired millions. He is the founder of “Fight for the Forgotten” a non-profit organization dedicated to defending the weak, loving the unloved, and empowering the voiceless around the world and in our own neighborhoods and schools.
In this deep and highly personal episode Justin Wren shares how he used the martial arts to bravely overcome depression and addiction and how he has dedicated his life to fighting for other people. My key takeaway, to quote Justin is that we can “defeat hate with love”. We are all fighting a war within, and we need a support system and a higher purpose to overcome our obstacles and challenges. We can then use the lessons we learned to “live to love and fight for people”. I was honored to interview Justin a true example of the Martial Spirit.

Show Notes
#4 : Justin Wren – Be resilient, Never Quit and Overcome all Obstacles
00:00:27 – Justin Wren (@thebigpygmy) Introduction and Key Takeaway
00:02:52 – Where does “Live to Love and Fight for People Come From?”
00:05:11 – “I was a depressed drunk drug addict because I was only fighting for myself”. - Justin
00:06:27 – 2 Things that will awaken the Martial Spirit = A Battle to Fight + An Adventure to Live
00:08:35 – Rafael Lavato Jr(@lovatojrbjj) “You are a Martial Artist First and a Fighter Second.”
00:10:21 – The Path of the Martial Artist is Warrior, Healer, Scholar, and Mystic
00:12:00 – “Work on Yourself till you are of Service to the World” - @sifusingh
00:14:35 – “No act of kindness, no matter how small, ever gets wasted.”- Aesop
00:14:50 – “I was a missing person for 8 weeks during a relapse” – Justin Wren
00:18:10 – Asked the Divine what do you want me to do with my Life?
00:19:36 – Saw a Vision of a rainforest and a tribe in Africa, and came out with the word “Forgotten”
00:23:28 – My encounter with a Mystic named Caleb who pointed me to the Pygmy People in the Congo Basin from my Vision
00:29:50 – The traumatic path of depression and the way back out of it
00:30:50 – “We are programmed to succeed; we learn to fail.” – Sifu Singh
00:34:30 – “We get so comfortable being comfortable that we don’t want to trade our comfort for discomfort ever.” Jiu-Jitsu teaches us to be resilient.
00:37:48 – Chaos is Nature’s Way and Peace is a Choice inside of Chaos – Sifu Singh
00:41:31 – “Comparison is the thief of Joy” and that’s the society we live in today
00:44:28 – Getting the Name Efeosa = “The Man Who Loves Us”
00:46:18 – Witnessing firsthand death due to water born diseases, due to lack of clean drinking water and mobilizing a yearlong effort to provide clean drinking water in Africa.
00:47:00 – Malaria almost Killed Justin and he was almost in an irreversible coma.
00:48:30 – “I learned from martial arts to follow my instinct and intuition.” – Justin Wren
00:51:11 – The Warrior's Way is to dig deep and overcome on and off the mats.
00:53:55 – How do you teach Resilience and Self Respect to People?
00:55:20 – “A good leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way” – John Maxwell
00:55:38 – Rayden’s Story and Heroes in Waiting (Anti Bullying Program).
01:06:00 – You have to work on yourself first before you can create a healing space for others.
01:07:00 – This last year was the worst and best year of my life.
01:10:30 – Depression is a silent killer.
01:14:00 – “Rehab is not a punishment, it’s a gift.” – Justin Wren
01:15:15 – We need to be tough and vulnerable enough to allow people around us to help us.
01:18:30 – Mr. Miyagi says it’s not about winning the fight, it’s about how we fight.
01:19:11 – The Warriors Creed by Robert L. Humphrey

Previous Episode

#3: Herb Perez – The Art of Setting and Achieving Goals

“Do Things for the Love of It” vs “The Fear of Losing It” – Herb Perez

My Guest this episode is the 1992 Olympic Gold Medalist, in Tae Kwon Do, Master Herb Perez. He is the owner of Gold Medal Martial Arts Centers, the creator of the Torch Program, a Lawyer, and the former Mayor of Foster City, Ca.

This episode is literally filled with gold, and I consider Herb Perez a master of high performance. My Key take away is “The Art of Setting and Achieving Goals”. We discuss failure, doubt, and how to rise above self-limiting beliefs. Master Perez also shares his powerful Visualization Techniques to Win Matches in Your Mind, and how physical & mental training found in Martial Arts are the Foundations of all Success.
What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments. Follow Sifu Harinder Singh @sifusingh and Black Belt Magazine @blackbeltmag.
Show Notes

#3: Herb Perez – The Art of Setting and Achieving Goals

00:00:28 – Master Herb Perez (@goldmedalmartialarts) Introduction and Key Takeaway

00:01:57 – The Purpose of The Black Belt Podcast

00:03:01 – How has Martial Arts Allowed You to Achieve So Much Success?

00:04:45 – The Art of Setting Goals

00:07:18 – Where does Self Belief come from?

00:10:06 – Passion (What’s In Your Heart) + Be Honest With Yourself + Do The Work = Success

00:11:11 – “Doubt is the Greatest Weapon You Can Give Your Enemy”. – Sifu Welch

00:11:46 – Dan Milliman’s “The Peaceful Warrior” and The Enemy in Your Head, @danmillmanpw

00:12:09 – Overcoming Doubt Against The Korean Tae Kwon Do Powerhouse

00:13:20 – “You Miss 100% of the Shots You Don’t Take” – Michael Jordan, @michaeljordan

00:14:24 – “Confidence is Born Out of Practice & What You Have Done Before” – Herb Perez

00:14:42 – How Do You Pull Yourself out of a Doubt Filled Mind?

00:16:50 – Fighting Matches in Your Head the Night Before to Prepare for a Competition

00:17:40 – Train Your Mind Like You Train Your Body

00:19:26 – Practice Dealing with Emotions, Fears, and Being Calm

00:20:30 – Raise Yourself Up vs Diminish Others

00:21:50 – Why Are We Not Training the Mind as A Weapon in Martial Arts Schools?

00:24:10 – How to Use Visualization Skills to Win the Olympics

00:27:23 – Advice for Martial Artists – How to Go from Visualization to Actualization

00:28:56 – 3 Steps to Overcome Discomfort by Choosing Courage and Letting Go of Fear

00:32:00 – “Do Things for the Love of It” vs “The Fear of Losing It”

00:34:39 – Using Self Expression to Make Your Art Yours

00:38:50 – “What We Do Is Way Too Valuable to Be Shared with the Masses” – Herb Perez

00:44:00 – Do We Need a Professional Martial Arts University?

00:46:44 – What Should We Be Teaching? Philosophy, Role in Society, Self Defense?

00:53:16 – You Must Understand Your Personal Challenges and Build Your Own Success Matrix

00:55:46 – How Did You Develop a Strategy to Beat the Korean Tae Kwon Do Powerhouse?

00:58:20 – Do a SWOT Analysis on Yourself and Understand How to Break Patterns

01:00:00 – Martial Arts Provides the Arena to Discover Your True Self Through Fighting

01:03:25 – Learn The Art of War and How to Apply it in Fighting and Life

01:04:55 – Defining the Flow State and How to Enter It

01:06:00 – Choosing to Attack vs Choosing to Wait

01:08:17 – How to Be Ahead of Your Opponent with Time and Space Awareness

01:12:26 – The Fear of Losing vs The Love of Winning

01:13:58 – You Have to Believe You Can Win and Make Your Opponent Lose

01:15:13 – How Do You Take Losses and Turn Them into Growth Experiences?

01:22:20 – Where is the Future of Martial Arts Headed?

01:25:26 - What Does A Black Belt Mean to Herb Perez?

Next Episode

#5: Dave Kovar – Professionalism & Empowerment through a Growth Minded Passion Driven Approach

#5: Dave Kovar – Professionalism & Empowerment through a Growth Minded Passion Driven Approach

“There is no higher calling than teaching Martial Arts.” – Dave Kovar

My guest this episode is Hanshi Dave Kovar who is known as “The Teacher of Teachers”. He is the founder of Kovar’s Satori Academies and PROMAC, the Professional Martial Arts College. He is a prolific author and the epitome of professionalism and humility. His formulas for integrity-based success coaching have transformed martial arts training, teaching, and business across the globe. This episode is filled with guidance and wisdom from a true pioneer of the Professional Martial Arts Industry.

My Key takeaway is that “There is no higher calling than teaching Martial Arts”. I absolutely love Hanshi Kovar’s Growth Minded Passion driven approach. We discuss how to empower people of all ages to become more confident, healthy, happy, and contributing members of society. Hanshi Kovar also shares what it takes to provide high quality martial arts instruction, how to develop professional instructors, and most importantly how to remain a student for life by being open, and enjoying and having fun in your training, and loving the process of learning.

Show Notes

#5 : Dave Kovar – Professionalism & Empowerment through a Growth Minded Passion Driven Approach

00:00:25 – Hanshi Dave Kovar (@hanshidavekovar) Introduction and Key Takeaway.
00:02:39 – What Is the Goal of PROMAC?
00:06:15 – “Adversity doesn’t make the person it reveals the person.” – Dave Kovar
00:09:08 – The 3 A’s – Attitude(Aware of Frame of Mind), Adaptability, and Action
00:12:43 – The Flow State, The Zone or Satori. When you are in the Flow State you will always make the right decision.
00:13:00 – What methods do you use to get into the flow state? Kovar Guards his Morning Routine. First 60 min is scripted every morning that helps him get there and get back quicker.
00:16:45 – “I hate it but every morning I do a sauna and cold plunge.” – Dave Kovar
00:22:44 – 3 Questions - “How did I contribute? What did I learn? What can I do better?
00:23:30 – My favorite word is “Savour”, it brings you to the present moment with a sense of appreciation.
00:28:55 – Do you think Martial Arts is needed more today than in the Past?
00:31:32 – Athletic Development benefits for Children.
00:34:22 – “Poor Endurance makes Cowards of us All.” – Vince Lombardi
00:37:00 – The Confidence Spiral – Failure and Success vs Confidence.
00:40:15 – Change your Physiology and Focus and that will Change how you Feel.
00:41:50 – The Concept of Ikigai = Undaunted Spirit when facing a challenge.
00:42:55 – Martial Arts is about Enjoyment.
00:45:19 – What has kept you in this Constant State of Learning?
00:50:11 – Adopting Shoshin the Beginners Mind.
00:52:55 – An Open-Minded Approach towards Sport, Tradition, and Reality.
00:55:45 – Know the Real Reason you are training in Martial Arts.
01:01:25 – What is the biggest Challenge you have had to Overcome?
01:04:55 – What is your process of molding and developing Instructors?
01:06:45 – “There is no higher calling than teaching Martial Arts.” – Dave Kovar
01:08:37 – “Your Job is to Believe in your Students Potential.” – Dave Kovar
01:09:45 – Do you think a Professional Degree from a University would help the Industry?
01:13:35 – The Mainstream success of Kobra Kai is driving students to Martial Arts Classes.
01:14:18 – Do you think it is the relationship between Teacher and Student people are seeking?
01:16:15 – Master Jhoon Rhee and 1,000 Push Ups a Day.
01:21:00 – Secret to Growth and Longevity.
01:25:50 – 6 Keys to Mastery – Posture, Breathing, Stride, Balance, Elegant Movement, and Intent.
01:28:22 – What does a Black Belt mean to Dave Kovar?