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

03/18/22 • 91 min

#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?

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

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

Show Notes

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

Previous Episode

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

“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

Next Episode

#6: John Hackleman – Physical and Mental Conditioning are the Master Key’s to Performance

My Guest this episode is “The Pitmaster” John Hackleman who is one of the most sought-after trainers in MMA history. He is the founder of the world famous “Pit Martial Arts and Fitness” which is home to UFC Champions Chuck Liddell and Glover Teixeira. The Pitmaster’s unique approach is catered to children, adults, and professional fighters. His Hawaiian Kempo curriculum is designed to address school yard bullying, dangerous street assaults, and professional cage fighting.

My Key take away is that “Peak Physical Conditioning Directly Impacts Mental Performance”. I believe the Pitmaster is a creative genius when it comes to preparing his fighters for world class competition. His innovative training methods are designed to replicate the pressures and stresses of combat. In this episode we discuss physical and mental conditioning, what it takes to prepare world class athletes, and how to lead with confidence, loyalty, and humility.

Show Notes

#6: John Hackleman – Physical and Mental Conditioning are the Master Key’s to Performance
00:00:25 – John “The Pitmaster” Hackleman (@Pit_Master) Introduction and Key Takeaway.
00:02:22 – The Development of the Legendary Left Hook
00:04:03 – How to Get the Best out of Your Fighters and Help Them Develop Their Own Style
00:06:55 – Be a Martial Artist and Not a Partial Artist
00:08:15 – Get out of Your Comfort Zone so you Can Grow and Become Successful
00:11:00 – Can’t Spar your Way into Shape, You have to get Creative Heart Rate Manipulation.
00:12:27 – The Best Way to Mentally Prepare and Peak for a Fight
“The More Physically Prepared you are for the Fight, Your mental preparation goes Up.”
00:20:00 – Teach them to Actively Recover and Make Decisions in Chaos
00:22:04 – There are 4 Priorities on the Bottom, Relax and Protect Yourself, Escape, Attack, You have to find out where you can relax and go to that range. On the bottom, against the cage, or in long range. You need to train anaerobic threshold and the ability to bring your heart rate down, and rest in the round, and in between rounds.
00:30:00 – We Have to Practice Adapting vs Compartmentalizing Training
00:32:00 – Drillers Make Killers, Drill to Build Muscle Memory, You can’t disguise repetition, you need to embrace repetition. Become seamless to the point of no preference. Strike Grapple Conditioning, there should be no preference.
00:34:10 - “Embrace the Repetition and Love the Fact That You are Getting Better At it.”
00:39:34 – Jack of All Trades Master of One or Master Everything(No Preference)
00:52:00 – Hitting People First vs Taking Them Down.
00:57:50 – You need a Moral Compass and an awareness of Violent Offenders. “If you don’t have a plan for them, they will have a plan for you.”
01:01:30 – The On Guard Open Handed Bladed Stance for Aesthetics and Defense
01:05:00 – The ability to feel what is happening with yourself and the ability to Watch Observe and Read, is paramount to situational awareness.
01:12:36 – What is your perspective on Sport, Street, and Traditional Martial Arts?
01:18:15 - “God put you here fort that. So, you owe it to the people weather you want to do it or not. -- “Tony Robbins
01:19:12 – As Martial Arts Instructors we are in the Business of Courage, Confidence, and Clarity.
01:22:10 – “Confidence saved me. I was bullied and scared before martial arts.” – Pitmaster
01:24:00 – Everyone on my team is a part of my Hawaiian Kempo Belt System and must follow a Code of Conduct.
01:28:20 – What’s the Difference between Chaos and Peace? Peace is a Choice in Chaos.
01:32:20 – You have to run a successful business to be able to influence more people.
01:41:50 – “I’m going to protect the community, my business, and my family.”-- Pitmaster
01:48:00 – What Does a Black Belt Mean To You?