Ep 054 - Tricia Butynskyi of Good Shepherd, A Holistic View and Breathing

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.

Do you ever take time to purposely concentrate on your breath? Have you noticed how good it makes you feel both mentally and physically? Let us know what you’ve experienced.

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Ep 053 - Ideally We Should Treat Every Day Like a Training Day

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.

Do you do anything different certain days to prepare for something? Tell us in the comments!

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Ep 052 - You Absolutely Must Listen To This

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

What absolutes do you know to be true? How many do you have? Tell us in the comments!

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Ep 051 - Healing and Dealing with Pain and Injury

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

• If you need to stretch every body part

• What you should NEVER do while stretching

• Why it's crucial that you warm up BEFORE you stretch

• How to know the difference between good pain and bad pain

• Which warm up exercises could be dangerous for your age and fitness level

• Why you should not only stretch before working out, but also AFTER your workout

• Ice and heat — how to know when and which to use to reduce pain and promote healing

We talk about all these things — and more!

Is there an injury or physical pain you’re dealing with that you have questions about? Let us know. We’ll have Tricia talk about it and answer you in a future episode!

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Ep 050 - Dealing With Pain and Adversity

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

Tell us what hardship you are dealing with/dealt with that has made you stronger.

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Ep 049 - How Larry Holmes Became His Own Boss

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 takeaways include:

• A sign of leadership is to be humble

• Be confident and humble at the same time

• Sensei Hoover’s “Ninja and Samurai concept” — when we need to be one or the other

• Immediately after Larry Holmes defeated Muhammad Ali, hear what they had to say to each other in the dressing room

• Mike Mittman talks about Bruce Lee, while Sensei Hoover brings up how he was another icon that rose to the top against all odds

• It takes a bigger man to walk away from conflict than it does to fight — in line with an earlier episode’s discussion on there’s no need to act tough

• There's a time for learning and simply doing what you're taught, and there's a time to think outside of the box to take what you’ve learned, make it your own, and improve it — just as Larry Holmes did

Was there something you took ownership of and possibly improved it by making it your own? Let us know in the comments.

If you happen to have a question for the Hall of Fame Heavyweight Champion let us know. We’ll pass your question on to Larry Holmes and give you his answer in an upcoming episode!

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Ep 048 - Larry Holmes, Against The Odds

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

Why do you think some people have the fortitude such as Larry Holmes does and others simply give up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. If you happen to have a question for the Hall of Fame Heavyweight Champion let us know that too. We’ll ask Larry for you and give you his answer in an upcoming episode!

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