Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.

Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.

Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.

Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.

Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard.

Choose wisely.

In this brief episode, Tim and Steve highlight the value of sparring with more skilled opponents to learn and improve — rather than taking the easy route.

The takeaway: Embrace challenges, learn from those at a higher level than you currently are at, and treat every experience as a chance to grow.

Never take advice from people who are not where you want to be.

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Tim and Steve revisit a timeless and impactful discussion on the importance of respect and gratitude, both in martial arts and in life. They reflect on the value of giving thanks, emphasizing that gratitude should be a daily practice, not just reserved for holidays.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving, this episode serves as a heartfelt reminder to cherish the people and moments that matter, express love and gratitude openly, and cultivate a positive outlook on life.

“Comfort is the worst addiction and a cheap ticket to depression.”

Discipline is key to achieving success in every part of life — we all know that. Sensei Hoover and Steve Mittman dive into what it really means and how it works.

And, by the way, what does “A Way of Life” really mean, anyway?

Someone makes 10x more than you do in a 9-5 job because they have more "leverage" with their work.

Distraction is the greatest killer of success. It stunts and destroys your brain.

It's no secret that fear is pervasive in today's society. Tim reflects on his own experiences with fear, noting how it hindered him in his early years until he broke the chain through martial arts training and faith. He discusses the current climate of anxiety surrounding politics, weather, and everyday life, highlighting how people are overwhelmingly fatigued by these stressors.

As a sensei and coach, Tim shares how he finds peace in various aspects of his life, including prayer and the dojo, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining high expectations for both himself and his students.

“I run at 4am because I know my opponent is still asleep. It gives me an edge. If I found out my opponent was running at 4am, I would start running at 2am. And if someone trained at 2am, I would stop sleeping to keep training. Without discipline, no matter how talented you are, you are nothing.” — Mike Tyson

”When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you'll be successful.” — Eric Thomas

A few weeks ago the iconic song "Hotel California" by The Eagles was discussed, particularly focusing on the profound lyrics that resonate with personal struggles and societal issues. On today's brief episode, it's a follow-up on the importance of breaking free from old habits and the necessity of self-reflection instead of judging others.

We all must confront our inner demons in order to take charge of our lives. Join Tim and Steve as they explore the journey of self-discovery and the strength required to "kill the beast" within.

I’d rather be the oldest person in a gym than the youngest person in a nursing home.

Working together beats competing against each other. Tim and Steve talk about how teaming up with people who have strengths that you may not is a great way to grow and learn, instead of seeing things in life as binary — in other words, just "winning" or "losing."

Tim shares how the dojo shows the value of real skill — there’s no faking it, only the truth of practice and hard work. They also discuss how today’s younger generations sometimes fall into an "all-or-nothing" way of thinking, and they encourage keeping an open mind, learning from others, and staying humble.