#1: Tim Kennedy – To Serve and Protect

“When you go into a Hostage Rescue you have to see it as if you are protecting or trying to save your own child, your own mother, your own brother.  If you can’t put yourself in a situation to see it that way you can’t do that job.  And that’s the way Miami Dade SWAT SRT, that is what our perspective was.  The Job that we do is real, and you are going to have to perform.  You are going to be put in situations where you have to respond at the highest level, and if you fall short someone loses their life.  When you see the reality of life and death, and you are responsible for that, it puts a different level in you.  You have a mindset that you cannot fail, there is no failure in this, if you fail you die, your teammates die, and more importantly the person you are trying to save dies.” 
– Dexter Fletcher

My guest this episode is Dexter Fletcher, who served for 35 years in the Miami Dade Police Department, and 30 of those years on S.W.A.T.  as part of their Special Response Team.  He is a multi-discipline martial arts master with a 3rd Dan Black Belt in Nisie Goju Ruyu Karate & Ju Jitsu and a 5th Dan Black Belt in Nagasudo Ju Jitsu and Combative Arts.  Mr. Fletcher specializes in training Police, SWAT, and Military Units Nationally and Internationally.  He has first-hand experiences protecting Presidents, Popes, and Dignitaries.  His highly decorated career has involved everything from frequent hostage rescue situations, to hunting fugitives, to protecting civilians from the monsters in this world.  

This episode is all about the makings of a Guardian and what it takes to function at the highest levels in the most extreme and stressful environments.  My key takeaway is that Form must Follow Function.  In life and death situations when you are responsible for yourself, your teammates, and those you are protecting your training must prepare you to perform with zero room for failure.  Hero’s like Dexter Fletcher are a very rare and humble bread, they are guardians who put the preservation of others over their own self-preservation.  I consider Dexter Fletcher to be a Modern-Day Samurai, who lives by a strict code of conduct driven by a definiteness of purpose and a selflessness dedicated to service and the preservation of life.    We can learn so much from being in the mere presence of such individuals, who truly walk the walk, I am humbled and honored to spend time with this remarkable man.  Tune in for a life changing episode.

“Jeet Kune Do to me is not about the perpetuation of an art, it is about the personal cultivation of an individual.  To me Jeet Kune Do is a state of being.  It’s a dynamic way of thinking and acting that encompasses the same fluid operating principles you use in dealing with opponents that you would use every day in the arena of life. I would like to see Jeet Kune Do resume its place in the Pantheon of Martial Arts.  The position that I feel it deserves to be in and it should be in.  It was designed to be a revolutionary cutting-edge martial art and philosophy that has a culture of innovation and experimentation.” – Chris Kent

My guest this episode is Chris Kent, who has been deeply immersed in Bruce Lee's martial art and philosophy for five decades and is widely acknowledged as one of the world's foremost authorities on Jeet Kune Do.  He has gained international recognition for his knowledge, leadership, and contributions in perpetuating the art, training methods, and philosophy as developed by Bruce Lee.  He is regarded as one of the few individuals in the world that has total comprehension of all facets of Lee's martial art and philosophy, including what is referred to as the “styless-style.” His extensive research into the foundations of the art from a technical, philosophical, and spiritual perspective, as well as educating himself in the fields of exercise physiology, kinesiology, and human performance gives him a unique perspective to preserve and perpetuate The Art and Philosophy of Jeet Kune Do.

This episode is all about the original spirit of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do.  My key takeaway is that the physical and philosophical aspects of martial arts like Yin and Yang cannot be separated from each other.  Together they can they be utilized to obliterate our self-limiting belief systems, and give us access to connection, creation and adaptability.  We dive deep into the early cutting-edge culture and energy of JKD, which was one of exploration, innovation, and experimentation.  We also discuss dynamic teaching and training methods that were designed to free practitioners from fixed routines and lead them towards fluid operating principles that can be utilized when dealing with opponents and in the everyday arena of life.  This episode was near and dear to my heart, and Sifu Chris Kent shared the soul of Jeet Kune Do.  Tune in for another amazing episode.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“Spiritual Growth is not necessarily found on a yoga mat, in the dojo, or in a meditation room, it’s found in the space between your thoughts, it’s found in the space between your decisions, it’s found in the still point in the transition between stimulus and response.  If I can pause and master those transitions and come to center in those moments and choose something other than what I would have done, that is functional spirituality and growth in all aspects of my life. Now I become player number one, changing the code, changing the game, changing the trajectory, because I am consciously aware of what I used to do, and I am consciously aware of what’s happening, and I take a moment to pause, and I choose something different.  And that’s where that growth starts to happen.”—Harinder Singh

The Fantastic Budo Brothers have stepped in this week to interview me for this episode.  For those of you who don’t know I will share a little of my background.  I am a Martial Artist, Defensive Tactics Instructor, Speaker, Author and High-Performance Coach.  I teach elite audiences and organizations "How to Master Their Center and Flow in Chaos”.  I specialize in training the trainers and have had the distinct honor of working with Black Belt School Owners, Military, Special Forces, Secret Service, and SWAT Teams.  I have shared my programs with over  150 Law Enforcement Agencies, Silicon Valley Business Leaders, and Professional Athletes across the globe.  As a profession I teach Jeet Kune Do, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Wing Chun, and the Filipino Martial Arts. I love Boxing, Wrestling and Savate and hold a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  I am currently a Doctoral Candidate of Chinese Energetic Medicine and was honored to be inducted into the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame in 2019.

This episode is all about developing accurate perceptive awareness and fostering effective interactions.  My key takeaway is that martial arts teaches us so much more than punching, kicking, stabbing, and choking.  It teaches us essential skills of how to relax under pressure, slow down our perception of time, expand our awareness, read our opponents, and make conscious choices in chaos.  There is no experience that can be disassociated from your relationship to your center.  The ability to find your center, move from your center, keep your center under pressure, and recover your center after being knocked off is the key to personal and professional performance.  We dive deep into discovering how to know yourself and others, how to cultivate stillness in chaos, and the art of honestly express yourself.  We also define mastery, not as a destination but rather as the continuous change and transformation of the being.  I truly believe that martial arts are the greatest vehicle to develop our human potential, discover the cause of our ignorance, and unleash our superpowers of creativity, connectivity, and adaptability.  A big shout out to the Budo brothers for stepping in as guest interviewers and to all of you my listeners thank you for joining me on this journey.

“Champions have a very strong spiritual understanding of when is the right moment to throw a perfect technique, using time and timing to understand the right moment.  It’s impossible to put into the an equation how it feels, because if you stop to think, you are late, flow is not a motion, flow is a state, it’s a congruence, it’s a rhythm that you acquire and then control, and this allows you to conquer technique.” – Xande Ribeiro

My guest this episode is the legendary Xande Ribeiro, who is a 7-time IBJJF and 2 time ADCC world champion.  He is the founder of the 6 Blades Jiu-Jitsu Association and is the head instructor at 6 Blades Jiu-Jitsu Austin.  Sense Xande mission is to use his over 30 years of experience to empower his students and disseminate jiu-jitsu as both a life philosophy and powerful tool to develop great spiritual, mental, and physical fitness.  He is committed to sharing his knowledge and developing the next generation of champion athletes and martial arts leaders.

This is episode is all about greatness and how to develop the power of the mind, body and spirit through competition.  My key takeaway is that a champion’s mind begins and ends with emotional stability and their ability to handle pressure.  You must discover who you really are under pressure, and learn to disassociate yourself from winning and losing, so that you can become one with your opponent, then their moves become your moves.  By getting little victories, you can incrementally train your mind to deal with challenges and build a great sense of accomplishment through confidence.  We also dive deep into developing intelligent strength and movement patterns that directly transfer and relate to jiu-jitsu.  Tune in to an amazing episode with a true legend of the game.

“When pushing the boundaries of the human body, either I’m going to break, or it is.  Can I pull the trigger and go?  It can be this way in self-defense, life, and everything else that we do.

A great question is to ask what is the absolute worst that could happen in this situation, when you can wrap your mind around that worst-case scenario, I know that I can digest that and we can move forward.  You have to know I might break, it might, but you have to know that you can pull the trigger.” – Chip Townsend

My guest this episode is Chip Townsend, who is a 14-time ISKA (International Sport Karate Association) World Breaking Champion.  At the age of 3 Mr. Townsend lost his eye in a freak accident, and since that day he has faced the world with perseverance, grit, determination, and an unwavering quest to making the world a better place.  He is a 7’th degree black belt, a world champion, a motivational speaker, and a community and industry leader.

This episode is all about pushing the boundaries of the human body and mind and discovering its full potential.  My key takeaway is that the limits of fear and pain can be progressively overcome by an intelligent training method that safely guides the practitioner from the unknown to the known.  We need to carefully assess the cost and potential risks involved and accept them before we can move forward.  We need to create training wheels or safety nets to develop skill and confidence so that we can break through our physical, mental, and spiritual barriers.  Once we know that we can break through we can slowly and safely remove the training aids.  This process will allow us to make the impossible possible.  We must approach this endeavor with Wonder and Excitement of what is possible and allow the wonder and excitement to be the master of fear.  The true purpose of martial arts is to make the world a better place, to do this we must remove our self-imposed limitations, and become examples of what is possible.  Mr. Townsend is a remarkable individual, tune in for another amazing episode filled with inspiration, wisdom, and actionable training tips.

“The Jail that I was in was easy.  The Jail that most people are in today without being incarcerated in a Jail Cell, is the Jail cell of the mind and the heart.  It wasn’t till I learned to love me in Jail, it wasn’t until I learned to express me in jail, that I was able to look at myself in the mirror, and say, Let’s Go Bam.”

My guest this episode is Willie “The Bam” Johnson, who is a seven-time sport karate and kung fu world champion, a two-time All-American champion, and a true hero in the world of martial arts. As the creator of Wushudo Universal Martial Arts, Johnson is known for his dynamic, universal approach to developing physical, mental and spiritual fitness.  Johnson is the founder and national spokesperson for the Stronger Than Drugs Foundation and was inducted into the Martial Arts and Black Belt Magazine Halls of Fame.

This episode is all about the inner journey of rebirth and personal transformation.  Willie shares how he used martial arts to transform from a criminal in prison into a seven-time world champion and a community leader.  My key take away is that quest for honest self-expression can free you from the prison of who you think you are.  We need to love and except ourselves wholly and totally, and once we can let go of external approval, we can start to go inside and discover our unique gifts and talents which we can then give to the world.  Tune in to one of the most inspirational and life changing conversations I have ever had. 

“Everyone has a gift, but not everyone seeks to find it, or has the patience to go within themselves to find it.  It’s passion, what are you passionate about? What part of you gives you the drive to work hard to get good at something, no matter what it is.  We can be mediocre or we can be average, but what makes a person driven to become extra ordinary.  You are being driven to do something; we need to find that drive.  Everyone has a talent, as teachers we need to understand our students so that we can help them discover their talents and develop their confidence.”  -- James Hundon

My guest this episode is Prof. James Hundon, who is the founder of Universal Martial Arts Academy and Small Circle Ju Trap Boxing.  He is a 7’th degree Black Belt in both Small Circle Jujitsu under Great Grand Master Wally Jay and Kyohuejitsumae under Soke James Mcqueen.  A lifelong student of the martial arts Prof. Hundon’s extensive background also includes instructorship in Chinese Kenpo, Kodokan Jujitsu, Jeet Kune Do, and Serrada Escrima.  Prof Hundon has also been inducted into both the Masters Hall of Fame and the US. Martial Arts Hall of Fame.

This episode is all about being open to exploration and the pure Joy of studying Martial Arts.  My key takeaway is that everyone has a gift, but not everyone seeks to find it.  We must look to discover what makes us passionate and how it drives us to become extraordinary.  As students we must look to find our talents, and as teachers we must guide our students towards this discovery.  The creative process of martial arts requires its practitioners to approach its study with humility and openness.  Let the love of the arts drive you forward, let great gratitude and appreciation fuel your vehicle of discovery.  We also dive deep into Prof. Hundon’s unique training methods, and how he has maintained longevity, cultivated a student first mindset, and how he has mentored generations of martial artists.  This was a phenomenal episode, with one of the true OGs of the game, join us for an extraordinary conversation about the joy of living life as a martial artist.