Building character Archives - Martial Arts Sydney Inner West

This may well be the most important blog post that I have written.

By Andy Dickinson | November 9, 2023 |

I must say first up that I am not a doctor and do not give you any advise on what you should do. One thing that I have learned is we are all totally unique and none I repeat none of us are the same. So what is good for one person may be different…

Living a disciplined life

By Andy Dickinson | August 18, 2023

This is one of the chapters from my new book: A warrior must live a disciplined life. Unless you live a disciplined life, it’s too easy to get involved with stuff. People use their car horn as a weapon because you’re not moving as fast as they want you to. When we had the hair-trigger…

The covid hang over.

By Andy Dickinson | April 14, 2023

Are you still hanging onto the past? I certainly would not hold it against you if you were? Covid, the big unknown just smashed the world from the very beginning. The good new is that the zombie apocalypse never happened, not yet at least. Cities from around the world are now all learning to live…

The importance of repetition and training every day.

By Andy Dickinson | January 30, 2023

The importance of repetition and training every day. Well, the year has officially begun. With Australia day over and schools going back this week, it is all forward into the year. I’m not sure how much training you did over the break, but regardless, if you are still keen it is time to recycle and…

Is online the end of excellence?

By Andy Dickinson | January 21, 2023

Is online the end of excellence as we know it. There is no doubt that the buy before you see mode of making a purchase has its risks. As it cuts out the entire pre-sale checks and the seller can sell you whatever they see fit. I know that Liz and I have made some…

Time for Black Belts to step up

By Andy Dickinson | October 12, 2022

The black belt does not exist as a symbol of excellence. The concept of a black belt is something that was invented by Judo Founder Jigoro Kano when he took the concept from the traditional martial arts that predominately wore a white belt to hold their pants up, to a colour system that gave certain…

But you can’t learn Ju Jitsu on the internet.

By Andy Dickinson | January 12, 2021

Learning just about anything online has been around for years. Now is the time to act. Why should martial arts be so different? Since Taebo swept the world with Taebo educational DVD’s, and now the myriad of yoga, meditation and Pilates studios now teaching online. This is nothing new for me. I first offered an…

Start the year with a push.

By Andy Dickinson | December 28, 2020

Live a disciplined life. We all love our habits but the problem is, are they good for us? We as adults all understand the negative effects of eating too much sugar, smoking and drinking too much. But what about the habit of procrastination or laziness. The habit of time wasting, just watching year after year…

If you can’t you must

By Andy Dickinson | February 16, 2020

I kind of get your thinking. It may be that you are telling yourself that competitions are just not your thing. You have been a part of a dojo for a while and you are only interested in the self-defence and fitness. You may not like the confrontation of sparring, so you have avoided it.…

Ju Jitsu v’s Judo

By Andy Dickinson | October 1, 2019

Both of these martial arts systems are great forms of martial arts and yes, they are related. Ju Jitsu originated in Japan. The traditional martial arts of Ju Jitsu evolved in japan along 2 main lines. That which was designed and used on the battle fields, the empty hand techniques were a supplement to the…

Martial Arts for kids

By Andy Dickinson | March 2, 2019

The after school activity that will empower, install confidence and teach tolerance. Let’s face it, the most that a child really knows about martial arts for kids is from watching Kung Fu Panda or the latest version of Karate Kid. Even parents just have a vague understanding of martial arts for kids and especially what…

MMA competition report.

By Andy Dickinson | February 26, 2019

I am not normally drawn to martial arts competitions, but Tom my son and a couple of the other kids trainers were keen to compete. They chose a submission grappling MMA competition and I knew immediately that their spirit would be tested as the day would be long, hot and niggling injuries would test their…

Becoming a spiritual warrior

By Andy Dickinson | September 10, 2018

Becoming a spiritual warrior Take me to Meditation pure and simple. We as humans, reflect our inner world onto our outer world. How we run our lives is in direct association with what we think. The world will never change whilst we as individuals continue to think, act and desire what’s in it for me.…

Martial Arts and Ego

By Andy Dickinson | August 23, 2018

Martial arts and ego Right from the get go, it must be said that we all have an ego. It is part of what makes us who we are. The ego is only one facet of the mind but it rules the roost when out of control. An ego is out of control when there…