Welcome to the Path of the Dragon warriors. Upon coming across this community, and seeing the energy and inspiration it brings, it is clear that the Path of the Dragon resonates with all of us deeply. People can share their vulnerable stories and reflections, and collaborate with fellow skoolers to create big internal transformations in themselves. This had me thinking what Path of the Dragon means to @Mark X, the founder of this community. So I asked him and attached his answer here 😉🤺🛡️🍰 So I am curious, what does Path of the Dragon mean to you? You can respond with a quote too if you'd like, no wrong answers.

I'm at the gym 5 days a week. I run 20 miles weekly. Interval and resistant training too. I'm dialed into my macros because I Have to be - Type 1 diabetic means I don't get to guess about what goes in my body. But I also don't have time to meal prep everything. I work long hours (because I choose to) and cooking every meal just isn't happening right now. So I've had to figure out which restaurants actually work for my specific health requirements instead of just winging it and hoping my blood sugar doesn't spike. Here's my system for vetting restaurants: 1. Nutritional transparency is non-negotiable If they don't publish macros or at least ingredient lists, I can't use them. I need to know exactly what's going into my insulin calculations. Chipotle, Cava, Sweetgreen - they all publish full nutrition data. That Thai place with "secret sauce"? Can't risk it. 2. Customization without attitude I need to swap things, hold sauces, add protein. If a restaurant treats modifications like I'm being difficult, they're out. The places that work let me build exactly what I need without the kitchen getting annoyed. 3. Consistent portions matter A restaurant that gives me 6oz of chicken one day and 4oz the next throws off my entire insulin dosing. Chain restaurants get criticized for being sterile, but their consistency is actually valuable for someone managing diabetes. 4. Protein-forward options that aren't drowning in hidden carbs Grilled chicken is easy. But a lot of "healthy" restaurants load everything with honey glazes, sweet dressings, or quinoa that spikes my blood sugar. I need places where I can get clean protein without fighting through sugar bombs. My current rotation: - Chipotle: Burrito bowl, no rice, double chicken, fajita veggies, cheese, salsa. I know exactly what I'm getting every time. - Local poke place: Build-your-own means I control every ingredient. Salmon base, no rice, loaded with vegetables. - Five Guys: Lettuce-wrapped burger, no bun. Just meat, cheese, vegetables. Simple and I know the exact macros.

Hey guys, when I was soul searching a few years ago, I went down a bit of an extreme path. Working out is obviously very good for you, but sometimes we can take it too far if we aren't attentive to our bodies. Since I didn't know what to do with myself, I got really invested in looks and prioritized being big and muscular no matter what. This led to me working out with a lot of tension and neglecting messages from my body. I looked great, but was physically tensed up so much of the time. I didn't care because I thought aesthetics were all that mattered. One day, I got to go to a massage. This woman pressed down on my leg, and it felt very uncomfortable! She pressed down on it again, this time holding the pressure point there, as I felt an intense, indescribably sharp and squirmy sensation in my hamstring. After 60 seconds, my leg finally "let go" and relaxed! Yes, I didn't even realize I'd been tensing my leg for days on end until she kept a pressure point there for over a minute. And this was not the only area where this happened. That's when I realized that what I was doing was not sustainable. Of course I still want to maintain a good build, but since then, I have kept my workouts very focused on health and balance rather than going to an extreme that hurts me in the long run. This body is our gift for this lifetime, and we must treat it well! What Mark does here is help you get active, share the inspiration you need, and cultivate people that will support you. He cares deeply about the person-to-person connection and about the internal and philosophical transformation that is involved with being fit. That's why you are in such a powerful place here, because you want what is genuinely HEALTHY to your body that will help you become the highest version of yourself INTERNALLY and not only physically. So tell me, did you ever have a phase of extremes in your gym journey?

10 minutes after I started streaming at 7:20am EST, Mike Pirie became the first person to join. And he brought his beautiful family! I was so glad to enjoy the stunning morning with them. Mike also popped back in around dinner time and showed me the latest update on his wife’s sourdough. It’s amazing! What I really admire is how she stuck with the process. She struggled at first but stayed patient, and eventually, they got that beautiful dome of sourdough! Although I make alternative healthy cakes like the Purple Sweet Potato Taro Protein Cake and Blueberry Chocolate Protein Cake, I haven’t tried making bread because I’ve always been intimidated by the process. Mike’s wife is leading the way. I think I’m going to try soon! Kevin Dul was the second member to join! We had a deep conversation about his community, where many troubled teenagers seek help. He’s on a powerful mission. Then Bill showed up, and we had a really nice talk! Skool was buggy, so he couldn’t turn on his video. But we had so much fun talking. He told me more about what he’s doing with his community and how he plans to bring his existing business onto Skool. He said that while his skill set works well for large corporations, what truly excites him is helping people get their first sale. Then Asha showed up! I finally met the man in a pseudo face-to-face fashion who rode his bike across a desert, surfed and got stabbed by coral reefs, and overcame drug addiction. We chatted for a bit before he went for a meditation. Later, he joined again when I was talking with Brandon. When Brandon joined, I was stoked. I got to hear some super cool personal stories. He incubated chicken eggs with his girlfriend and helped her with her business. He also told me about a time he got super sick after eating a Carolina Reaper, one of the spiciest peppers in the world. His girlfriend made him eat it. When I asked if she ate it too, he said no. And then Sir Aidan the Brave joined us, marking the most members we’ve had in a single live call so far! Brandon, Asha, Aidan, and I were all in the same room.

I am LIVE at Path of the Dragon for 14 hours until I sleep! If you get in and say hi, even if just a one-second "hi", I will send you for FREE a pair of nunchucks and a tshirt with Path of the Dragon branding! Looking forward to seeing your face for the first time on live screen!