Mar 20 • Lessons & Reflections
Living Strong: The Flow That Carried Me Through
I came across something today while doing some research for another video.
An old clip.
September 2nd, 2016.
Back when I was a blue belt… two stripes in.
Still moving. Still flowing. Still feeling good.
And I watched it…
And I smiled.
The Flow
In that moment, I wasn’t thinking about philosophy.
I wasn’t thinking about longevity.
I was just doing what martial artists do…
Flowing.
- Starting from stand-up grappling
- Entering with a single-leg takedown
- Moving into a knee slide pass
- Settling into scarf hold
- Transitioning to side control
- Transition to top mount
- Advancing to S-mount
- Finishing with an armbar
Clean. Connected. Continuous.
No rush. No force.
Just movement.
What I Didn’t Know
Here’s the part that hits me now…
That same day…
That was the beginning.
I felt it.
A little twinge in my hip.
Nothing dramatic.
Nothing that stopped me.
But it was the first whisper.
The beginning of a 10-year journey
that would eventually lead to both hips being replaced in 2024.
Back then… I had no idea.
I was just training.
Looking Back From Today
Now it’s March 20th, 2026.
I’m 64… getting ready to be 65 in May.
And I’m back on the mats.
Different body.
Different awareness.
Different purpose.
But still…
The same spirit.
This Is What I See Now
When I watch that video today, I don’t just see technique.
I see:
- Freedom of movement
- Connection between positions
- Trust in the process
- A body that was beginning to change
- A man who didn’t yet know what was coming
And more than anything…
I see continuity.
Because even though the body went through something…
The practice never left me.
Living Strong Is This Right Here
This is what Living Strong looks like in real life:
Not perfect conditions.
Not uninterrupted progress.
But staying connected…
Through the ups.
Through the setbacks.
Through the surgeries.
Through the rebuild.
For The Men 40 and Older
I’m sharing this one just for you.
Not to impress you.
Not to show you what I could do…
But to show you what’s possible over time.
You don’t have to be who you were at 25.
You just have to stay in the game.
Adapt. Adjust. Continue.
Final Thought
That flow from 2016…
It didn’t just end with an armbar.
It continued…
Through pain.
Through uncertainty.
Through surgery.
Through recovery.
And now…
Back onto the mat.
Stronger in a different way.
Wiser in every way.
This is what I know…
It’s not about how hard you go.
It’s about how long you stay connected to the practice.
That’s Living Strong.
5:18
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Living Strong: The Flow That Carried Me Through
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