I recently sat down with Jose Luis Torres II for our men's Conversations That Matter series… And before you even watch this conversation and the short clip below… I want you to understand who you’re listening to. This isn’t just a conversation. This is a man who has spent decades building something meaningful. --- 👊 Master Torres is a lifelong martial artist. He began his journey back in 1982 in Tang Soo Do… earning his black belt and continuing to rise through the ranks to become a high-level master and leader in multiple disciplines. He is the founder of Team Torres Martial Arts… with schools that have served children as young as 3 years old… all the way up to adults in their 70s. He didn’t just build a school… He built programs in communities, after-school systems, and environments where kids and families could grow stronger—physically, mentally, and emotionally. --- 🌎 One of his biggest contributions? He founded the North American Federation of Martial Arts (NAFMA). An organization that now connects thousands of competitors and hundreds of schools across multiple martial arts disciplines… creating a platform for growth, competition, and unity in the martial arts world. He’s also spent decades promoting martial arts events across the U.S. and internationally… bringing people together through competition, discipline, and shared purpose. --- 🎬 And now… he’s evolving again. Master Torres has stepped into the world of film as an actor, producer, and creator… Working on projects like City of Honor and films like Killer Ex… bringing stories of honor, struggle, and identity to a wider audience. --- Now listen… A man like this… A builder. A leader. A father. A creator. When a man like this sits down and opens up… You pay attention. --- 💬 Because what we talked about had nothing to do with titles… We talked about mental anguish. The kind most men carry quietly.

This morning, 4:30 a.m… quiet… still… and I’m sitting here reflecting. Last night, my conversation with Forrest McClendon went live on my Living Strong channel. No script. No performance. Just two men… talking about life. And I’ve got to tell you… these conversations are starting to mean a lot to me. I’m sitting down with men who’ve lived 5, 6 decades… men who’ve been through some things. Wins, losses, moments of darkness, moments of light… the kind of life that teaches you what really matters. And what we keep coming back to is this: Living Strong has very little to do with physical strength. It’s about mindset. It’s about perspective. It’s about how you define the moment you’re in… especially when it’s hard. At this season of my life—going on 65—I can look back and say this with conviction: There were moments I didn’t think I’d get through. But I did. And because of that… I believe I’ll get through whatever is in front of me now. If you’re in a season right now where things feel heavy… uncertain… maybe even dark… Hang in there. There is a way through. Sometimes all it takes is one conversation… one voice… one idea… that reminds you of who you are and what you’re capable of. Maybe this conversation with Forrest is that for you. You just never know. I’ll place the link in the comments. Go watch it. And if you’re someone who’s lived some life… 50, 60, or beyond… and you’ve got lessons, perspective, and experiences that could help someone else… Let’s talk. I’d be honored to sit down with you for a Living Strong conversation. Because your story might be the one that helps someone else keep going. And that… that’s what this is all about. Living Strong. --- This morning at 7 a.m., I’ll be connecting with my friend Garry Noakes in London… a man who played a big role in my own journey, especially with my hip replacements.

This is the practice. This is men… sitting down… having Living Strong Conversations, and speaking truth about the life they’ve lived. Last weekend, I began this journey with @Kelly Marianno. Kelly is someone very close to me—my first black belt. I watched him grow, not just in martial arts, but as a man. He built a career in the IT world, stepped into real estate, and today, he’s someone who shows up for others—especially entrepreneurs—helping them find their footing and move forward. But beyond all of that… he’s a man who’s lived, who’s faced his moments, and continues to choose to live strong. Watch my conversation with Kelly HERE Today, I’ve released my conversation with Michael Demby Cain. Michael is a thinker, a communicator, and a man who brings depth into every room he walks into. What struck me most wasn’t just what he does… but how he sees life. There’s a level of awareness, reflection, and honesty that you feel when you speak with him. He’s lived… he’s processed… and he speaks from that place. Watch my conversation with Michael HERE And this week continues… On Tuesday, I’ll be sitting down with Jose Luis Torres II—many know him as Master Jose Torres.

I had the opportunity to sit down with a good friend of mine, @Kelly Marianno, and spend some real time talking about life… the kind of conversations that don’t get rushed. We talked about the Living Strong Method… what it means to learn from life… to actually practice what we learn… and then create something better from it… one day at a time. We got into defining moments… being wise enough to recognize where we are in life… and having the courage to live strong right there… not waiting for perfect conditions. And something that really stood out for me… how important it is for us to share our lives… our thoughts… our experiences… because you never know who needs to hear it. Just two guys… talking about life… with some great moments in there as well. Kelly… I appreciate you, my friend. Thank you for taking the time and sharing this space with me. This conversation will be released Sunday morning on my YouTube channel, The Living Strong Method. If you’d like to check it out, I’ll have all the information down below in the comments… and also on my Living Strong Community wall. Living Strong… always.

Every once in a while you come across something that brings you right back to a moment in time. Recently, while digging through some old files for another project, I found a short video I recorded back in 2018 with my daughter, @Alex Liciaga. Back then, Alex would come with me to the karate school almost every day. I’d pick her up from school, and we’d head straight to the dojo to teach classes together. Those car rides became our little space to talk, laugh, and just enjoy the time before stepping onto the mats. On one of those drives, we decided to record a bit of our conversation. Nothing planned… just a father and daughter having some fun on the way to teach martial arts. Watching it again brought a big smile to my face. Those moments in the car — the conversations, the laughter — they’re the kind of memories that stay with you. So I thought I’d share this little clip with you. And if you’re a parent who has had those fun conversations with your kids during car rides — the kind where you’re just talking, laughing, and enjoying the moment — I’d love to hear about that in the comments. Those little moments are pretty special.