Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership

Little Black Belt is TEN!

Blogging, Near Philadelphia

My blog is TEN years old! Can you believe it? I began this project as a quiet way to document the life-changing insights I was having about a year into my taekwondo journey. I didn’t tell anyone about it for a few months. Since then it has grown to be a documentation of my journey to black belt and beyond, the inspiration for my 2021 book Kicking and Screaming: a Memoir of Madness and Martial Arts, and home to many guest articles from the larger martial arts world. The blog and the book have pushed me into talking openly about mental illness in the public space, which I’ve done on podcasts, in articles, and even in my workplace.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to read my thoughts and to the other writers and martial artists who have contributed richness and diversity to the blog.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Self-Development and Leadership, Training Tips

Guest Writer: 5 Things Jiu Jitsu Has Taught Me About Learning

Guest writer Ashely Mann and her husband Josiah demonstrate a Jiu Jitsu technique.

I have been in the business of adult learning for nearly 15 years. I’m always interested to see how our experiences, whether they are related to martial arts, our professional life, or our relationships, help us learn. In this guest post Ashley Mann shares five things practicing Jiu Jitsu has taught her about the nature of learning. My personal favorite from her list: “Comparison is the thief of joy.”

If you would like to contribute a post to Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers

Guest Writer: The Power of BJJ Training for Kids; a Journey with Griphouse Academy, Glasgow

My amazing guest writers have shared the importance of martial arts training for kids and the benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in general. This article, courtesy of Griphouse Academy Glasgow head coach Nathaniel, brings together the best of both worlds. Learn more about the great things Coach Nathaniel and team are doing for young students at www.griphouseacademy.co.uk

If you would like to submit a martial arts-related article to this blog, please review the guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership, Work and Martial Arts

The Exhilarating Feeling of Not Caring So Much

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“I don’t have anything to prove anymore,” I thought randomly as I watched my reflection jog in time to the music in a recent Body Combat class. My feet stayed low to the ground, and my right knee was encased in a stretchy light brace since stomping on a hard gym floor doesn’t feel great for my mostly recovered leg.

It was a nice thought.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Mental Health, Self-Development and Leadership, Training Tips, Work and Martial Arts

Guest Writer: Seven Important Truths Learned From Martial Arts

I’m blessed to have a number of guest writers offer their unique perspectives and expertise on this blog just about every month. When Cindy Villanueva contacted me about sharing her writing, I jumped at the chance. Besides our obvious connection of being female martial artists and black belts, Cindy and I have a lot in common. We both have ties to Texas, we’re authors, and, like me, Cindy has benefited greatly from the emotional and mental aspects of martial arts.

This blog post explores universal truths Cindy has gleaned from her decades of martial arts practice.

Enjoy Cindy’s insights below, and be sure to check out her website and her book, Don’t Fight Mad.

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Melanie Gibson Mental Health, Work and Martial Arts

An Extra Day to…Be Still?

Leap Day and Leap Year: How To Talk About Each
Image credit: Grammarly.com

Four years ago on Leap Day, I wrote a post titled “When It’s Crunch Time, Be Agile, Be Ready…and Be Still.” 

Oh, if only I knew (if only we all knew) what was to befall the world two weeks later. But before the world turned upside down, I was somewhat happily mired in the busyness of life, both in my personal and professional life. I accepted busy as the norm. Even when I had a moment of downtime I used it to tick things off my to-do list. When the world shut down, and I found myself at home, the busyness increased–working for a healthcare organization in the midst of a global pandemic was not the most calming of situations, plus I thought the extra time at home would allow me to write a whole other book on top of preparing my memoir for publication.

No surprise — I had a manic episode that burned out into depression by May 2020, and that depression lingered until the beginning of 2023. Obviously maintaining balance in a moment of crisis is not one of my fortes.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Training Tips

Guest Writer: How to Fight vs Opponents with Longer Reach

How To Close The Distance Against A Taller Opponent In Muay Thai ...
Image credit: evolve-university.com

We aren’t all built the same, which means we can’t all employ the same strategies when we spar. I’m shorter than most of the people I fight, so I have to use different tactics than someone taller. My former master was especially good at encouraging me to fight to my body’s strengths, close the distance, and take advantage of using punches and certain kicks. Velin Draogev offers tips and tricks for fighting opponents with longer reach. Read more about Velin’s background and how to access his writing at the end of the article.

If you would like to write a martial arts-related guest post for Little Black Belt, please see the guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Training Tips

The Role of Taekwondo in Self-Defense and Personal Safety

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Image credit: https://u-paris.fr/sport/self-defense/

While modern, competitive taekwondo has become quite popular, at its core, the martial art is meant to prepare the practitioner to defend themself. How effective is taekwondo?
Guest writer Michael, whose work has been featured on several martial arts and sports sites, explores how taekwondo technique is effective for self-defense.

I’ve personally never had to use taekwondo to defend myself against another person, but one time on a walk I was ready to throw down with an aggressive dog. I was in a fighting stance and everything. Good thing that dog was behind a fence.  🙂

If you would like to be a guest writer for Little Black Belt, please review the guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Guest Writers, Injury and Recovery, Training Tips

Guest Writer: Post Fight Recovery for Muay Thai

Adam Green from muaythaiinsider.co.uk is back with tips on post fight recovery. While this article focuses on Muay Thai fighters, these are great tips for any martial arts practitioner. As we get into training and competition season, make sure you are healthy, well, and having fun!

If you would like to contribute a martial arts-related post to Little Black Belt, see guest writer guidelines here.

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Melanie Gibson General Martial Arts, Mental Health

Yes, Your Martial Art Can Just Be a Hobby

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Recently my partner sent me a video by YouTube comedian Ryan George. In the video, a man who likes to doodle cute little birds for fun in his spare time is bullied and pressured by a #hustleandgrind bro into creating a side hustle-to-full-time business with products, employees, and a full on corporate structure. By the end of the video, both men are older and ready to retire. The hustle bro comments that the artist can now go paddle boarding with son in his free time, which was what the artist enjoyed doing before he started his bird drawing business. The artist is angry and frustrated at time lost. It harkens back to the parable of the fisherman and the businessman. The fisherman, like the man sketching birds, was content with his life. The businessman couldn’t understand why the fisherman wouldn’t follow his promptings to expand his production.

Sometimes a hobby can just be a hobby.

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