The Teacher from the Past—A True Story 

My business partner texted me one afternoon while he was doing some paperwork at our business, The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense. Dan wrote, “A little old lady stopped in at the school and said she knew you.” I texted back asking if she had left her name. “Mrs. Gronick.”  “Mrs. Gronick, … Continue Reading Continue reading

The Simple Best Thing You Can Do To Not Become A Victim

The mother of a murdered girl said, “It’s easy for people to say she should have slept with pepper spray under her pillows or taken other security precautions, but people don’t do those things unless they’ve been victims.”    It’s a fact that people don’t take regular security precautions unless they’re … Continue Reading Continue reading

Bones Heal, Pain is Temporary and Chicks Dig Scars—Dealing with Fear

Years after famous motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel retired he had a business disagreement with someone in Geauga County, Ohio. Geauga County is home to several small police departments and my friend worked for one of them. One afternoon he told me that he had to make an official phone call … Continue Reading Continue reading

Turn The Other Cheek, Give Em Your Wallet, Run Away, Or . . .

The 25 year old martial arts student was running late to his fiancé’s surprise birthday party when he realized he had forgotten to get her a card. Joseph had bought her a beautiful necklace, one that cost more than a thousand dollars but had forgotten that ever important birthday card. … Continue Reading Continue reading

Brick, Mortar, Martial Arts and Bowing

My father, an Eastern European immigrant, was involved in the martial arts back before most knew much about it. One evening, while walking through woods to get home, he was attacked by three robbers. Surprisingly to the robbers, he kicked two of their butts and had the third one running … Continue Reading Continue reading

The Iceman, Murder, Malcontents and You

Otzy lived 5,300 years ago. He roamed the highest mountain range in what now is Europe, 3,000 years before Jesus’ time. In 1999, hikers stumbled across a frozen body that scientists soon named Otzy the Iceman. Experts extensively studied the ancient body and told us that he was about 5’3” … Continue Reading Continue reading

Confidence, Self-Defense and Your Survival

Bernadette tried the moves she learned in a self-defense class against the drunken man who tried to rape her in an apartment stairwell. But her punches to his face and fingers to the eyes did absolutely nothing to stop the brute. Thank goodness that a security guard heard her pleas. … Continue Reading Continue reading

In an Instant and a Survival Game Changer

(This article was originally written and published in a newsletter for Jiu-jitsu black belts) You punch and strike someone more than once in a fight and yet they keep coming. You and I have seen it in boxing bouts, MMA fights, street fights and perhaps it’s even happened to you. … Continue Reading Continue reading

Getting Along and Excelling in America—Rich, Poor, Black and White—It’s Easy

I own a martial arts school that’s the oldest continuous martial arts academy in Ohio. At The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense we specialize in just what the name says—self-defense. We teach children, men and women. We have quite a diverse group of students at The Academy but I never really … Continue Reading Continue reading

There’s More to Life than all Things Trump, Racism and Hate —The Other Side of America

It was a mini-blizzard in Lyndhurst, Ohio that December night as I pulled into Corpus Christi Academy. I was there for an elementary school musical concert—my first ever. Students from the 5th and 6th grade were getting ready to put on a musical concert featuring Christmas songs. I usually don’t … Continue Reading Continue reading

  • Recent Articles Posted

    • The Teacher from the Past—A True Story 
      My business partner texted me one afternoon while he was doing some paperwork at our business, The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense. Dan wrote, “A little old lady stopped in at the school and said she knew you.” I texted back asking if she had left her name. “Mrs. Gronick.”  “Mrs. Gronick, ...
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      Every year people disappear in the woods without much of a trace. Most get lost or sustain an immobilizing injury. Many of these people are either not found in time to survive their injuries or in some cases, they’re simply never found, even after extensive searches.  Of course, in certain areas, ...
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    • The Simple Best Thing You Can Do To Not Become A Victim
      The mother of a murdered girl said, “It’s easy for people to say she should have slept with pepper spray under her pillows or taken other security precautions, but people don’t do those things unless they’ve been victims.”    It's a fact that people don’t take regular security precautions unless they’re reminded ...
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      I just talked to a personal security expert who I respect more than just about any other expert including the loads of experts who have sprouted up on-line. I’ve known this expert for decades and he talks reality. He’s traveled the globe doing security and bodyguard work and has done ...
    • Bones Heal, Pain is Temporary and Chicks Dig Scars—Dealing with Fear
      Years after famous motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel retired he had a business disagreement with someone in Geauga County, Ohio. Geauga County is home to several small police departments and my friend worked for one of them. One afternoon he told me that he had to make an official phone call ...
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      Even though violent crime and specifically, shootings are on the rise the odds are good that you’ll never be shot at. But if you could learn simple methods to handle shootings, just in case, in about five minutes, wouldn’t you take the time? Continue reading for that five-minute training that ...
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