Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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How Long It Actually Takes to Get Good: A Realistic Timeline for Adult Beginners
A stage-by-stage look at what progress genuinely looks like for adult beginners in combat sports, from the first class through the first year and beyond.
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Self-Defense Apps and Wearables: What They Can and Can’t Do For You
A realistic look at safety apps and wearable alarms, including their genuine limitations around connectivity, false confidence, and privacy.
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Managing Nerves and Pre-Fight Anxiety: What Works for Amateur Competitors
Why pre-fight anxiety is nearly universal even among experienced competitors, and the specific strategies that make it manageable rather than paralyzing.
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Reading an Opponent’s Body Language Mid-Bout
The physical tells experienced fighters learn to read mid-round, from weight distribution to breathing patterns that signal fatigue or an incoming strike.
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The Difference Between Sport Self-Defense and Street Self-Defense Training
Why skills built for competition don’t automatically transfer to a street confrontation, and what actually needs to be trained differently.
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How to Support a Partner or Spouse Who Trains Combat Sports
Practical advice for partners of combat sports athletes, from understanding fight camp mood swings to what actually helps on fight week.
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Traveling to a Tournament: Logistics Every Amateur Fighter Should Plan For
The unglamorous planning side of competing away from home, from packing gear correctly to managing weight cuts without a home kitchen.
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Handling Trash Talk and Intimidation Before a Bout
Why pre-fight intimidation tactics work on some fighters and not others, and practical ways to keep an opponent’s words from affecting performance.
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Setting Realistic Goals When You Start Training as an Adult Beginner
How to set training goals that keep an adult beginner motivated instead of comparing progress to teenagers who started a decade earlier.
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The Business Side of Turning Pro: Sponsorships, Purses, and What Amateurs Don’t See Coming
The financial reality of turning professional in combat sports, and why the business side often surprises fighters more than the competition itself.
Got any book recommendations?