Sports Thoughts

"Mind Over Muscle: Writings from the Founder of Judo" by Jigoro Kano offers a profound exploration of the philosophy, principles, and educational values behind Judo, one of Japan's most renowned martial arts. This collection of essays and lectures reveals Kano’s vision of Judo as a discipline that goes beyond physical techniques, promoting moral and intellectual development for personal and societal benefit.

As an athlete in my sophomore year of college, I found myself miserable. Two years later, as a senior, I enjoyed the most satisfying basketball season of my life. My path from depression and anxiety to joy and peak performance was somewhat unconventional. A therapist taught me to meditate, enabling me to face my problems instead of shrinking from them. By modifying my habits regarding drugs, partying and my phone, and reading meaningful books, I developed new attitudes toward both my sport and my life.

As an athlete in his sophomore year of college, Billy Hansen found himself miserable. Two years later, as a senior, he enjoyed the most satisfying basketball season of his life. The path from depression and anxiety to joy and peak performance was somewhat unconventional. A therapist taught him to meditate, enabling him to face his problems instead of shrinking from them. This book, then, is about playing sports, overcoming anxiety, the practice of meditation, growing up, and discovering how to live well.

The street will not extend any courtesy! The unpredictable environment of the streets is a major catalyst to the way one thinks. One is expected to act in the relatively safe environment of the traditional martial arts training hall. The training hall embodies mutual respect and compliance. There is no training partner on the street.

As the captain of his team and a little league football champion who has sailed through five years of little league, Blake has developed an immense passion for helping young people go through the hurdles of life by sharing tips of his success while fearlessly revealing the losses of his life. In this book, Blake exposes the misconceptions of failure that hold us back from getting the life we desire. With unflinching honesty, Blake examines the pain and falsehood that once left him feeling undeserving and also reveals the practical tips that helped him overcome the hurdles of failure.