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Martial Arts Past and Present

Martial Arts Past and Present

By: Ed Brizzolara
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About this listen

 Sensei Ed Brizz, taught Karate & Jujitsu for many years. His podcast aims to learn from others about their philosophies and techniques and how they can be applied today.

martialartspastandpresent.substack.comEd Brizzolara
Episodes
  • Bill "Superfoot" Wallace's 80th Birthday Bash - Part 1

    Bill "Superfoot" Wallace's 80th Birthday Bash - Part 1
    Nov 18 2025

    This week, I come to you from Indianapolis, Indiana from Bill “Superfoot” Wallace’s 80th birthday celebration.

    Friday’s events included testing and a celebrity meet-and-greet. Saturday started off with Bill leading a morning stretching session followed by several seminars hosted by great martial artists. The day concluded with a wonderful dinner celebrating the great Bill Wallace.

    In this first part, we hear wonderful personal stories from several martial artists as they tell us about themselves as well as how they met Bill a very long time ago.

    You’ll hear from Don “The Dragon” Wilson, Kenny Herrera, Terry Dow, Kevin “Hurricane” Hudson, and more.

    And this is only about half of the great people I interviewed. There WILL be more!

    Make sure you’ve subscribed to be notified as soon as the next episode comes out.

    And you can always ask Siri or Alexa to “Play the latest episode of Martial Arts Past and Present”

    If you enjoy what you hear, we welcome your support at https://www.patreon.com/MartialArtsPastandPresent

    Thanks for joining me! Sensei Ed Brizz



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit martialartspastandpresent.substack.com
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    44 mins
  • Ep 5: Author and Third Dan, Mike Gillespie

    Ep 5: Author and Third Dan, Mike Gillespie
    Nov 4 2025
    Sensei Ed Briz welcomes Mike Gillespie, a third Dan from Sarasota, Florida, to discuss his martial arts journey. Mike began in the late 1980s at age eleven, inspired by The Karate Kid and persistent requests to his parents. He previously played soccer and ran cross country. Mike identifies the “blue belt blues” as a significant early challenge, a term coined by his first instructor Jim Graydon, describing when practitioners gain enough knowledge to recognize their shortcomings, creating a motivational hurdle before advancement. The speaker discusses the critical challenge of the intermediate belt phase in martial arts training, where many students quit due to discouragement. Unlike those seeking quick results like becoming a Ninja Turtle, the speaker found early training enjoyable and only faced difficulty at blue belt. A key insight shared is that earning a black belt is not an endpoint but merely the beginning of a lifelong journey. Many students quit after achieving black belt, missing the opportunity for continued growth. The speaker emphasizes that martial arts teaches persistence through difficulty, a lesson that transfers to all life pursuits and enables people to achieve goals previously thought impossible. Mike reflects on how martial arts training at a young age instilled mental discipline and confidence that later enabled him to pursue a PhD, recognizing that martial arts is approximately eighty-five percent mental. He emphasizes that martial arts teaches crucial life skills like respect, discipline, and perseverance, helping students learn to push through challenges they don’t want to face. However, he notes a concerning trend where some schools operate as “black belt mills,” awarding belts too easily to maintain enrollment and profit, which undermines the integrity of martial arts training and creates false confidence in students who haven’t genuinely earned their skills or discipline. He discuss the challenge of retaining martial arts students in today’s instant gratification culture. They explain that many students view earning a black belt as the end goal rather than the beginning of their journey, leading them to quit immediately after achieving it. One speaker emphasizes the importance of creating a welcoming training environment where people want to show up and practice consistently, rather than just attend classes. Another highlight is how some instructors take offense when advanced practitioners seek a place to train rather than receive instruction, and notes that collaborative relationships between different martial arts schools enrich the learning experience, though many instructors refuse to interact with other schools out of fear of losing students. Martial arts extends far beyond physical techniques like punching and kicking, offering profound mental and physical discipline applicable to all life domains. Drawing from personal experience, they explain how martial arts training cultivated intellectual humility and process-focused thinking that enabled them to earn a PhD in organizational psychology. They emphasize core tenets like courtesy, integrity, and perseverance found in Taekwondo and other disciplines, which serve as valuable life guides similar to biblical principles. Regarding commercialization, the speaker suggests the issue isn’t commercialization itself but rather the mentality studios encourage, stressing that thoughtful curriculum design remains crucial for meaningful martial arts instruction. The speaker discusses the tension between commercializing martial arts schools and preserving the art form itself. While using existing curricula and training students in striking techniques can be profitable, he emphasizes that schools must balance financial viability with artistic integrity. He cites David Bybee as an example of someone who successfully built a thriving mixed martial arts facility through hard work, discipline, and earning investor confidence, though he acknowledges this represents only one percent of schools. The speaker identifies as a striker specializing in karate, taekwondo, hapkido, and tongsudo, noting that practitioners often maintain these disciplines throughout their lives despite physical demands. The speaker reflects on a significant regret from his martial arts journey: stopping training during college due to pride when he couldn’t find a school meeting his standards. This years-long gap left him out of shape, and when he resumed, his body suffered considerably, possibly leading to needing hip replacements. He emphasizes wishing he had continued training anywhere rather than quitting entirely. Both agree that life interrupts training, but their desire to practice brings them back. The speaker identifies his most transformative experience as the intense period between earning his first and second karate degrees, training four hours daily with dedicated partners, which naturally developed his technical foundation. Beyond the ...
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    45 mins
  • Ep 4: "Superfoot" Bill Wallace (Part 2 of 2)

    Ep 4: "Superfoot" Bill Wallace (Part 2 of 2)
    Oct 21 2025

    Join Sensei Ed Briz as he finishes up interviewing martial arts icon “Superfoot” Bill Wallace, the undefeated middleweight kickboxing world champion and 10th Dan black belt.

    Bill and Ed discussed karate training and testing. Bill shared his experience training in Okinawa, emphasizing the importance of consistent practice and understanding the “why” behind techniques. They agreed that testing should be based on a student’s knowledge and readiness, rather than just meeting a set time frame. Bill also highlighted the value of competition in judo and the need to focus on a few key techniques as a black belt.

    Bill shared his martial arts expertise, emphasizing the importance of adapting techniques to personal style and finding what works best for each fighter. He discussed his experience in various martial arts styles and how he incorporates elements from different disciplines into his own system. Bill also explained the strategic advantages of using a side-on stance in boxing and kickboxing, highlighting how it can make fighters harder to hit and create opportunities for counterattacks.

    Bill shared a personal story about standing up to a bully in high school, where he unexpectedly defeated a larger opponent in a fight, leading to a dramatic confrontation with the principal that resulted in Bill’s expulsion. He also recounted his career in martial arts, including fighting Joe Lewis and winning a tournament in Dallas where Elvis Presley was in attendance, which eventually led to an opportunity to work with Elvis Presley in Memphis, though his father initially wanted him to become a schoolteacher.

    Bill talked about his experiences in martial arts, particularly kickboxing, where he became a national champion for three consecutive years. He emphasized the importance of basic techniques and the strategic use of the jab, backfist, and sidekick in fighting. Bill also discussed his approach to self-defense, highlighting the importance of staying on your feet and using leverage to gain an advantage over an opponent. He concluded by reflecting on his proudest achievement in martial arts, which was his undefeated retirement from competition. Bill discussed his fighting career, including his philosophy of always aiming to win and his experiences with injuries and near-death experiences.

    He says that he has never wanted to quit fighting, even after severe health issues in 2017. Bill also spoke about his encounters with martial arts legends like Joe Lewis and Bruce Lee, and expressed admiration for Bruce Lee’s philosophy on speed and technique.

    Bill and Ed focused on historical martial arts techniques and their evolution. Bill shared his experiences with different martial arts styles, emphasizing the importance of practicality and the militaristic origins of martial arts. They also talked about the role of the “kiyie” in martial arts and Bill’s approach to teaching. The conversation concluded with Bill expressing his desire to be remembered as a decent fighter and his hope for future contributions to martial arts.

    Listen now to discover the secrets behind one of martial arts’ most innovative champions.

    If you enjoy what you’re hearing and would like to support us in our journey to learn more from martial artists all over the world, visit our Patreon page at Patreon.com/MartialArtsPastandPresent

    You can listen to us from just about anywhere you find podcasts, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Amazon, and more. Even ask Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant to “Play the latest episode of Martial Arts Past and Present.”



    Get full access to Martial Arts Past and Present at martialartspastandpresent.substack.com/subscribe
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    49 mins
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