Criminals Know Who to Attack—That’s Why You Must Train Continuously
Criminals are experts at spotting weakness. Studies show they can tell—just by the way you move or carry yourself—whether you’ll make a good victim. That’s why a one-day self-defense seminar isn’t enough to keep you safe. Seminars are a great place to start, but they’re not the finish line. Krav Maga is designed to be learned quickly by anyone, but it still requires consistent training to hardwire your instincts and build confidence. Otherwise, that false sense of security can make you more vulnerable, not less.
“Sisu”: What a Finnish Action Masterpiece Teaches Us About Grit
Sisu is more than a word—it’s a mindset. In Finnish, Sisu means a white-knuckled form of courage and unimaginable determination. It’s what shows up when your body is done, your mind says “quit,” and you keep moving forward anyway. In this post, Steve Woolridge explains how to train Sisu on the mat, in the gym, and in everyday life.
Why the U.S. Army Came to me for Expertise in Combatives
Steve Woolridge, Krav Maga expert and Air Force veteran, was cited in a U.S. Army Master’s Thesis on hand-to-hand combat. Train where the Army sought answers.
The Truth About Pull-Ups: Why They’re the Ultimate Strength-to-Bodyweight Exercise
Master pull-ups with perfect form. Learn benefits, progressions, and variations to build real strength at Steve Woolridge’s Krav Maga & Fitness Center.
Akrasia: Why You Know What to Do but Still Don’t Do It
It’s a fancy Greek word for a very dumb human problem:
Knowing the right thing to do — and then not doing it.
We’ve all been there. You know eating a piece of chicken would be better than pounding a bag of neon-orange Cheetos at 11 p.m. But you grab the Cheetos. You know you should be at the gym today — you even said you were going to the gym today — but Netflix and your couch seduced you like a siren pulling sailors to their death.
PART 2: The 5 Ways to Build Resilience
My favorite 5 practical ways to develop resilience inside AND outside the gym. Resilience isn’t glamorous—it’s what keeps you in the fight. On the mat. In the gym. In life. 🔥 Ready to stop talking and start building mental toughness? 👉 Sign up for your first Krav Maga & fitness class today.
Resilience Part 1: The Secret Weapon Nobody Talks About
Everybody loves the honeymoon phase—the first week in the gym when motivation is high and your new gloves still smell like fresh leather. But guess what? Motivation is like a bad friend—it bails the second things get hard.
Why Krav Maga Works: Because You’re Already Wired for It
Let me tell you a secret: Your body already knows how to fight. Krav doesn’t try to change your instincts—it weaponizes them. That’s why it works in real life. In real stress. In real attacks. Whether it’s someone grabbing your throat, rushing at you in a parking garage, or threatening your kid while you’re just trying to get groceries, you don’t have time for a thousand reps of a complicated move. You need something that’s already coded into your body—and that’s exactly what Krav Maga gives you.
Understanding How to Learn a Skill
Let’s get something straight: just “showing up” doesn’t mean you’re learning anything.
If you want to actually get better at something—whether it’s throwing a punch, mastering a hip throw, or not falling over in your own sweat puddle during drills—you need to understand how real skill acquisition works.
🧠 DELIBERATE PRACTICE VS. GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS: WHY YOU'RE STILL NOT A BADASS (YET)
Deliberate practice is focused, intentional, uncomfortable, and laser-targeted at your weaknesses. It’s mentally exhausting. It’s not “fun.” It’s how you become undeniable.
Power Kicking: Stop Flailing, Start Hitting Like a Truck
Power comes from the ground up. If your foot’s not connected to the floor with intent, and you’re not rotating your hips like you’re trying to send that kick through someone’s rib cage and out the other side — then you’re not delivering power. You’re just flailing.
Stop Freezing. Start Training. Your Emotions Aren’t in Charge—You Are.
Fear tells you to freeze. Anger tells you to throw a wild haymaker and hope for the best. Neither one gives a damn about your safety or success. That’s why we TRAIN.
The Excuse Epidemic: Why You’re Failing Your Own Damn Self
This isn’t about failing your trainer. Or your schedule. Or your diet app. It’s about betraying the one person you’re supposed to have in your corner 100% of the time: YOU. The Next Time an Excuse Shows Up… Punch it in the face.
🚨 Your Company Has a Safety Problem — And It’s Not Gonna Fix Itself
This isn’t your typical "break the board, get the certificate" nonsense. At Steve Woolridge’s Krav Maga & Fitness Center, we’re flipping the script on corporate safety. We’re talking street-proven, military-informed, and zero-fluff training that WORKS under pressure.
Lifting vs. Calisthenics: Why You’re Still Weak, Tight, and Falling Apart
Weight Lifting vs. Calisthenics. People treat this like it’s some kind of holy war. Barbell bros on one side. Pull-up park ninjas on the other. But here’s the truth you don’t want to hear: You're probably doing BOTH wrong.
From Rage Monster to Intentional Leader: Why I’m Teaching Vision Training at the Gym
At one of my lowest points, I got introduced to a system called Inner Matrix Systems. I started training with them and eventually became a Certified IMS Trainer. The experience flipped a switch in me. This wasn’t about softening. It was about getting clear. About mastering my emotional responses, my thoughts, and my habits. It gave me the tools to focus my intensity instead of letting it control me. And it helped me become the kind of man—and father—I actually wanted to be.
Now, I’m bringing that same training to my students.
Your Ego Is Getting You Killed (and Other Fun Truths About Trying Krav Maga)
Look, I get it. Nobody wants to look like a confused toddler throwing a tantrum while trying to block a punch. But if your ego’s too big to take a hit—literally and metaphorically—you’re gonna stay soft. You’re gonna stay vulnerable. And in the real world, that gets people hurt
Black Belt? Cool. Can You Survive a Parking Lot Ambush?
Black Belt? Cool. Can You Survive a Parking Lot Ambush? I’ve seen it time and time again: someone walks in, black belt wrapped around their waist like it’s a magic forcefield. They strut in with their chest puffed up, ready to “show me something.” Five minutes later, they’re gasping for air on the mat because real-life violence doesn’t care about your belt color.
“This Sucks.” — Good. Keep Going.
TL;DR: If It Sucks, You're Doing It Right.
So the next time you’re in class, and your legs feel like noodles, your lungs are screaming, and your internal monologue is just one long string of curse words…
Smile.
You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Ladies, You’re Not Gonna "Bulk Up" from Lifting — You’re Gonna Wake Up
Ladies, You’re Not Gonna "Bulk Up" from Lifting — You’re Gonna Wake Up. You’re not gonna get bulky from lifting. You’re gonna get unstoppable. This "lifting makes you bulky" crap?