“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.
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.
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.
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.