Cover image of The Martial Brain

The Martial Brain

The Martial Brain Podcast explores the intersection between the martial arts, scientific skepticism, critical thinking, and that wacky organ that floats between our ears. It is part of Jeff Westfall'... Read more

Ranked #1

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192 I’m Not as Good as I Once Was, but I’m as Good Once as I Ever Was! Part 1

192 I’m Not as Good as I Once Was, but I’m as Good Once as I Ever Was! Part 1

If one more "twenty-something" says to me that "age is just a number" or "you're as young as you feel" I'm going to hit ... Read more

26 Mar 2019

13mins

Ranked #2

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203 Heroes of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Part 1.1

203 Heroes of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Part 1.1

When I contemplate what a dark place my mind was inhabiting prior to Dave's visit, it's perfectly possible that he saved... Read more

17 Sep 2019

18mins

Ranked #3

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201 Toxic Sparring Culture

201 Toxic Sparring Culture

When sparring is done badly it's at the very least a poor use of training time, is probably very frightening, dangerous ... Read more

11 Aug 2019

14mins

Ranked #4

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202 The Intersection of Survival and Self-Expression

202 The Intersection of Survival and Self-Expression

The study of the martial arts lies precisely at the intersection of the worlds of survival and self-expression.

23 Aug 2019

14mins

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Ranked #5

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213 The Forgotten War Part 2

213 The Forgotten War Part 2

When you picture a scene from the old west in which the cavalry comes charging to the rescue, in reality at least ten pe... Read more

3 Mar 2020

17mins

Ranked #6

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207 Tis the Season…to Rage Against the Dying of the Light

207 Tis the Season…to Rage Against the Dying of the Light

How deeply frightening must if have been to people who had no idea that they lived on a giant sphere spinning in space a... Read more

24 Dec 2019

7mins

Ranked #7

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210 Syncope, Hypnagogia, Barnyard Animal Behavior, and Sex Demons Part 1

210 Syncope, Hypnagogia, Barnyard Animal Behavior, and Sex Demons Part 1

It's almost like taking out an opponent with Mr. Spock's Vulcan nerve pinch!

26 Jan 2020

9mins

Ranked #8

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218 The Forgotten War Part 7

218 The Forgotten War Part 7

But it turns out that the Filipino people didn't WANT themselves and their property to be the property of the United Sta... Read more

19 May 2020

17mins

Ranked #9

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217 The Forgotten War Part 6

217 The Forgotten War Part 6

On June 12, 1898, the Filipino rebels officially declared independence from Spain, in a document that, ironically, in li... Read more

1 May 2020

16mins

Ranked #10

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215 The Forgotten War Part 4

215 The Forgotten War Part 4

In order to get to Santiago, his troops would need to get past the fortified San Juan Heights on its outskirts, which lo... Read more

6 Apr 2020

15mins

Ranked #11

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195 Maintaining Your Martial Relevancy

195 Maintaining Your Martial Relevancy

If you run a martial arts academy, keep in mind that it's more productive to think in terms of business and science inst... Read more

20 Apr 2019

11mins

Ranked #12

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211 Syncope, Hypnagogia, Barnyard Animal Behavior, and Sex Demons Part 2

211 Syncope, Hypnagogia, Barnyard Animal Behavior, and Sex Demons Part 2

Despite the fact that ethical jiujitsu players shouldn't SEEK to render their opponent unconscious, it's not at all unco... Read more

8 Feb 2020

14mins

Ranked #13

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Calm Down, People!

Calm Down, People!

If there's one thing that can be learned from human history, it's that there is no crisis so bad that it cannot be made ... Read more

19 Mar 2020

6mins

Ranked #14

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204 Heroes of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Part 1.2

204 Heroes of the Rising Phoenix Martial Arts Academy Part 1.2

I had been forced to endure the presence of bullies for much of my young life; I would be damned if I was going to add t... Read more

15 Oct 2019

13mins

Ranked #15

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194 The Art of Listening

194 The Art of Listening

Many budding martial artists pay only enough attention to their opponents to know where they are, and maybe if they are ... Read more

14 Apr 2019

11mins

Ranked #16

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212 The Forgotten War Part 1

212 The Forgotten War Part 1

The epic story of the relationship between the USA and the Philippines started in war a little over a century ago.

17 Feb 2020

12mins

Ranked #17

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199 Authenticity, Inauthenticity, and the Martial Arts Part 1

199 Authenticity, Inauthenticity, and the Martial Arts Part 1

Here's a thought...Is it a stretch to substitute the word "competent" for the word "authentic" when referring to a marti... Read more

24 Jul 2019

13mins

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