I've been thinking lately about what separates real martial artists from people who just know how to hit hard. Over forty-four years of hosting The Gathering, I've had the privilege of training with masters who understood something most never learn: strategy always beats force.

Let me share some st...

Let me tell you about Dan Inosanto. I've never formally trained under him, but I've watched him for years, and he's taught me more about what it means to be a student than most people realize.

I first met Dan through his cousin Pas Fidel, who came up alongside me in the early days. Dan had just sta...