Knowledge • Perspective • Capability
Sifu Journal & Field Notes
Articles and reflections by Alan Baker on training, travel, and the experiences that shape his work. Explore self protection, self defense, and the ongoing development of capability through study, practice, and everyday life.
144 articles in Capability & Personal Development
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The Gap Between Knowing and Doing: How Capability Is Built
Sifu Journal · Capability & Learning The Gap Between Knowing and Doing: How Capability Is Built Information matters. But how do we turn what we learn into something we can…
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When the Fundamentals Have to Change
A monthly range session forced Alan Baker to reconsider a familiar handgun grip. The result offers a larger lesson about adaptation, coaching, and the continuing path toward mastery.
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The Capable Life: Education Should Change What You Can Do
Education should do more than inform you. Alan Baker explains how self-education, practical application, feedback, and humility build a more capable life.
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When Less Becomes More: Learning to Become an Intuitive Driver
After years of training with Joe Autera, Alan Baker finally began to understand what it means to feel your way through a driving problem. This reflection from Pocono Raceway explores…
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The Nucleus: How Keysi Fighting Method Trains Problems, Not Just Techniques
Technique gives a martial artist the notes, but the Nucleus teaches the student how to play the music. Sifu Alan Baker explores how Keysi develops adaptable problem-solving through drills, laboratories,…
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Build Your Own Intelligent Physical Culture
Physical training should do more than make you tired. Alan Baker presents 13 principles for developing an intelligent physical culture that improves how the human machine moves, performs, adapts, and…
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Build the Room You Spent Your Life Looking For
Serious education begins when experienced people can admit uncertainty, question assumptions, and pursue what they do not yet know. Alan Baker explores intellectual humility, thought tools, and the responsibility to…
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The Perpetual White Belt: What Combatives at the Lake Reinforced About Mastery
After a three-and-a-half-week teaching tour, Combatives at the Lake reinforced two enduring lessons: remain a perpetual student, and keep refining knowledge until what remains is simple, clear, and useful.
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Why Capability Matters
The Capability Academy exists because information alone does not create capability. This founding editorial explains why human beings need a lifelong path for developing judgment, discipline, awareness, communication, physical capacity,…
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Are You Frustrated Enough? Why Mental Struggle Builds Capability
Physical training isn’t the only place where growth happens. Learn why intentionally challenging your mind may be one of the most important investments you ever make.
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Master Pedro Sauer On Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, Technique, Leverage, And Respect
Master Pedro Sauer teaching Sifu Alan Baker Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Sifu Alan Baker training with Master Pedro Sauer. Master Pedro Sauer demonstrating Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique. Gracie Jiu-Jitsu lesson with Master Pedro…
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Sifu Alan Baker trains with Guro Joe Wakey in Tampa, Florida, exploring Pekiti-Tirsia Kali timing, knife jab drills, footwork, and position.
Sifu Alan Baker with Guro Joe Wakey and Tuhon Tim Waid of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. Guro Joe Wakey teaching Pekiti-Tirsia Kali knife jab timing in Tampa, Florida. Sifu Alan Baker training…
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Rorion Gracie at the CSW World Conference: The Garage Years, the Gracie Challenge, and the Birth of the UFC
At the CSW World Conference, Rorion Gracie shared a powerful firsthand account of the early days of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in America, his journey from Brazil to the United States, the…
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The Real Reason I Still Train
After 47 years in the martial arts, people often ask me why I still train. The answer has very little to do with fighting. Over time, I came to realize…
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Training With Sensei Erik Paulson: Lessons From a Private Session at the CSW World Conference
During a recent trip to Orange County, California, for the CSW World Conference, I had the opportunity to spend some private training time with Sensei Erik Paulson. In this session,…
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The Limitation of Perspective and the Search for Real Educators
As human beings, we have enormous potential, but one of the greatest limitations placed on that potential is our perspective. Whether we realize it or not, we are constantly drawing conclusions…
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The Superpower of Selective Attention
In today’s world, your attention is under constant attack. At any given moment, there are countless forces competing for your focus. Notifications, messages, news, social media, conversations, and problems are…
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The Bittersweet Truth About Sugar
This lecture hits because it challenges the story most people were taught: “eat less, move more,” and “calories in, calories out.” The core message is that the real battlefield is…
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Questions On Fasting
In my 55th year, I’ve found myself doing something that I think a lot of disciplined people eventually do. I’ve started digging up the old habits that worked. Not the…
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The Longevity Blueprint
There comes a point in every warrior’s life when the pursuit of power, precision, and performance gives way to a deeper question. How do I preserve it? After decades of…
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Timeless Tools
I talk about developing timeless tools all the time, because I’ve watched the same story play out for decades. A student starts training, gets excited, gets strong, gets fast, learns…
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Warrior’s Path to Conquering Challenges II
Inside every man or woman who trains, there’s a quiet understanding that most people will never touch. You can’t grow without pressure. You can’t sharpen without friction. And you can’t…
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Intermittent Fasting And Triggering Autophagy
I have been doing various forms of fasting for the majority of my life. I was introduced to the concept by one of my Kung Fu teachers when I was…
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Flipping The ‘State’ Switch
When people watch high-level performers, they often ask some version of the same question: “How do you just flip that switch?” One moment, you are relaxed, laughing, talking with friends.…
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Never Arrive Empty-Handed: A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Host Gifts
A host gift is a quiet gesture of thanks. It says “I appreciate the invitation” without creating work for the host.
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Building Tools for Every Level of Force In The Encounter
You should have answers and tools for every part of a combative encounter. If the only option you trust is your firearm, stress will pull you toward that single solution.…
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Less Talk, More Do!
Opera, non verba, is starting to feel like a superpower, because the ability to act separates the serious from the spectators.
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