I'm 36 years old, and during the week I'm a Software Engineer with Motorola. I spend roughly 50 hours a week sitting behind a desk staring at a computer screen. Often the most physical activity I get at work is from walks to the cafeteria for coffee.

On the weekends I race motorcycles. This is an extremely demanding sport both physically and mentally. Imagine yourself under the blazing sun in 100 degree heat wearing a helmet, leather gloves, leather boots, and a leather suit covering your whole body. Now push-start your bike and wait in the pre-grid for 10-15 minutes while they clean up from an accident in the previous race. Then push yourself to the limit both physically and mentally nonstop for the next 50 miles as you test yourself against 40 other racers, some of whom are half your age.

I live for this stuff, but it's not something to go into unprepared. True Power Martial Arts developed in me many of the skills necessary to excel in motorcycle racing.

Physical stamina and flexibility immediately come to mind. I don't think anyone would argue the point that martial arts develop these attributes.

Less obvious, but I think even more important to racing, is mental confidence and focus. In martial arts you spend months preparing yourself to test for the next belt level. Then you demonstrate the skills you have learned over time in a focused test lasting only a couple of hours.

This is much like motorcycle racing where weeks or months of preparation focus on a single race. You must have confidence in yours skills as a racer or you will not be able to best the competition.

True Power Martial Arts is an integral part of my training schedule for racing. It gave me the physical toughness and the mental attitude to not only meet, but to exceed my goals in motorcycle road-racing last year and to earn a first place season points trophy in my class.

At this point you're probably thinking, "Hey, why not lift weights for strength, run on a treadmill for endurance, and take Yoga for flexibility?"

Well, if that's all I needed then that would be fine. Let's face it, though. It's a tough world out there and you never know when you might be confronted with a situation where you need certain skills to protect yourself and your loved ones.

True Power Martial Arts is a real fighting system that really works. It's not a pretty system that develops Black Belts that look like they belong on the dance floor. I've seen quite a few martial artists from other schools that looked good, but whose lack of real fighting skills became apparent in the sparring ring.

So if you want to learn a real fighting system that develops the skills that can get you through a real encounter, then I wholeheartedly recommend True Power Martial Arts.