#4: Billy Blanks – "Heart of a Champion (Transformation Begins from the Inside Out)"

“Tae Bo sold 115 million copies and revolutionized the fitness world.  It changed the way people talked about fitness, I was the first person that talked about inside out.  Most people didn’t really talk about the inside, most people talked about changing your hips, your legs, your bum, and your arms, but nobody talked about the heart.  I was the only one talking about the heart.  If you really want to change your life, you have to change what is going on on the inside.  What if all of a sudden God gave you the best body in the world, would that change who you are as a person? No, because the inside is still the same, outside may look different but what is carrying that body is still the same thought pattern.  Change the inside before the outside can change.”—Billy Blanks

My guest this episode is the one and only Billy Blanks who is a 9’th Degree Black Belt and one of the greatest Karate Fighters in history.  He is a 7-time world Karate Champion, the first Amateur Athletic Union Champ in 1975, and a Golden Gloves boxing Champion of Champions.  He was the captain of the United States Karate Team and won over 30 Gold medals in international competitions.  He is the founder of the sensational “Tae Bo” fitness system that sold over 115 million copies and revolutionized the fitness world.  Mr. Blanks was inducted into the world Karate Hall of Fame in 1982.

This episode is all about transformation from the inside out.  My key takeaway is that success in martial arts and life begins with unlocking the heart.  We all experience fears and doubts that cause us to put up protective walls, these walls stop us from feeling, growing, and honestly expressing ourselves.  Our true gifts remain hidden behind these walls, but the practice of martial arts pierces these walls, and allows us to discover who we truly are and gives us the ability to face our challenges with courage, confidence, and clarity.  We also dive deep into training philosophy and how to perform under pressure at the highest levels of competition.  We discuss the value of testing your skills, to see how you can improve and to find out where you stand instead of focusing on outcomes like winning and losing.  Mr. Blanks shares some great stories of overcoming adversity, the early Karate Scene, and finding greatness through the service of others.  I was really moved by this episode, and Mr. Billy Blanks truly has the heart of a champion.