Meet Steven Huff

We recently connected with Steven Huff and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Steven, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

This was something that I have always struggled with, particularly as a child. I was extremely shy and tended to keep to myself, and always felt sort of out of place. Even coming out of high school I still lacked a lot of confidence, even though I had been doing martial arts for a while at that point. I stared to really hyper focus on those areas where I wanted to excel and by my mid 20s I had started to teach and really found my self-esteem and confidence growing. The more I taught and was able to continue my own training and learning the more my confidence grew. And being able to embrace my passion was a huge part of it. Spending the time and energy focusing on something you absolutely love doing and seeing the progression in skill goes a long way in helping develop that confidence. You know you’re good because you know how hard you worked to get there.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

After 10 years of teaching History and English in an alternative high school program for kids with behavioral issues, I decided to make a career change and follow my dream of work in the entertainment industry. Basing of my martial arts background the connections I had made over the years, I started doing work as a stunt/fight performer and eventually as a fight choreographer and stunt coordinator. I also continue to teach various weapons systems for both martial and entertainment based students. the past few years I have also been working more at the production and development level for a few independent film franchises. I am currently the Director of The School of Two Swords/McLemore Fighting Systems aster inheriting the school from my long term mentor and friend Colonel Dwight McLemore – considered one of the top edged weapons historians and instructors in the world – after his passing a few years ago. I run The School of Two Swords Los Angeles, continuing to teach various forms of weaponry and unarmed combat, and also formed Creative Combat Fight Choreography & Action Design for all of the entertainment oriented work.
I continue to teach workshops throughout the US and internationally, as well as small group and private lessons.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I would say the three most important qualities and skills that helped me were get to where I am now were perseverance, confidence and willingness to take risk. Perseverance, determination…drive. Whatever you want to call it it’s that quality that keeps you pushing no matter how hard it is. Makes you get back up no matter how hard you fell. And makes you do it again and again until you get where you know you can be. Then you push further. It never ends. And the confidence to know what you want and how to get it. To honestly and accurately self-assess and see where you need the most work. The confidence to know that you have what it takes, it just may take some time. But you know, deep down, you know this is WHO you are. And you have to take risks. So many people find themselves asking “what if this” or “what if that” only to later ask themselves “what if I had”. And I was tired of asking myself that question. So I started taking the chance. And while it has been far from an easy path it has been an adventurous one.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

One of the most influential people in my life and who really helped me come into my own as a martial arts instructor and really helped me find my base and confidence in that area was my longtime mentor and friend Colonel Dwight McLemore of the School of Two Swords, I spent over 20 years training with him as not only student but his protege. And it was more than that. He was like a second father to me, and taught me a great many things about life and helped me on the path to who I wanted to be. I was 30 at the time and was still looking for that long term path. It was beyond a doubt his influence that pushed me to step up and take those risks as needed. And after taking over his legacy with the School of Two Swords I continue to strive to follow his example.

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