In this episode of Resilience Radio, Irvin Eisenberg talks with Uncle Tommy, a lifelong martial artist who was told at 14 years old that he wouldn't live past 30. Nearly 50 years later, he's still training, teaching, and proving the medical predictions wrong.
Tommy shares how martial arts, qigong, tai chi, disciplined eating, and self-education shaped his survival. We talk about juvenile diabetes in the 1970s, fighting with insurance companies, navigating outdated medical advice, and why movement has kept him alive and functional despite arthritis and a lifetime of health challenges.
Key topics include:
✅ Being diagnosed with juvenile (Type 1) diabetes in the 1970s
✅ Why martial arts became central to Tommy's survival
✅ Qigong, tai chi, and slow movement for circulation & blood sugar regulation
✅ Using herbs and nutrition to stabilize energy and glucose
✅ How outdated medical guidelines pushed him toward independence
✅ The role of mindset, discipline, and continuous monitoring
✅ What Tommy teaches others today about movement and long-term health
Guest Bio — Uncle Tommy:
Uncle Tommy is a multi-disciplinary martial artist with backgrounds in kenpo, kung fu, qigong, and tai chi. Living with Type 1 diabetes for nearly 50 years, he attributes his longevity to consistent movement, internal arts, and a self-directed approach to health. He teaches and mentors martial artists across generations.
Music Credit:
Finlay's "Some Biological Process" by Aaron Marcus
(https://aaronmarcus.bandcamp.com/track/finlays-menopausal-fridge-some-biological-process)
Listen on Libsyn:
https://directory.libsyn.com/shows/view/id/resilience)
Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/KogdLCFnypI?si=EwzGh-Y9PwVsJ7uH
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