This Wasn't Illness
I woke up feeling sick. My stomach ached, I felt hot, and my lower back hurt. I thought there was no way I could make it to my Kobudo (traditional Okinawan weapons) class. ...more
Martial Arts ,Personal Stories Mental Health Hygiene &Resilience
November 04, 2025•2 min read
Happy Halloween
I pretty much always wear my Jedi uniform on Halloween. This photo is at night in the Jedi Temple dojo. I’ve never actually been there, of course, but I have Photoshop and I’m not afraid to use it—a... ...more
Martial Arts ,Personal Stories
October 31, 2025•1 min read
3rd Anniversary of my Black Belt Test
Training for a black belt test while rehabbing ruptured disks in your neck is not an experience that I recommend, but I did it. It was both one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and also one of m... ...more
Self-Determination ,Martial Arts My Black Belt Journey Personal Stories &Resilience
October 16, 2025•2 min read
1st Anniversary of my Nidan Test
However, I had one beautiful moment on the test. A moment that was almost failure but I turned into a huge triumph. Here’s the story: ...more
Self-Defense ,Martial Arts My Black Belt Journey Personal Stories &Failure
September 19, 2025•2 min read
From Gutter Balls to Strikes
I went bowling for the first time in 40+ years, with my husband and friends who are actually pretty good. My score? • Gutter balls. • A foul (momentum carried me over the line). • I actually hit so... ...more
Martial Arts ,Personal Stories Failure Play &Flow State
August 15, 2025•2 min read
Healthy Humility
I’m in an (almost) monthly Zoom chat with a group of friends who are all self-defense/martial arts people and who are all leaders or teachers in some way. In our most recent meeting, author Rory Mille... ...more
Leadership ,Martial Arts &Big Ideas
June 25, 2025•2 min read
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