Let’s Start at the Very Beginning…

a very good place to start! I am starting this blog as a way to hold myself accountable- to keep me writing about my marital arts. I hope that writing will help me assimilate ideas that float through my mind, and may not otherwise get pinned down and digested. Whether anyone else will stumble upon …

Finding the keys to unlock learning

During Covid-time, my training took place mainly in an outdoor "dojo" environment.  Now, as we head towards summer and have returned to more standard learning environments, I find myself reflecting on my learning, and how great teachers can offer just the right tip to help unlock a technique.   As the pandemic metrics have been favorable …

Using Downtime to Level Up

I have been remiss in writing and updating this website, and I have no good excuse. Life has been busy, and perhaps I was feeling some burnout or just needed some time away from the computer. My family and I took a wonderful vacation together in April and it was restorative. The weather was warm …

Options for Control

Recently at karate practice, we were practicing a technique with a rising elbow. I aimed my elbow for the chin and was corrected to direct the elbow into the chest instead. At first, this didn't make a lot of sense. I figured that if I'm going to throw an elbow, I'd better land it where …

Listening in: Apex Karate interviews Ariel Torres

I am not a competitive karateka and I hardly follow the major competitions, but of course I watched karate at the Tokyo Olympics! It was so much fun to watch the kata and see an American win a medal. So, when I saw this interview on Apple podcasts, I immediately downloaded it for my long …

Olympic Let Down

Well, it's been a couple of weeks and much has changed in my excitement regarding sport and the Olympics. I was sooo excited for the Winter Games, and for figure skating. I really love watching this event and I knew that there would be amazing performances from the women, especially the Russian trio. So the …

Olympic Excellence

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com It was another wonderful night of Olympic competition! I stayed up way too late, but was rewarded by seeing the best perform at their best. I loved seeing Chloe Kim and Nathan Chen show just how dominant they are in their respective sports. I also saw the replay of Lindsey …

The Olympic Spirit in Finishing Last

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com My thoughts today are on two unsuccessful Olympic ski runs. Both of these women missed a gate in their first run of the slalom course, but what they did next was completely different. Mikaela Shiffrin, a gold medal favorite, sat down on the side of the mountain for about 20 …

Winter Weather & Olympic Fun

This has been a hard month for training. My kobudo practice has effectively been put on hold, due to Covid and the wintery weather we've been having. Last week we got hit with a blizzard, and this week it's freezing rain. Today my kids' school was closed again, and we made the most of the …

Happy Year of the Tiger

Yesterday was a long day, and so this post is a day late! For me, this new year started with two, back-to-back flat tires. Monday I punctured my tire, got it repaired, and Monday night (coming home from the dojo) another tire deflated. Tuesday was not only 2/1, New Year's Day, but also the first …

Happy Viola Day!

Photo by Mu00e9line Waxx on Pexels.com I realize this is not a martial arts post, but I had to acknowledge that January 30 is Viola Day. I've been a violist since age 10 and I had no idea that we have a "Day"! 🤣 So, happy Viola Day to all. I had fun playing yesterday, …