My Aikido training has been the driving force of pretty much anything I’ve done and continue to do. Following on the footsteps of my older siblings, I began training in 1995 at the age of 14. I spent my teenage years at the dojo training almost every night, traveling to seminars and attending other dojo social gatherings. By age 18, Aikido had become an integral part of my … [Read more...] about Application of Aikido
Someone emailed me a few days ago asking if Shodo Essentials (the new updated version of Intro to Japanese Calligraphy Online Course) was a good fit for him. He explained he was taking lessons from a local teacher and was wondering if he was better suited for my Advanced Course. This is a legitimate question and one I get asked quite often. My goal with creating this online … [Read more...] about Daily Practice
As the semester heads to its peak, my calendar looks like a grid of starbursts; color coded blocks of events, meetings, appointments, and important dates all staring at me multiple times a day. What's the best thing to do at times like this? Find time to rest, you think? NO. It is time for daily practice! My culinary students start to worry about their comprehensive … [Read more...] about 30 Days of Shodo
“While we teach, we learn” Seneca, Roman Philosopher When I first learned how to make sushi at Big Fish Restaurant in 2006, the chef who trained me said: “you don’t know how to make sushi until you need to train someone else”. He trained me for a day or two, and then I was on my own. I managed the station fairly well during busy nights and I got to the point where I thought I … [Read more...] about Teaching is Learning
It’s a lot of work and I have an online course, so why go through all the trouble? When I first wanted to learn Japanese Calligraphy, I didn’t now where to start. So I bought a book and figured I could teach myself. This was the late 90’s-- the internet was not as useful as it is today. I read the book, followed all the instructions and exercises but my calligraphy didn’t look … [Read more...] about The Reason I Teach Workshops
