In many martial arts there is this concept widely practiced but barely explained. I'm talking about KIAI. Most people think is just a yell. But KIAI is more than that. I mean to the general public, people yelling at the dojo looks a little silly and how many times have we lost our voices because we yelled too much during class? For some KIAI, is a yell when executing a … [Read more...] about What does KIAI mean?
Articles
What is the Hiragana?
Last week I wrote about the difference between Chinese and Japanese calligraphy. Both styles use kanji (Chinese characters) but differ in aesthetics. Like I said last week, the main difference between the two is the use of kana in Japanese calligraphy. But what is kana? And why is it important when practicing Shodo? Kana stands for hiragana and katakana; two … [Read more...] about What is the Hiragana?
Japanese vs. Chinese Calligraphy
The other day we had dinner at Five Guys. My wife pointed out a muscle guy who had a tattoo on his right tricep. He had two Kanji characters tattooed in Kaisho. "Do you know what it says?", she asked. I said I recognized the first one, but I was having trouble with the second. "How come?", she asked to which I replied because it was Chinese. "How do you know if its Chinese … [Read more...] about Japanese vs. Chinese Calligraphy
How to develop your own Shodo style
I've had many people tell me my calligraphy looks like Toyoda Sensei's. In fact, I’ve had people commission me for calligraphy specifically because they want it to look like Toyoda Sensei's. I take this as a complement. I did studied Toyoda Sensei's calligraphy a lot. Many of my practice sessions were spent literally copying his work. It is natural that my style resembles … [Read more...] about How to develop your own Shodo style
HOW TO DEVELOP A PRACTICE ROUTINE
When my kids go to bed is when my day starts. I say this because its the only un-interrupted time I have. My kids are little, 2 and 4 years old. There is no quite time. There is no peace. A long time ago I made a commitment to develop my Shodo studio. This not only meant to brush more calligraphy, but also to do commissioned work, make videos, and teach an online … [Read more...] about HOW TO DEVELOP A PRACTICE ROUTINE