Beginner’s Mind: The Test of Wisdom
Three students were sitting cross-legged on a hillside overlooking a wide, long valley. The sun…
The Beauty of Form
It was a stormy winter day with snow drifting up to the windows. A young…
The Simple Lessons of Water
The students were called together in the main hall. “Today you will learn a simple…
Zen and the Business of the Martial Arts
“Mastering others requires force; Mastering the self requires enlightenment. – Lao Tzu What does Zen…
When It All Seems Like It’s Just Too Much!
A man was walking on the beach, occasionally stooping over, picking something up, and placing…
What Do You Think About Bullying?
Let’s get right to the point. Everyone has his or her own personal story of…
What Do We Really Value in the Martial Arts?
There are many things we value in life. It’s sometimes difficult to get people to…
Respect – Martial Arts Manners
Why say, “May I,” “Please,” “Thank you?” Are they just words we’ve been taught to…
The Spiritual Life of the Martial Arts
Look, children, Snow flakes! Let’s rush out. — Basho, a Haiku poet Whether we realize…
The Real Basics in the Martial Arts
The Martial Arts is experiencing a natural evolution, from the original development in China as…
The Middle Way in the Martial Arts
We have much to learn from traditional martial arts and much work to do to…
Show Me Your Blackbelt Without Doing Anything Physical
I was presenting a workshop in New England when suddenly I had an insight! It…