A Fun Way to Teach Kids – Using Booboos

This article describes a “fun” approach to teaching kids in general and kendo specifically.  It is an approach that I use from time to time that seems quite effective.

The Paradox of Efforting and Non-Efforting

Here’s some stories related to the paradox of efforting (trying) and non-efforting (the absence of trying) in kendo and life.  On how efforting can sometimes lead to so called failure and how non-efforting, to unintended success.  It is also

My Life in Two States and Some Ways to Return Home

I reflect on my experiences on the “way” (道) and summarize in this article:  my life which seems to toggle between two (cognitive) states and some ways that I have found helpful in finding my way home back to the second state.

Quotes on Surrender and Acceptance

Here’s a small collection of quotes on surrender and acceptance in the following sections:

Somatics for Chronic Shoulder and Neck Tension Relief – Videos

This article lists some Somatics exercise videos (below) to release chronic muscle tension in the shoulder and neck areas and to experience (hopefully) long term and lasting relief.

Forward Heel Action for the “Stomp” in Fumikomi

There are probably multiple ways to teach and learn how the forward foot contacts the floor in the “stomp” portion of the fumikomi.  That part of the fumikomi where the forward foot forcefully hits the floor.  For

Quotes on Progressive Relaxation

Buds of the “Heart leaf” tree (Cercis canadensis or eastern redbud) in Mar 2021

Here are a set of quotes related to a relaxation technique referred to as Progressive Relaxation (and Progressive Muscle Relaxation) developed by Edmund Jacobson.  I found the technique not only effective for returning to calmness but also for better understanding the correlation of thoughts and tension (and ‘no thoughts’ and ‘no tension’).  The quotes are organized as follows:

Metaphors and Visuals to Help Learn and Teach Kendo

This article is inspired by the challenge of learning and teaching kendo over on-line video calls in this era of COVID-19.  It is a collection of metaphors and visuals intended to help convey the mechanics of kendo in the

The Experience of ‘No Thought’ – Progressive Relaxation and Edmund Jacobson

From time to time, I read and hear about the experience of ‘No Thought’ in the context of meditation, martial arts and kendo [KendoNotes MushinResources] [KendoNotes MushinQuotes] [KendoNotes MushinEiga].  It is