Thanks to a fellow kendo dojo member, I recently started reading the life story of Yamaoka Tesshu (山岡 鉄舟, 1836-1888), a master swordsman, calligrapher and Zen Continue reading
Story
A Furry Three-Legged Trooper Named Duke and Heijoushin (平常心)

I met and walked a three-legged dog named Duke with a friend a few evenings ago. He is a cool “dude.” He had lost Continue reading
Witnessing a Transformation in the Demeanor of a Child in Kendo
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled. – Plutarch
I recently witnessed something quite astonishing. The demeanor of a young child, who had been learning kendo for at least several years, changed remarkably during a Continue reading
On Fire in Shiai – An Anecdote on the Power of Music
An old memory came to mind while watching some of the snowboarding events during the recent 2018 Winter Olympics. I noticed how some of the athletes would rhythmically Continue reading
Kyudo and Kendo – “How Can They Be Identical?”
This is a story of a learning experience I had, among many, thanks to a professor and teacher, Yokoyama Naoya (横山直也) sensei, years ago when I was a student in Japan. Continue reading