Michelle J

Standing Meditation

Wuji standing meditation is the foundation of the martial arts and healing system I teach. “Standing is everything,” my teacher Sana will say, over and over. When we stand we aim to release tension in the body and connect deeply with the earth. Being in tension limits our possible movements– if the arm is fullContinue reading “Standing Meditation”

Martial Arts Community

Earlier this week I co-hosted Markstravaganza, a martial arts party in the park to practice with my old training buddies, the Marks. One of the Marks, Dr. Mark, moved to California years ago, so we don’t see him very often. Back in the day, he was one of the people I trained with the mostContinue reading “Martial Arts Community”

My Thoughts on the Musical “Hamilton”

A quick caveat: I’m not a big fan of musicals. I like Cabaret, aka the best-musical-ever, and I like Hair, aka the second-best-musical-ever. Other than that, I’m generally not a fan. In the musical Hamilton, I really liked the character Lafayette. I was like, “Who is this French guy who is named after that streetContinue reading “My Thoughts on the Musical “Hamilton””

The Partner/Opponent: Paradox in Push Hands

I’ve liked fighting since I was a kid. Not real fighting, and not watching sport fighting, but wrestling with my little brother. I loved the energy of it— getting mad at each other, getting riled up, then yelling at each other, the grappling, the slapping each other, but not so hard that we’d actually hurtContinue reading “The Partner/Opponent: Paradox in Push Hands”

MLK/My Dad/Work

Today is my dad’s birthday, and today is also Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. When people would point out to my dad that he shared his birthday with MLK, he would say, “Yup! Good people were born on this day!” He would smile, and this would elicit a smile from the person who broughtContinue reading “MLK/My Dad/Work”