Michelle J

Self-Defense Mindset?

Self-defense can be a mindset, a way of life. It’s a way of life I’ve been living since I first took martial arts classes as a young teenager. But is it a healthy mindset, a healthy way of life? As a student in my first tae kwon do school in the 90’s, the focus ofContinue reading “Self-Defense Mindset?”

Alter Ego

In the Animal Spirit deck by aritst Kim Krans, which I purchased sometime around 2021, there is a card for the raccoon. Raccoon energy is about wearing a mask, about hiding, but it’s also playful. On the card, Krans mentions that many artists choose to wear masks in the form of an alter ego. SheContinue reading “Alter Ego”

Harmonizing Polarizations

My tai chi teacher says that the art of tai chi, and the philosophy behind it perhaps, is all about harmonizing polarizations. And we always start by harmonizing polarizations in the self. One way to think of polarizations is to think in terms of projections and hollows–places in our self where we are projecting tooContinue reading “Harmonizing Polarizations”

Standing & Push Hands in Canada

Recently I returned from a weeklong training with my teacher in Canada. My friends and training mates J and N were with me, and the three of us got a lot of quality time with our teacher. When people ask me what we practice with our teacher, I tell them it’s tai chi, but itContinue reading “Standing & Push Hands in Canada”

Kids Martial Arts Classes?

This fall I’m considering teaching kids martial arts classes. A big sticking point that has kept me from teaching martial arts classes recently has been that I’m no longer part of a traditional martial arts school. This means that anything I teach kids will be sort of system-less, not part of a larger martial organization.Continue reading “Kids Martial Arts Classes?”