This evening I was talking with my martial arts training partner on the subject of teaching internal arts to external stylists. “I believe there are shortcuts,” I said to him. “I don’t believe in shortcuts,” he ultimately said. “You have to put in the work.” I thought for a while. “But I still think shortcutsContinue reading “Shortcuts”
Category Archives: Creative Inspiration
Praying to Beyoncé
I consider myself not an extrovert, but a super-hyper extrovert. During Covid I went a little Cuckoo. I couldn’t hang out with real friends, so I started talking to my imaginary celebrity friends. Some of my imaginary celebrity friends are in my Personal Pantheon. Within this Pantheon, Beyoncé is Queen. People in olden times usedContinue reading “Praying to Beyoncé”
Expansion of the Martial Arts
I no longer train in a traditional martial arts school. I no longer go to a place where I take my shoes off and line up with my classmates. I no longer take belt tests to advance my rank. Instead I have a teacher who lives a ten-hour drive away. She offers me and herContinue reading “Expansion of the Martial Arts”
Training Journal 08.08.2022
In my life and in my practice lately, I feel like I’ve been fighting too hard, trying too hard, pushing too hard. I end up breaking myself again and again. Part of this is an expression of grief. My heart has been broken recently– by the death of my father, my mother’s stroke, challenges withContinue reading “Training Journal 08.08.2022”
She-Ra, Princess of Power
This past Wednesday, I told my friend Sandy a dream of mine: “I have this dream I haven’t told many people, Sandy.” She listened attentively. “I want to dress up like She-Ra, play music, and stand in front of a bucket that people put money in. I think I could make money that way.” “IContinue reading “She-Ra, Princess of Power”
Michelle Folk Johnson 