Category Archive

This week was packed full of new (and old) karate experiences. There was a tournament up here in Auburn at Master Bennati’s dojo. This was the first time I had been back there since I came to Zen in 2020. I was very nervous at first coming back to the place I trained originally from 2012-2020. I didn’t place in …

Wow. To say I am impressed with Dirk and David is an understatement. I am very grateful to have been involved in their test and it was amazing seeing what lies ahead for me and Lucas. When they began their tests, I wasn’t able to imagine the dedication and willpower this test requires. Now that I have gotten a taste …

One of my favorite parts of this test has been the 1000 Mile Journey. It has been getting me out into nature and I am very happy about that. There is so much to see and I have definitely gotten more motivation to go outside. I took this photo on top of Mt. Lincoln while skiing at Sugarbowl. I go …

Being a Black Belt – What does that mean to me? It is difficult to explain to someone who has not practiced a martial art. Some of my family and friends will be with me at the dojo to support me during my test and I appreciate that a lot. They all know what the theory of the test entails, …

What it means to be a black belt (…should I pass!) Setting a goal and sticking to it! No quitting, no excuses! In my very early days at the beginning of my training sensei made a comment about putting a picture of a black belt on the refrigerator as a reminder of the goal. It really comes down to not …

As the New Year begins, I find myself reflecting on the past year and all that it has brought me. It’s been a long journey filled with hard work, dedication, and perseverance, but it has all been worth it. The past year has been filled with countless hours of training, sweat, sore muscles, and aching joints. However, I lost a …

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King  Timely and poignant, isn’t it? Next week we celebrate and honor an amazing man whose legacy, his memory, is a critical part of our collective history. The struggle he confronted head-on, the perseverance he demonstrated and actioned in his non-violent protests of injustices and …

Depleted energy levels? Eat, sleep and drink! There are times in the day when I just feel “meh.” Normally early afternoon, my energy level seem to drop a bit. Doing some pushups will often help, but sometimes increases the feeling of fatigue & low-energy. I have often resorted to coffee (caffeine) as a quick pick me up and it does, …

A New Year of New Challenges & Opportunities Hard to believe, it’s 2023! Looking back at ’22, it was most certainly a challenging year, my black belt training and work to meet requirements top of list. Yet, this has culminated in positive growth; mentally, spiritually and physically. As we enter ’23, I am eager to transition into my next phase …

Support and encouragement makes a huge difference! Over the past year I have shared with friends, family and co-workers some details about my personal goal of achieving Shodan (1st degree black belt). I shared because of my own excitement and also to foster a network of people that could help to hold me accountable by checking in, like “how are …