About the Author: The Teacher Who Learns

I have been in martial arts for over 40 years, studying several different styles along the way. I prefer not to mention my ranks or degrees, because I have often felt unworthy of the ranks I’ve been given. Martial arts is not a list of titles to me—it is a way of life. It has shaped me in ways that are difficult to describe, and it has saved my life more than once.

I write easy-to-read one-page letters with images and words of wisdom for my fellow Karatekas. These letters are not only teaching tools—they are also a tending of my own spirit. Each letter is both mirror and compass: reflecting where I have been, and pointing toward where I am going.

The quiet beauty of these archives is that while I offer wisdom to students, I am also refining my own path. It is like practicing kata alone in the dojo—yes, the movements are for the students, but the repetition, the breath, the silence… they are also for me. In shaping these lessons, I honor my own journey while preparing others for theirs.

I return to my writings often, using them as a reference in times when I need assurance. This is not vanity—it is reverence. Each return is a bow to the lessons, allowing them to deepen and embed within me over time.

My Mission

I walk the path of both teacher and student. My mission is not to arrive at mastery, but to remain open, humble, and curious—learning from my students, my peers, and the challenges life places before me.

•             To honor my lineage by carrying forward lessons with clarity, respect, and resilience.

•             To transform adversity into wisdom, showing that setbacks are not endings but bridges to growth.

•             To create teaching artifacts—letters, creeds, and stories—that serve as stepping stones for future generations.

•             To model professionalism and dignity, whether in the dojo, in business, or in civic life.

Working on Dojo Wisdom is more than writing—it is an act of preservation and renewal. Each creed and letter is a living kata, a practice in clarity and discipline. By pairing words with visual metaphors, I anchor lessons in lived truth, so they resonate not only in the moment but across time.