The other day I was reading a fantasy book and, in an early fight scene, the hero tackled someone coming at him with a knife. Red flag alert. As someone with a long history in martial arts training, I nearly tossed the book out of my lap. No experienced fighter (which is what the hero was) would ignore the immediate the threat of a blade and try to tackle an enemy's knees. That's a good … [Read more...]
Writing Advice: The Long Road
Belt Burning I recently had my worst night ever on the mats in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Worse than those bruising, no technique battle-to-the-death rolls as a white belt. Worse than the long series of competition losses at blue belt. Worse than the night my knee went snap-crackle-pop. I'm not going to go into the details of the night. But it was a bad night - for my ego and my expectations. … [Read more...]
From Fighting to Writing: How Competing in Martial Arts Helps in the Creative Process
Learning how to beat people up has improved my writing. All right, maybe not exactly beating people up. But the lessons I have learned in my study of martial arts, and especially competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a style of submission grappling, have made me a stronger writer. Here are the top 5 lessons that I have learned by competing in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that I have transferred over … [Read more...]
My Influences
Physical training traditions – whether martial or health oriented – are not learned from books, but rather through hands on physical contact and instruction by those who have walked the path ahead of you. In this way, a physical teaching is a direct connection to the earlier adepts in a method or tradition and is the living gate through which one needs to enter a pathway to begin to understand … [Read more...]
In Pursuit of Things of No Value
“The only thing that has less value in our society than reading is writing.” Bret Anthony Johnson, Director of Creative Writing at Harvard University To the average person, Mr. Johnson’s comment during a recent talk about his new book at Book Passage may have seemed more like an indictment on his own book and craft than a rallying point for those of us in the audience. But for those of us … [Read more...]
My Circle
Here is the space in my backyard where I walk the circle and work the pendulum. … [Read more...]
