You’ve heard it. You know how it ends. You probably even said it in the corner of your mind already. And you laughed, I know. As if behind these words there was nothing worth of your smarts. Just muscle. Oh, the dumb traps of the unthreatened life… There’s nothing brute behind that thought, I can … Continue reading That quote from Tyson
martial arts
The Samurai’s Apprentice
It hadn’t been one year, and the apprentice was already approaching his master. “Sensei, I really want to be a samurai. If I work hard, how long will it take for me to get my sword?” “Ten years,” the master said. The student nodded with all the respect he could summon. ”What if I work … Continue reading The Samurai’s Apprentice
The Supreme Skill of Fortitude
Not sure what's cause, what's consequence. But being raised inside of a Dojo, I always felt that fortitude was the most important emotional skill someone could develop. Because fortitude is the skill of all skills. The thick skin that allows you to face difficulties, learn from them and emerge better. Which applies to anything in … Continue reading The Supreme Skill of Fortitude
Curing writers block with martial arts
Recently I got stuck on my next novel (a story about kung fu and artificial Intelligence). First I blamed how busy I got at work and adjusting our lives to the East Coast. But truly it was because I got so into my survival journey as a white belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that, despite … Continue reading Curing writers block with martial arts
Frame, Force and Flow
I’ve been thinking a lot about the similarities and differences between different styles of #fighting. Not only their signature moves or their compared efficacy, but mostly how they structure training. After trying #martialarts from so many origins, and approaches so distinct, it occurred to me that all that those systems try to find is their … Continue reading Frame, Force and Flow
Dummy Rant
The #wingchun #woodendummy is a trunk with arms. But it’s the trunk, not the arms! A tool created to help us visualize the centerline, fundamental principle of this art. To help us learn to pressure the centerline. Attack the centerline. Move around the arms and the legs... to attack the centerline. Yet, most people I … Continue reading Dummy Rant
A new me
Let me take a minute away from the story to focus on the journey. It's a new year after all. Jan19 Jan18 Last year was a battle. This time against myself. So far, new me is winning and it feels really good. I have more energy to train and the drive to write recently came … Continue reading A new me
Kung Fu vs Artificial Intelligence
Finishing a novel about #martialarts and #artificialIntelligence - follow to show the world that fans of #fighting like books too (You won’t believe how many times I heard people asking if martial arts people like to read) #mma #taichi #wudang #mixedmartialarts #boxing #karate #kungfu #wingchun #martialartist #muaithai #bjj #judo #taekwondo #femalefighter
Hashtagananza
I learn so much when I start a new book. What other activity would allow me to have, on the same month, a conversation about 1) soul alchemy in daoism, another on 2) thought suppression on the brain’s neocortex, one about 3) antagonist algorithms in artificial intelligence, one on 4) the differences between playing and … Continue reading Hashtagananza
My name is Tigress
Girls should be at home this late. Especially little Asian chicks like me. Never running, alone, in the dark streets of Oakland. Except that when dudes see you so comfortable and confident by yourself, they think you are either crazy or are hiding something.I am both. Crazy and hiding. From a fence ahead, I hear … Continue reading My name is Tigress
The Girl from Wudang 