This year seems to be the year of replacing my parts. I underwent orthopedic surgery on L4-L5 / L5-S1 vertebrae in May and just when I started to enjoy freedom of movement, my right knee went out. Although it wasn’t unexpected, past evaluations showed a slow steady degradation of the cartilage around the knee with…
My Aikido Training Partner
A few years ago John Stevens Sensei came to visit and offer Aikido seminars in Northern California. Sensei Stevens at the time was dealing with some major health issues. At some point in the seminar, he told the group, “For the last few years, my training partner was cancer.” I was surprised by this. He…
Check ya’ watta!
Dear Steve, I so don’t want to write this, brother. My heart breaks knowing you have gone on. I’m not sure if you will be able to see this in your current incarnation so the best I can do is speak to you through your friends, your children and your wife. I sat in your…
7PM on Thursdays and Everyday at Noon
When my wife Rochana and I were buying our home in Cazadero, CA we read in the property disclosures that there was a siren that went off at 7pm on Thursdays and everyday at noon. We found that occasionally when those times came around we could encourage our wonderful pup Sammi to howl. My wife…
On Privilege – starting to unravel my issues with race
“Know better, do better” – Dave Chappelle A few days ago I was having a conversation with a coworker. He had mentioned that there is a newish movement in the tech community to rename certain terms like “master”, “slave”, “whitelist”, and “blacklist”. “Master” devices are usually devices that control “slave” devices. My coworker. White and…
Don’t forget to be kind to yourself
Editors note: I wrote this in a private facebook group, but thought that this is very relevant to my aikido practice as well as how I need to face life in general. I am including this post without edit for this blog entry. As promised I will be posting my daily check-in privately 🙂. But as…
How I’m training aikido during the Covid-19 pandemic
I have decided to halt my class time at the Aikido dojo I practice at for a couple of months. Aikido is by and large a partner practice but the risk for me is too great, considering I have some health risks being a diabetic, my wife has respiratory challenges, and my mom is almost…
3-23-2019 – Kings Ridge Road, Fort Ross Road – Cazadero CA
“In all chaos there is a cosmos. In all disorder a secret order.” – Carl Jung We are a little over 3 weeks past the recent rains that flooded our neighborhoods in the Russian River area. In some cases the rains ran 8 feet of water into people’s homes. As I write this, you can…
A Short note of gratitude
I am grateful for the slow steady progress we are making in the formation of Flowing River Aikido. I feel very blessed and fortunate to practice right next to the beautiful Russian River area nestled in the midst of the surrounding hills and redwood trees, close to the ocean. More than this, I am very…
4-29-2018 – Grove of old trees, the Russia House, Ocean Song
My partner and I had the joyous opportunity to seek out spots for our wedding. We went to some beautiful places to look: The grove of old trees and Ocean Song in Occidental, The Russia House just south of Jenner. Here are some pictures from the day.
Mark's Meanderings 