Welcome!

Well, here you are. You’ve found another martial arts website. And you are hoping your wife doesn’t catch you because you are supposed to be on HomeDepot.com estimating how much a butcher block counter top would cost. Or you are hoping your husband doesn’t catch you because he doesn’t want you to be stronger than he is.

You can relax. The counter top will cost you about a grand. You’re going to charge it on your credit card anyway. Just remember you will have to apply food-grade mineral oil once a month for the remainder of your natural life– to the wood, I mean.

And martial arts won’t make you stronger than your husband. Martial arts make you graceful, not strong. And you’re already more graceful than your husband, and he knows it.

So, let’s continue.

Another cause of your being here is boredom. Face it. You’re an old fart. You are decidedly too old to coach a little league team. You are probably too young to retire. Too tired for swinging. Casino gambling is still an option. But you like your money, and you worked hard for it. Oh, and, you suck at golf. Everybody does.

So you have turned to the arts like some of your friends. One of your friends took up oil painting. He/she produces dark, brooding canvasses that unmistakably reveal either a latent call to the priesthood or to domestic terrorism. And that’s enough to make you consider gardening. Works great from March to October.

So, the first snowstorm in November, you’re watching First Blood for the hundredth time. And you’re like, “Okay, Parks and Rec has a karate course. I’m going.”

You have done well. Just don’t take it too seriously. I mean that. Your Parks and Rec instructor is probably good. Don’t waste time looking for the perfect school. It ain’t out there. The perfect school is in your mind. No joke. I mean that. And your mind is the sum of your life’s input from birth, through school, to now. You are the best censor. The only censor.

I’m just an old fart, like you. I started martial training in high school. Now, I’m just bored. Just like you. I welcome your comments. Your input. I don’t run this like a blog or a forum. I filter everything. If you send me some insight, I will write an article and give you credit.

And get the gallon jug of mineral oil. Don’t bother with pints.