The US Open is Big. Like, really big. They seemed to have rented out the entire Coranado Plaza Hotel at Disney. Everywhere I walked, there were martial artists huddled in corners sleeping on bags, and meandering around with preocupied expressions on their faces. But, no one is running through form in the middle of the …
Continue reading U.S. Open Adventures: Disappointments and Realizations
For the last several years I've been on Team Revolution. It's been a great ride so far, and I just got done with the U.S. Open (more on that later!) And during the inevitable hurry up and wait for a really long time that seems to characterize all major events. I had some realizations about …
Continue reading 3 Things No-One Tells You About Being on A Karate Team
I have one week until the US Open. And it's pretty terrifying. I've been working, training, and generally trying to push myself into something resembling comeptition ready. But, there are still times where I'm absolutely convinced that what I'm doing is a bad idea, and that I'll have no idea what to do. But, past …
Two years ago I moved from Ashland, WI to Milwaukee. Over that summer I had been doing some contract work for the DNR. I was removing invasive species and planting native trees along the shoreline of Lake Superior. It was good work. I was outside all the time, and usually got to see some pretty …
Continue reading How to Own a Dojo: Step 1 – Burning Need for Change
On the 8th and 9th of July I will be in Orlando, Florida for the 2016 U.S. Open. The super cool thing is it's on Disney Property. So, I will be doing all sorts of yelling and screaming to the tune of "It's a Small World" and maybe I'll even get to see Snow White! …
It's the day after the wedding, and I'm leaving Alaska. It was a hectic storm of activity for the last few days. It was full of wonderful people, great stories, and some truly awesome food. Not to mention the most extreme location wedding I’ve ever been to. Never before have I ever had to ride …
Continue reading Life and Love: Three Things Alaska Taught Me
Did you know when you go to Men's Warehouse and try on a suit for a wedding, you're apparently supposed to come out of the little room and show everyone you are indeed capable of putting on pants and a shirt? As I struggled into the shirt and tried to figure out why there were …
It's been a whirlwind of activity and craziness over the last 12 hours. But, I'm now in Alaska, and all is wonderful. I have a cup of coffee, a couple of dogs laying by my feet, and the house I'm in for the weekend is starting to fill up with some pretty interesting people. The …
Sitting in an airport, waiting for God to come and take me away to a place that doesn’t look like the waiting area of an airport. Preferably on a plane. While I wait, I have discovered places they sell beer. It wasn’t an especially difficult trek, finding the beer. But, it was one that was …
In our last installment we learned our dashing hero had foolishly planned to be in two places at opposite ends of the country AT THE SAME TIME. Since he doesn’t happen to know any magicians with the magical saw-you-in-half-table. He has to make a decision: Go to Nationals with the goal of earning a place …
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