I began my journey in Kyokushin Karate in 1980. In this blog, I share reflections on life, training, and the lessons that have come from more than four decades in the dojo. The purpose has always been simple—to preserve and pass on what Kyokushin has given me, and to explore how the philosophy of budo continues to shape my life.
The photos below represent two points in that journey. The first shows me as a white belt training under my first teacher, Sensei Jim Swanson. The second was taken forty-two years later, after training at the 2022 USA-IFK Summer Camp with IFK President Shihan David Pickthall as the guest instructor. Time and rank may separate the two moments, but the spirit behind them is the same—the desire to learn, improve, and test myself through honest training.
Kyokushin has never been just about fighting or competition. It’s about the process of refining yourself through effort and perseverance. My teacher often said that karate is a lifelong pursuit. The longer I train, the more I understand what he meant. The lessons extend far beyond technique—they reach into how we think, how we treat others, and how we respond to adversity. Each post on this site is a continuation of that search for understanding.
Learn more about my martial arts history on the About page. You can also visit my Instagram or YouTube channel for additional stories, photos, and clips from training and events.
If you’re new to the blog, I suggest starting with The Lesson Behind the Belt or Dojo Kun 道場訓, which both reflect the heart of what Kyokushin represents.
