My heart is calling me to a new adventure. As of June 1, I have the unique privilege of uniting one of my first teachers (Ian Hyotoshi Pucek) and one of my first employees (Ian Leitoshi [...]
What Does Attaining Black Belt in To-Shin Do Mean to Me? By Blake Wetherbee When I started training in 2009, I knew I wanted to attain Shodan. I think it was by the time I reached yellow-black [...]
Nidan 8 Fold Path Essay by Aidan Over the years practicing martial arts, I have learned many valuable skills and lessons. From self defense to how to operate in the world, martial has taught [...]
Nidan Essay By Aidan O’Brien Turner I chose to do my Nidan essay on the book The Ninja and Their Secret Fighting Art by Stephen K. Hayes. This is because it not only teaches valuable information [...]
Black Belt Essay by Kayla Morrisey “Wow! Black Belt huh?! That’s the highest belt, isn’t it? So, I shouldn’t mess with you is what you’re saying….” This is the reaction I get most [...]
Lessons of the Fire At first I thought Fire is angry, Aggressive, Rude. I’m a good girl, the nice girl. I can’t do this. I run and hug my friend. I’m so happy she’s in class today! [...]
Lessons of the Water I step back. I’ve been absorbed in the details, Perfecting my footwork, and my energy But now I’m someplace new. Water. I pick my angle. I don’t have to fight the problem as [...]
This series of elemental poems is a reflection of my experience, beginning in the late 90s, of going through the elemental material. I have one for each element. This is me, age 25, and [...]
Entering the Dojo: A Poem The doors says “21st Century Ninja Training”, I peek in. The pictures and certificates call to me, There’s a big Japanese style gate, and beyond, the ceiling rises [...]
I’m so lucky to be a part of To-Shin Do. As a self defense art, it’s a rarity. To-Shin Do’s roots reach back nearly a millennium. At its heart, ninjutsu is a family art designed to keep entire [...]
