Le Samourai

I'm going to be radical and say just chuck it all. There are more fulfilling ways to spend your time. It is quite possible to be perfectly happy without TV, a smartphone, a tablet, streaming service, video games, etc. I know that because I don't have TV, a smartphone, a tablet, streaming service, video games, etc. and don't feel like I'm missing anything. Quite the opposite. The world has so much more to offer than what is available on electronic gizmos.

Congrats on taking this big step! Training in martial arts can be a life-changing experience with lasting benefits. In general, the style can often be less important than the school and the instructor. It's important to find a teacher who is openminded and will accommodate any physical issues you have. Some have a "the art comes first, the student second" that I find rather irresponsible. Some thoughts on the styles you mention… * Wing Chun is a fun art, though some people find the basic stance a bit hard on the knees. * Karate: It depends a great deal on the style. In general, Karate is less kick-centric than Tae Kwon Do. * Tae Kwon Do: VERY kick-heavy, which may prove to be problematic for you. (For what it's worth, I have encountered more questionable, McDojo-style Karate and TKD schools than practically any other art. Be forewarned!) * Hapkido: Many Hapkido dojangs are really just TKD schools with a bit of Judo thrown in. That being said, Hapkido is a good, diverse art. * Bushido: I'm not sure what you mean either. * Kung Fu: Again, there are a gazillion styles, so it's hard to say. * Judo is a wonderful art but extremely hard on the body. Unless you find an especially awesome dojo and sensei, I would be wary. * Kickboxing: It really depends on the nature of the school. If they emphasize good form and integrate bag and focus mitt work, I would consider this as an option. Good for conditioning and self-defense. * MMA: Again, it really depends on the school. MMA is great, but just make sure it isn't an overly competition-oriented, bro-ish school. * Jiujitsu: Japanese Jiujitsu or Brazilian? If you find a school with a nice vibe and good teachers, BJJ would be my recommendation. Your shoulder and knee issues shouldn't be a problem as long as you inform the instructor and your training partner. I am of the strong opinion that BJJ is the best martial art for women to train in due to its effectiveness in sexual assault situations. Many schools even offer women-only classes. As with MMA, beware of overly aggressive fight club schools. Finally, are there by any chance in Filipino martial arts—Kali, Arnis, Escrima—schools in you area? If so, I would consider this option as well. Low-impact, applicable to self-defense, and many find going through the stick patterns good for their shoulders.

Books read, March 2016. FICTION The Bards of Bone Plain by Patricia McKillip Kissing the Witch: Old Tales in New Skins by Emma Donoghue NONFICTION When Buddhists Attack: The Curious Relationship Between Zen and the Martial Arts by Jeffrey K. Mann Hoodwinked: An Economic Hit Man Reveals Why the World Financial Markets Imploded--and What We Need to Do to Remake Them by John Perkins Superpatriotism by Michael Parenti Crime Signals: How to Spot a Criminal Before You Become a Victim by David Givens GRAPHIC NOVELS Saga, Vol. 2 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples Saga, Vol. 3 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples Saga, Vol. 4 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Books read, February 2016. FICTION The Promise by Robert Crais Walking Dead by Greg Rucka (reread) (and has nothing to do with zombies) A Wild Swan and Other Tales by Michael Cunningham NONFICTION Zanshin : Meditation and the Mind in Modern Martial Arts by Vince Morris You're Never Weird on the Internet (Almost) by Felicia Day Slavery Inc: The Untold Story of International Sex Trafficking by Lydia Cacho (my review) GRAPHIC NOVELS Saga, Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

I have an ongoing series of posts about this on my blog. Most of my inspirations come from novels or films. Covered so far... John Rain, from the novels by Barry Eisler Quiller, from the novels by Adam Hall The Crow, mostly Jay O'Barr's comic but also the film Man on Fire, the book by A.J. Quinnell Atticus Kodiak, from the novels by Greg Rucka and of course, Jason Bourne (cinematic version only) I still need to write a post about Elvis Cole and Joe Pike, two characters created by Robert Crais. That one's been hard to tackle because Elvis and Joe have probably influenced and inspired me more than any other fictional heroes.

I've practiced Kali for close to 15 years. Just swinging the sticks can really improve coordination and speed. Try checking out some of the Sinawali drills posted on YouTube and elsewhere. A few of them are actually pretty good. If you can find a partner to go through the patterns with you, that would be even better. Good luck, and mabuhay!

Unless you have been diagnosed with celiac disease, there is no reason to give them up. There is a substantial body of evidence pointing to the benefits of a diet rich in whole grains and legumes.

My reading in January definitely tended towards philosophical matters. And for someone who is not an Aikidoka, I read more than a couple of Aikido-themed books. Even the two fantasy novels by Elizabeth A. Lynn—a Shihan and 6th dan in Aikido—feature a fictional version of the art. FICTIONChalice by Robin McKinleyWatchtower by Elizabeth A. LynnThe Dancers of Arun by Elizabeth A. Lynn NONFICTIONPeace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat HanhWhat Makes You Not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang KhyentseThe Official Prisoner Companion by Matthew White and Jaffer Ali935 Lies: The Future of Truth and the Decline of America’s Moral Integrity by Charles LewisAikido in Everyday Life: Giving in to Get Your Way by Terry Dobson and Victor MillerIt's a Lot Like Dancing: An Aikido Journey by Terry Dobson

I very much enjoyed 'A Darker Shade of Magic'. Very interesting setting and characters. The sequel, 'A Gathering of Shadows', comes out in February.

I was recently asked what movies I've seen in the theaters more than once. Off the top of my head and in alphabetical order… The Bourne Trilogy Bram Stoker's Dracula Casino Royal The Crow The Dark Knight Die Hard Fantasia The Illusionist John Wick L.A. Confidential The Lord of the Rings (Ralph Bakshi animated version) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Lost in Translation Miami Vice Mulholland Drive Natural Born Killers Pulp Fiction Quantum of Solace Ronin Rushmore Skyfall Spartan The Star Wars Trilogy (original) Terminator 2: Judgment Day Three Kings Titanic True Romance The Wild Bunch The World is Not Enough

I went vegetarian 9 years ago and vegan two years ago. My only regret is not doing it sooner. For me, the decision was purely one of personal ethics. To quote George Bernard Shaw, "Animals are my friends... and I don't eat my friends." Even though I didn't go plant-based for health reasons, I do find that I am much fitter as a vegan than I ever was as a omnivore. The transition to veganism is much easier when you have some good cookbooks and decent culinary skills. I highly recommend checking out the 30-Minute Vegan series by Mark Reinfeld. Lots of tasty, easy recipes, and you can go a long way just cooking stuff from his books. I also really like Terry Hope Romero's books, such as 'Vegan Eats World' and 'Viva Vegan!' One quibble: Her cookbooks have lousy indexes. The type of food you like makes a difference in how easy the transition will be. I am fortunate to have a real fondess for Middle Eastern, Indian, and Thai food, all of which are either already vegan or easily veganized. I can coast for some time on various chickpea and lentil dishes. If anyone is interested, I occasionally post recipes on my blog. You can view them here.

I eat oatmeal pretty regularly. My favorite is Bob's Red Mill Scottish oatmeal. I tend to have it one of two ways: 1. With a cube of 85 percent dark chocolate and a teaspoon of creamy, unsalted peanut butter. Or... 2. With raisins and a teaspoon each of tahini and brown rice syrup.

This may sound paradoxical, but while I've never practiced the martial art of Aikido (I'm a Kali-JKD guy), I do in many ways practice the philosophy of Aikido. Allow me to explain: I have read several fine books on deeper aspects of the art, such as 'Aikido in Daily Life' by Koichi Tohei, 'Aikido and the New Warrior' by Richard Strozzi-Heckler, and 'Aikido for Life' by Gaku Homma. They have had a definite influence on the way I conduct myself and especially how I deal with conflict. So why haven't I trained in Aikido? To be honest, I like the intensity of Kali and JKD. However, the older I get (mid 40s), the more interested I have become in perhaps taking it up. It would actually fill some gaps in my training. Extra motivation: I live very near to Aikido of Honolulu, which was the first Aikido dojo constructed outside of Japan. O Sensei himself, Morihei Ueshiba, even attended the grand opening.

I stumbled onto this site while nerdishly researching Bourne-related topics. I was thrilled to see so many other people who aren't afraid to use fantasy and imagination as tools to better themselves. A little personal background: I am by no means a jock or an athlete. During high school, I was quite chubby and unathletic. After graduating, I did lose a bunch of weight, not in a healthy way, and I was still essentially out-of-shape… sort of a "skinny fat" kind of guy. Though I worked out here and there throughout my 20s, I wasn't all that serious about it. Things began to change about 16 years ago. My mother passed away at the age of 48 due to botched gastric bypass surgery. I was always close to my mom, and her death hit me hard. After getting over the initial shock, I began to reevaluate my life. Part of that reevaluation included starting to take my health more seriously. I started getting more and more consistent about exercise, and began training in martial arts. Now, in my mid 40s, I'm in vastly better shape than at any other time in my life.

 Everyone who exercises is partly motivated by vanity, including me. But that isn't my primary motivation. I'm not obsessed with having six-pack abs, and I never expect to be on the cover of Men's Health. My goal is to be functionally fit. I want to be in good enough shape to do the things I enjoy doing, and do them well. For example, I'm an instructor in both Jeet Kune Do and Kali. My workouts are in part geared to make me a better martial artist. For me, this means using kettlebells, bodyweight exercises, yoga, and cardio intervals. To become better at these training goals, I studied under Jon Hinds at Monkey Bar Gym, where I became a Certified Natural Trainer II. I really appreciate his approach to fun, practical fitness. 
I spent several years doing traditional workouts at a traditional gym. I didn't really enjoy it, and I had mixed results. Around 2007, I decided to make a change. I figured I live in Hawaii, so why not enjoy it and train outside? I started doing bodyweight and cardio workouts at the park, and the results were impressive. I burned flab and got stronger. In late 2008, I began to add kettlebells to the mix. Again, I was thrilled with the results. The impact on my overall fitness levels has really impressed me. Some might think of kettlebells as some sort of fad, but trust me, they work! The great thing about the kind of training I do now is it's fun. I love the stuff I do now, and always look forward to my workouts. That wasn't the case back in my gym rat days! Looking to the new year, I plan to continue to focus on the physical side of my training while further exploring the "internal" side via yoga, meditation, etc. I'm also looking to expand my martial repetoire: improving my Jiujitsu game, perhaps returning to my initial art, Wing Chun, for a while, maybe exploring more esoteric traditional arts such as Aikido or something "dancey" like Capoeira. I'm very fortunate to live someplace with a very vibrant martial arts community. I look forward to interacting with everyone here as we all continue on our individual journeys!

I'm obsessive enough to actually log the books I read through the year. In December, 2015, I read... FICTION Elric of Melniboné by Michael Moorcock* Fortress of the Pearl by Michael Moorcock The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander ** The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander ** NONFICTION Kill the Body, the Head Will Fall: A Closer Look at Women, Violence, and Aggression by Rene Denfield The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic by Chalmers Johnson Rastafari: A Very Short Introduction by Ennis B. Edmonds (* reread) (** not sure how I made it all these years without reading The Chronicles of Prydain)

I'm on Oahu, specifically in the Kaimuki area.