Beyond Work

As a Fourth Degree Black Belt and Master Instructor in PanAm Federation Tang Soo Do, I have learned about the notions of discipline from many different points of view. I find training to be a very welcome change of environment and experience compared to software engineering. I also love teaching students what I have learned and watching them grow to become their own martial artist. Mentorship is critical in professional team building, just as it is in teaching across other disciplines.

In this video, there are three (3) 1" boards at 10" x 12" cut from pine purchased at Home Depot. They are taped together without spacers so they behave when struck as a single block of pine. I condition my knuckles on a makiwara device of my own design and creation.

I grew up an audiophile. My father introduced me to high-end music systems and I was bitten by the bug by age 12. I owned my first stereo when I was 14 and have been chasing the dream ever since. I personally prefer a euphonic sound - warm and lush, which, yes, many will say is not accurate, but I love basking in the glow of a beautiful musical presentation.

I frequently change out gear but my current system contains a McIntosh C2800 tube preamplifier, MC1502 tube power amplifier, Luxman D-07X disc spinner, and a Luxman PD-151 turntable with Hana ML cartridge, playing on a pair of Opera Callas Diva speakers through Cardas Clear Reflection cabling.

One of my favorite personal activities is to sit and wonder. I compare and contrast crazy things like - does touching someone's heart by word or by deed, at the moment it is felt, release energy that connects the spirit to existence itself? If I were to ride on that expanding wave across spacetime and look back, would I see myself looking at me or would it take eons for that light to return, leaving others to wonder how fast the expanse of emotional vulnerability moves, as it touches all those who dare to feel.

I have been writing since college but only published once. I have four collections of poetry and short stories and just may, one day, present those in hopes that maybe others can see the profound marvel I see when looking at, well, heck, anything.