Well, for having so much free time this year, I have not really done a lot of writing here on my beloved blog. In the words from an email from a longtime reader, “What gives?”

I would like to say that the reason was the enormous interest in the Stand and Fight seminars, but the whole worldwide lockdown thingy put the quietus on that. The interest was there, but governments were busy flexing their bureaucratic muscle and squashing the little people. No, my busy seminar teaching schedule is not to blame.

And in truth, the lockdown thingy should have ended with much more writing here. After all, I had quit social media, distractions were not an issue.

The fact is that the worldwide lockdown actually helped me. When it started, I was facing surgery. I’d done something to my shoulder and it wasn’t healing. I put my arm in a sling to immobilize it and maybe speed the healing process. Instead, I only managed to aggravate the arthritis that I didn’t know I had in my neck.

So, I admit that it was a real pain in the neck…literally…to get to the end of the school year. Once we got to that point, here in Texas some of the restrictions were starting to be lifted. I was able to actually see a physical therapist. The PT had me do the exact same exercises I was already doing when I looked up my condition on YouTube. I might be the only person you know who has literally “YouTubed” their way out of surgery.

I had the great pleasure of being a guest on the Martial Arts and Life podcast. Kris Wilder is a great guy and it was a lot of fun, actually a first for me to be a guest on any podcast!

My oldest Daughter has opened an online shop where she sells custom artwork at amazing prices. Do I recommend her? Hell yeah! She has done my book covers for years! She has my complete and total endorsement. It is great to see her work being appreciated by so many people.

The 2020-2021 school year started up, and time became a rather precious commodity around here. With some students in-person, some students joining via Zoom, and others accessing the class asynchronously, what a workload this year has carried! I can teach martial arts, never have had a problem doing that, but bringing in flip-pods and near-grids and all of the stuff that has just materialized this year…it has been a learn-as-you-go type of year so far. I really miss normal.

As we move ahead, posts will be happening more regularly, the free online self defense course will be fully back up and running, I have two books that I am working on, and one will definitely be out in 2021.

So, there is my update! Still training and teaching, albeit under certain physical limitations. I look at it in the light of what Aristotle taught. To simplify this, Aristotle would say that the good of a chair is in its chairness, in how good it is at being a chair. Or a the good of a water bottle being found in how good it is at being a water bottle. Well, I am at a point in my life where I am like a water bottle that has been cut in half. It is no longer any use as a water bottle, but it does make a perfect funnel. I still do what I have always done, but I have had to make a few changes. No big deal. And it is still a helluva ride! Stay tuned, there is a lot coming.