Peter’s Soapbox

As Young As I Feel…

Today, I define happiness as being close to twice the legal drinking age and being carded. The best part was the fact that the woman didn’t even ask at first – she just looked at me as if what she wanted was totally apparent. After a few seconds she simply said “ID?” I thanked her, paid for my beverages, and moved on.

It’s a good day.

UPDATE: After seeing this license plate, I’m even happier that I feel this way just because of the date on my driver’s license.

Shoulder Tension

Why do humans have a tendency to “get into our shoulders?” I’ve been pondering this for a while now. When I first started practicing aikido, my sensei told me that I was “very much in my head.” These days, I feel like I’ve settled down from being in my head to more “in my shoulders.” Continue reading Shoulder Tension…

On Aikido and Injuries

If there’s one thing I’ve got experience with, it’s injuries. As always, I don’t claim to be an expert here, but with a broken clavicle, broken femur, sublexed patella, subluxed wrist bones, bursitis, and a psoas that can best be described as “too tight,” I definitely have some experience with training under less than optimal bodily conditions. Continue reading On Aikido and Injuries…

Book Review: Everyday Enlightenment

I recently read Everyday Enlightenment: The Twelve Gateways to Personal Growth by Dan Millman. In summary, if you think you need to read this book, you do, and if you don’t think you need to read this book, you still probably do. Continue reading Book Review: Everyday Enlightenment…

200 Squats – I (over) Did It!

Two days ago, I pushed myself to complete the 200 squats program a week ahead of schedule. Essentially, on my week 5 exhaustion test, I did all 200.

Unfortunately, I think didn’t stick with the form after the first hundred or so, and my posture suffered. As a result, my back’s suffering too.

The moral of the story is “don’t take shortcuts.” Painful lesson learned.