Since the publication of Unleash the Dragon Within, my practice has centered on the alchemy of the Dragons, calling this my Dragon Quest. It is an outgrowth of the book focusing on the individual Animal archetypes that combine to form the Dragon.
This blog will give an account of a journey in martial arts from the unique vantage that a cognitive psychologist who was weaned on the Animals has to offer. I feel awkward and excited, knowing how open to criticism I will be in the wild-and-woolly-trolls-on-a-bad-hair-day the internet can get, but my hope is 1) to popularize other martial art styles and the field of martial arts as a whole, and 2) share the art of Ch’ien-lung to help support your practice.
My work over the last five years has included:
Yoshi Shibata, teaching his particular approach to Aikido.
Adam Mizner, clear instruction on tai chi and meditation.
Damo Mitchell, comprehensive and accessible education on internal alchemy and qi qong.
Kelly Lake, bagua and internal alchemy.
Systema the Russian fighting system centered on relaxation, flowing movement and situational awareness.
I dabble with concepts popularized by Functional Patterns, and I will share exercises from fitness influencers like Squat University.
I train each day, balancing work and marriage with practice, and I hope to share with you triumphs and insights that help you along your path as well.
cheers! SM