MY INTEREST in martial arts began as a small child when I had hopes of someday becoming a ninja turtle—a kick-ass creature dedicated to helping others.
Throughout my adolescence I dabbled in several different disciplines, and I eventually received my teaching certification in Japanese jujitsu while concurrently training in four other martial arts. I went on to run my own dojo for several years, training apprentices and incorporating what I perceived to be Zen principles of “emptiness” and “no mind” into my teaching.
In time, exploring the philosophical underpinnings of Buddhist traditions
