STILLNESS
ISSUE.1
JAN.2026
News and learning for families of The Martial Arts Academy of Marin | Shōrinji Ryū Karate | San Rafael, CA
The stillness in stillness is not the real stillness; only when there is stillness in movement does the universal rhythm manifest.
- Bruce Lee
As winter settles around us, I invite my students to embrace this season as a time of reflection and inward focus. As the mind relaxes, we naturally return to stillness. In this quiet space, I reflect on the deeper philosophical essence of Karate—a discipline rooted in peace, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and the well-being of all people.
This leads us to an essential question: why do we fight? Is it merely to defeat another, or is it to improve the world around us? Perhaps it is to discover who we truly are. As these questions arise, I encourage each of you to redirect your martial focus toward self-discovery and spiritual realization—to move beyond instinct and choose to become something greater than the sum of flesh and bone. If you are searching for a cause, there is none more worthy. This path will challenge every part of your being, and with each level attained, a higher plane of understanding will reveal itself. It is here that many come to realize that mastery is not a destination, but a lifelong journey.
Along this path, you will face many trials. There will be triumphs and setbacks, moments of clarity and times of doubt. Yet as a warrior, you can allow these challenges to temper you—to strengthen your character, sharpen your resolve, and deepen your commitment to being a force for good and spiritual growth.
Let this strength guide you toward greater compassion and kindness. Use it to help build a better world. When you take command of your life, you choose its direction. Let this year—this very moment—mark the beginning of a better tomorrow for all.
As we enter the new year, the path is clear, and the future is bright!
OSS. Sensei Will.
Sensei cultivates stillness while seated before Fudo Myoo, The Immovable One.
january AT THE DOJO ...
FOCUS | STILLNESS AS A MARTIAL SKILL
In traditional martial arts, stillness is not a passive state—it is an essential discipline. Many students think training begins with movement, but in truth, it begins with the ability to be still with purpose. We're training our students to recognize how stillness sharpens awareness, improves timing, and builds stronger mind–body control.
In Zen practice, stillness (zazen) is used to train the mind to notice rather than react. This same principle applies directly to martial arts. A student who can be still can observe an opponent more clearly, regulate their breathing, and respond with precision rather than impulse. Stillness becomes a tool for better technique, better self-control, and better decision-making—both on and off the mats.
January is the perfect month for this focus. Nature itself slows down, encouraging us to refine our inner landscape. By practicing intentional stillness—pausing before a strike, holding a stance with calm focus, or simply sitting in quiet meditation—students learn that strength isn’t only in muscles. It’s in the ability to steady the mind. Students experience how stillness supports balance, timing, emotional regulation, and overall martial development. When they learn to command their stillness, movement becomes smarter, faster, and more meaningful. Stillness is not the absence of action—it is the mastery that guides it.
Statue of a stone Jizo monk, ancient protectors of children and the trail.
🤒 cold/flu season - sanitize your hands 🤒
Hand sanitizer is available at the front desk! Please apply liberally and help prevent germ-spreading.
🤩 congratulations, belt testers 🤩
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the following students tested for and received new belts. Way to level up!
KIDS
Yellow Belt : Missale Flores, Milo Li, Charlie Medina-Ghiraldini, Julian Birch, Kiyan Birch
Green Belt : Tyler Kramer, Owen Lawson, Liam Corbett, Gabriel Ries
Brown Belt 3rd Degree : Reese Koppenhaver, Nish Dattani, Elody Momeni, Jonah Hilbert, Nola
Stallman
Brown Belt 1st Degree : Radin Momeni, Geo Aguirre, Franco Meono, Veharh Ly, Joseph Tomlin
Sen Schmidt
TEEN/ADULT
Green Belt : Renee Madison
Brown Belt 1st Degree : Alma Nabatian, Katin Garcia
🥳 the dojo is growing 🥳
Have a friend sign-up for and attend a free week of training, and you'll receive a TMAA tote bag!
👊 dojo streetwear 👊
Represent our dojo with brand new TMAA/Shōrinji Ryū branded streetwear! T-shirts, cinch bags, and water bottles can be purchased in person at the dojo. Online ordering is coming soon!
latest | ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES
zen | STILLNESS & MOVEMENT
In traditional karate, stillness and movement are not opposites— they are partners, rooted deeply in Zen Buddhism. Zen teaches that clarity arises when the mind becomes quiet, free from distraction and emotional turbulence. This same principle guides karate training: before a technique can be powerful, it must first be intentional, and intention comes from inner stillness. Through practices like mindful breathing, focused stances, and brief moments of meditation, students learn to calm the mind so the body can respond with precision.
Zen philosophies: presence, non-attachment, and observing without reacting, helps karate practitioners stay centered under pressure, think clearly during challenges, and move with purpose rather than impulse. In this way, stillness, Zen, and karate work together to shape not just skilled martial artists, but focused, grounded individuals.
have you met | RUBY (6)
1. If you could invite a superhero to train at the dojo for a day, who would it be? A paleontologist because they are not good at defending themselves.
2. If you could own a magic belt, what special power would it give you? It would be a belt that I can eat, and it would taste like mangoes. And then everything would taste like mangoes!
3. If you could teach Sensei your own karate move, what would that move be? I would teach him to do a really energetic side-kick because I'm really good at side-kicks.
4. If TMAA's dojo had a mascot, what would it be and why? It would be a fossil. But the fossil would be alive and also be my sparring partner.
5. Why do you keep coming back to train at The Martial Arts Academy? Because I want to protect the people I love.
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KIDS' home practice | FUDOSHIN (不動心)
Fudoshin, often translated as the immovable mind, is a state of calm confidence—a mind that stays steady no matter what is happening around it. When one practices stillness and mindful movement, they develop the ability to stay calm during challenges, both in the dojo and out in the world. This steady mindset cultivates patience, spaciousness, and the ability to gauge situations with clarity and equanimity.
This month, spend five minutes a day with your child (stack with an already established habit!) performing one of the drills below.
👊 Shaolin Style
Child chooses 1 kata to perform. They execute the movements at half the speed they normally would. They cultivate "Fudoshin in motion" which is also practiced during Zen moving.
👊 Yin Yang Power Drill
Child throws punches, blocks, & kicks on exhales only. Resets on the inhales. This helps their bodies understand that effective karate comes from a place of stillness and not reactivity.
👊 Stance Balance
Child closes eyes and slowly switches between stances—front stance, back stance, cat stance. They will soon find that the focus required during balance exercises strengthens them both physically and mentally to find the stillness within the movement.
Practicing fudoshin at home reminds students that martial arts isn’t something they turn on and off—it’s a way of carrying themselves every day. With steady breathing, quiet movement, and a calm mind, young karateka learn to bring their Zen into school, home, and their relationships.
contact | QUESTIONS & FEEDBACK