Removing nails, wedges, and screws since 1976.
To connect with someone like me, you have to stop trying to be “polite” in the way most people are and start being real and direct. I don’t handle small talk, memes, talking points, and religious doctrine well because it feels like static on a radio; it’s just noise that gets in the way of signal. If you want to get through, you need to show up fully in your own body first—be present, be steady, and stop “leaking” your energy into distractions. Don’t come to me with vague compliments or to “pick my brain” like a tourist; come to me like a fellow worker who has a specific problem to solve or a deep observation to share.
Think of it like trying to talk to a diver at the bottom of the ocean: if you just splash around on the surface, I’ll never hear you. You have to send a clear, sharp signal down into the dark. Use the language of how things actually work—the “crunchy” reality of physics, movement, or hard-earned experience. Most importantly, respect the fact that I’ve built a wall around my life for a reason, to preserve the proverbial “fire”, not an ethno-cultural symbolic exemplar of fire. I’m not looking for friends to hang out with; I’m looking for serious people who are doing their own difficult work. If you show me that you’re practicing what you preach and that you value the moment over social games, the door will open on its own.
Show up either at a dojo, seminar, Discord, Telegram, Internet Relay Chat (IRC), or send a note here on the contact form. Please note that the situated identity will vary based on channel (e.g., dojo, Discord, Telegram, IRC, place where form is received) and context (e.g., culture, group, environment) within which the contact occurs (Alexander & Wiley, 1981; Goffman, 1959; Markus, 1977; Markus & Kitayama, 1981; Markus & Wurf, 1987).
Dojo
- Home dojo is, and will always be Aikido Shobukan Dojo in Washington, DC.
- Secondary dojo is Aikido Schools of Ueshiba, University of Shihan School, Aiki Shrine in Myakka City, FL.
- I do occasionally visit local dojos in the Seattle area.
Discord
- I am currently active in Discord in r/protogen and Pacific Northwest Furries.
Telegram
- I am active on Telegram and the username/phone is shared directly in 1-1 conversations.
IRC
- I have used IRC since the mid-1990s and historically engaged in #buddhism, #martial, and #bujinkan on Undernet. This facilitated meetings in real life (IRL) with individuals, and communications with people around the world. There are occasional visits to Undernet #buddhism; friends maintain bridges across many IRC networks (15 IRC networks bridged as of 12/2023), and the terminal may be active—please direct message if wanting to chat. As channel ops (e.g., unicron) for assistance to get into contact and they will help you.
- https://wiki.buddhism-chat.org/
Form
References
Alexander, C. N., Jr., & Wiley, M. G. (1981). Situated identity and impression formation. In M. Rosenberg & R. H. Turner (Eds.), Social psychology: Sociological perspectives (pp. 117–134). Basic Books.
Goffman, E. (1959). The presentation of self in everyday life. Doubleday.
Markus, H., & Wurf, E. (1987). The dynamic self-concept: A social psychological perspective on personality. Annual Review of Psychology, 38(1), 299–337.
Markus, H. R. (1977). Self-schemata and processing information about the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 35(2), 63–78.
Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (1991). Culture and the self: Implications for cognition, emotion, and motivation. Psychological Review, 98(2), 224–253.