vmilewski

I’ve been training in the martial arts continuously for 35 years, teaching for 30. Yet, those who have never stepped into a gi or on a dojo floor or practiced self-defense in its practical applications over decades seem to want to diminish, dismiss, or denigrate those who do have training. Why—hubris, ego, bullying? Who knows. What I do know is that it’s consistent, whether it’s me or a world champion who has nearly a foot on me and over a decade more teaching. Haters gonna hate. No getting...

We officially opened Midwest Shorin Ryu Health & Wellness Center on June 2nd, 2025, after the death of our Sensei, Dan Schroeder, Master Tadashi Yamashita’s top student. There was considerable questioning among Sensei Schroeder’s students as to what should happen next. I decided that I wanted to continue what Sensei Schroeder passed on to all of us. So, Vince and I, together with dojomates from the old school who liked my vision and were inclined to journey down the path we were beginning to...

How Yoga Practice with mom & friends has helped transform our lives for the better. I’m embarking on a new phase of strength training. This one’s as much about the spirit and the mind (like karate-do) as it is about the body. Overall health and wellness, just feeling better and greeting the day with gratitude, is now something I actively cultivate. Mom does too. I’m incredibly proud of my mother-in-law. There are many reasons for this. Chief among them is her tenacity and her willingness to...