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Cafe Maru

Cafe Maru

bringing things learned in the dojo to outside the dojo <3

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Posted on May 5, 2018May 7, 2018

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    Naginata Influencer

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    iamtheyin

    心 は senjou. 💌
    Naginata Sensei @nynaginata & Coach @cunaginata
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    iamtheyin
    Yuuupppp I diiiiiiid it #pinkbalayage Yuuupppp I diiiiiiid it #pinkbalayage
    It’s been like a year (or more) since I’ve don It’s been like a year (or more) since I’ve done #rinsho . Of course I couldn’t start with Ougishi (haha), but I started with #confucius . It was a good refresher. I forgot about how Confucius has rounder finishes to his straight lines and such. Oddly enough, I enjoyed it today. Before I would absolutely dreadddd Rinsho because it was so hard and required so much fine eye details. Perhaps the break was a good one so that I can refresh and let myself get used to it? I don’t know, or maybe my sensei was being easy on me lol. Nevertheless, it felt good to go back to a brush after a while. I think the last year was a good break from me to do stuff because I was reallly spreading myself thin. I feel much better now.
    My first LEGIBLE sumi-e piece: bamboo. At first, My first LEGIBLE sumi-e piece: bamboo. At first, I thought there was something wrong with the paper, but then upon redoing the cleaning process and just remembering the tactile feelings of the brush, I realized that my process was incorrect, and that’s why the ink was not coming out that well. So many reps, so many past Shodo skills that I had to transfer over to see if it helped, but yeah, regardless, I still can’t quiteeee make it nice lol. I also can’t trace it. Waaaaaa 😭😭😭😭😭 #sumie #墨絵
    Well, it looks like someone else wanted their own Well, it looks like someone else wanted their own #pink mug 😝💖🐰
    Happy Easter from the little Easter usagi herself! Happy Easter from the little Easter usagi herself! #easterbunny #easterbunny🐰 #usagi #easterusagi #うさぎ #pastel
    Well, I will be honest, I don’t think I’m natu Well, I will be honest, I don’t think I’m naturally suited for pottery, but there is something satisfying about just using your weaknesses as a strength and coming out with pieces that are actually identifiable! I have been obsessed with ceramics that are heart-shaped bowls made on a wheel, but could never get them on ANY restock from my favorite ceramicists. But whatdaya know, my wobbly cups now could be transformed into something nicer! #ceramics #pottery #heart
    If I’m going to be honest, the appropriation of If I’m going to be honest, the appropriation of martial arts is honestly really getting annoying. I know it’s not old, the ‘McDojos’ have been around since the 60’s, but in actuality, it is very disheartening to see how although martial arts is beginning to become more “mainstream” compared to before, many seem to forget its Asian origins. I have had certain non-Asian practitioners try to “educate” me in how certain things in Budo are “considered offensive to people of Japanese descent” and I’m sitting there like, “…*please insert the psychedelic clown filter*….” Not remembering the racial aspects of martial arts (which btw, has always existed, and many past sensei have fought for equal opportunity for their non-Asian students) is honestly very disappointing. Essentially, deleting the true meaning of budo of developing character and just emphasizing the inaccurate interpretation of “ancient feudal Japanese battlefield culture” is just cultural appropriation, imo. I am hoping that more martial arts communities will honor their passed on sensei by supporting the Asian and Asian American community right now. The violence is real, we are not invisible. Martial arts came from Asia, please respect your O-sensei and their sensei by spreading awareness, acknowledging the violence going on, and supporting the Asian American community during these times. We are not invisible. We are not a fetish. We are not “out of date.” We are not weak. We are human, treat us the same. #stopasianhate #hateisavirus
    Today, while I was peacefully looking out my windo Today, while I was peacefully looking out my window and reflecting on how this year passed by, there were many things that people have said to me in the past which only until now made sense. I also was thinking, “Wow, a year...I could’ve gotten more done, I wasted so many minutes, hours, etc...” and could’ve been more productive. But then I saw how much my plants grew and how my desk layout looked, just realized that it’s ok and that all things just happen for a reason. I’m sure everyone has heard of these cliché sayings before, but really, it takes a while for your intuition to realize that, “really, what society thinks doesn’t matter” and that there are plenty of people around you who are supposedly in “worse” situations that are still doing it and doing it well. So yes, you can just let things roll and be yourself. One thing I realized, which took a long time, is that I need to “do” naginata, that is where my path and strengths are supposed to be. I’m not sure if others realized it before me and by telling me earlier would’ve changed things, but I think that regardless, now that my inner self realized it, I can question less and just keep going towards where I need to go with it, not because “I HAVE to do it.” There are some people who are meant for policy-making and are honestly more skilled at that, but that’s just not for me. I thought that being involved with policy-making would help be able to do what u want creatively with NAGINATA, but that certainly isn’t the case. There is nothing wrong with doing what you want and shifting towards what YOU like. Just keep at it and you’ll figure out ways to make it work. #reflections
    Didn’t realize that ringlights could provide suc Didn’t realize that ringlights could provide such nice background lighting—-it was fun to play around with this. It almost gives a crescent moon effect in the background 🌙 I now get it @rchong_photo hahahha
    Hi fluffball! #teddywidder #teddywidderrabbit Hi fluffball! #teddywidder #teddywidderrabbit
    Felt great to mochikae again and be able to do NAG Felt great to mochikae again and be able to do NAGINATA again. I can’t wait till we can get a regular situation going on again...
    #tbt to Granny and I walking down the beaches in F #tbt to Granny and I walking down the beaches in Florida every summer...you can see why I’m uber picky about beaches 🤣🤣 And even as a 5 year old, I was always thinking about kicking and martial arts 24/7.
    Afternoon snack🍡🍵 I realized that I placed Afternoon snack🍡🍵 I realized that I placed my #mochi on the other side of my #starbuckscherryblossom wooden tray. It has pretty Sakura patterns on it...oh well. #pinkceramics #pink #pinklife
    Yes you do, yes you can still see my goal checklis Yes you do, yes you can still see my goal checklist in the corner of this frame! Although I may have changed my living space + daily routine by adding plants, don’t forget about the goals you have (both long and short term). I need to keep my billions of “to-do-list papers” on my wall so that I can not procrastinate from them. Whenever I can cross something off my list, I definitely get that huge feeling of gratification like how my undergrad Sports Pedagogy prof mentioned when it comes to #goals . Posting it up on your desk helps keep you in check. The plants just now add a pretty decor around it 🤣 #goalsetting #hoya #hoyarotundiflora #petphoto
    Another awesome soku-men photo taken by the talent Another awesome soku-men photo taken by the talented @rchong_photo ! This time, instead of Sakura, I have the NYC streetlights behind me (I think this is more fitting, tbh lol). I was asked by PBS to submit a video about my plants (which I did) for their American Portrait project, but I also decided to submit a video about NAGINATA as a way to spread out awareness for this rare art. The PBS guy said ok and ended up loving the video! I thought about using this photo to show how doing something foreign in an American context is actually not so alien after all. But, I wanted to save this photo for another NAGINATA PR moment, so I held myself back 😝 You can watch the video here: https://www.pbs.org/american-portrait/story/24667/katie-r-new-york-ny-the-tradition-i-carry-on-is #naginata #strike #strikeapose #womanwarrior #hapa #asianamericanwomen #なぎなた #長刀 #薙刀 #構え #無構え #着物 #武士 #nyc #武道 #kimono #blue #Japan #japanesemartialarts #vintagekimono #martialarts #powerfulwomen #sensei #先生 #nycmartialarts #samurai
#femalemartialartist #womeninpower #americanportraitpbs #model
    Decided to change it up a bit. #kyudo is definitel Decided to change it up a bit. #kyudo is definitely more elegant to take photos of compared to some other arts 🤣🤣 I’ve always loved the feathers on the ya (arrows) because they are so cute! Hilariously enough, I still remembered how to do the preparatory moves from my muscle memory 🤣 it’s been 12 years but hey, I guess if you practice enough, it’ll be in your brain’s back filing cabinet still stored. And of course, my talented and Uber skilled homeboy #photographer @rchong_photo took these photos. Thanks so much! #kimono #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #archery #archery #弓道
    I finally got my desk again (temporarily 🤣🤣) I finally got my desk again (temporarily 🤣🤣) #monsteraadansoniivariegata #hoyarotundiflora #pink #pinklife #desk #deskdecor #mydesk
    Haven’t done a #kyudo shot in such a long time—-I think the last time was in high school. Kyudo has a lot of photographers so I was always able to have good photo opportunities like these. I also am impressed with how my new camera is on the #iphone12pro . Such impressive detail, especially with professional lighting omg. This was also my first time wearing a blue #kimono ! The bright color was perfect with my light skin!
    Well, I finally was able to do one of the things I Well, I finally was able to do one of the things I’ve always wanted to do: make a vlog and post it on YouTube. It’s not 100% perfect (as nothing ever is) however, it was good enough and I also know that so as long as I keep making them, the quality will just get better and better. Quarantine and not being able to do my normal daily routine (especially without naginata) has given me this golden window of opportunity to really get done some back burner projects. I know how time consuming creative projects get, so back in my normal lifestyle, this wouldn’t have been possible, so I’m glad I was able to use my forced time away in a productive manner. Upon reviewing the video, I realized something: despite COVID-19, my life actually is still the same. I still am able to do my usual things, except the only thing that’s really missing is all the wasted commuting time. So I guess one could argue that life is better right now and not worth being all depressed about. Take advantage of the extra time/regain the time you have lost wasting it on mindless things. This is the best chance. #creative #rhaphidophoratetrasperma #pink #vlog
    Love having a day off to actually have the time to Love having a day off to actually have the time to make some #matcha . Don’t forget to vote!
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