Conversations with Peter Lopez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Lopez.

Hi Peter, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I found Cleveland Kendo a little over 10 years ago. I had previously done other martial arts and was looking for a way to stay in shape and compete. Kendo stood out to me because the students and instructors were older than most other martial arts dojos I visited. The membership also includes a lot really smart people including doctors, architects, scientists, and engineers which is something I had not seen at other dojos I had visited, I soon learned the focus was less on beating your opponent, but improving yourself through Kendo. Over the years I have seen myself improve and grow mentally and physically. I am now 3rd dan and beginning to teach Kendo to others. Seeing new students improve and succeed has been as fulfilling as my own practice. Our dojo has been attracting new members and growing steadily. For many sword-fighting and fencing are not practical for self-defense and are outside most people’s experience and comfort zone. However those that stick with It will continue for many years.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Kendo is always a struggle. There is always a challenge to any kind of physical activity, such as continuing after an injury or illness, and finding the time and motivation to practice. I have found Kendo the most valuable when I fell tired or unmotivated. When I get to practice I am almost always feeling better at the end of practice. Despite the challenge the members of our dojo strive to encourage and help each other. The primary goal of Kendo is to continually improve whether that is competing, achieving a higher rank, or sparring with more experienced people. A common attitude in Kendo is that if you are not struggling you’re not being adequately challenged. Even the most high ranked senseis I have met are always looking for a challenge and to improve beyond their current abilities.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work in software development. It is for a company that makes content management/business software. While not a household name, they are pretty successful and the work is stable and predictable, I am happy to have a career I find challenging and enjoy doing. Most aspects of my job get pretty technical and require a lot of explaining, but the short answer is I deploy and test the software various ways before it is released to our customers.

What matters most to you? Why?
Family, Friends, and the ability to spend time with them. As important as Kendo is in my life, having the time to be able to spend it with the people I love is the most important thing in my life. What Kendo has also taught me is to have a wider view and to try new things and to become a more well-rounded person.

Pricing:

• 65.00 per month

Contact Info:

• Website: https://clevelandkendo.com