Learn Japanese Calligraphy

Are you seeking a meditative activity to help you focus, find calmness, and discover your inner spirit? 


Then give Japanese Calligraphy a try!


The World has sped up!

We live at a hundred miles an hour without plans to stop. Living on the fast lane negatively impacts our quality of life. Many people feel scattered, overwhelmed, and stressed when the ever-increasing demands of life outweigh their resources.   

The practice of Japanese Calligraphy demands patience, undivided attention, and full concentration; therefore, it can become an excellent resource for releasing the pressures of daily life. 

After my job's daily challenges and responsibilities and raising a family, I spend about an hour practicing Japanese Calligraphy. Immediately my mind and body become one with the activity of calligraphy. All worries disappear in this meditative state, where mind, body, and brush are one. I can focus, keep calm amid chaos, and, most of all, feel happy when I create a beautiful work of art! 

When you practice Japanese Calligraphy, you can apply its principles of patience, undivided attention, and full concentration to all activities in your daily life.



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"This enjoyable course gave me an invaluable introduction to basic strokes, along with the opportunity, even as a beginner, of brushing real kanji. Esteban is a perceptive and personable instructor whose clear, concise teaching style made the online class an exceptional experience."

- Ruth Bogan USA


"On week 3 of this introduction course, I wanted to drop out. I couldn’t draw a straight horizontal line to save my life. My brushstrokes were out of control and messy. Esteban said, “keep practicing”. So, I did and continued my practice. Six months down the line I can, not only draw a horizontal line, but also multiple characters as beautiful works of art."
- Aitzie Olaechea  London

Learn the basics of the beautiful art of Japanese Calligraphy through easy-to-follow online lessons that you complete at your own pace.


The Shodo 6-Week Introductory Online Course is designed for beginners. This concise course is six weeks long. From the day you join, you will receive a weekly lesson. Each lesson consists of keynote lectures, video demonstrations, and practical assignments. The six-week pace helps students focus on skills and allows plenty of practice time before learning Kanji with new brushstrokes. 

After you complete this Shodo introductory course, you can continue your practice as a student of Gohitsu Shodo Kai.



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Hi there!




I'm Esteban Martinez, your teacher in this six-week introductory course. I have been practicing Japanese Calligraphy for over 20 years. I also run Gohitsu Shodo Kai, a western Japanese calligraphy society founded in 2010.

In addition to calligraphy, I teach the Japanese martial art of Aikido and practice Zen in the Chosei line of Rinzai Zen.

With Gohitsu Shodo Kai I aim to build a community of people looking to train in Shodo to discover their inner spirit, enhance their senses, and find happiness. We train in calligraphy, approach it from a Zen and martial arts point of view, and teach the technicality of writing Kanji in harmony with our kiai (spiritual power).

The benefits of training in Shodo are immense, and I recognize that finding a teacher is super rare. That's why I created this course. Now you have the opportunity to learn the basics of Japanese Calligraphy and begin the path to a lifelong journey.


What will you learn each week?

Week One


  • Introduction
  • Learning Objectives and Student Expectations
  • The tools you need
  • What is Shodo?
  • The Four Treasures of Calligraphy: The Brush
  • Basic Strokes: The dot

Week Two


  • The Teaching Methodology of Shodo
  • The Four Treasures of Calligraphy: The Ink
  • Basic Strokes: The horizontal line
  • One Basic Kanji

Week Three

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  • Writing Posture and Breathing
  • The Four Treasures of Calligraphy: The inkstone
  • How to Prepare Sumi Ink
  • Basic Strokes: The vertical line and the angle down stroke
  • Two Basic Kanji

Week Four

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  • Writing Styles
  • Rules of Writing
  • The Four Treasures of Shodo: The Paper
  • Basic Strokes: The hook
  • One Basic Kanji

Week Five


  • Old calligraphy masters of China and Japan
  • Basic Strokes: Left-down sweeping stroke
  • One Basic Kanji

Week Six


  • Stamps and Name Seals
  • Basic Strokes: Right down sweeping stroke
  • One Basic Kanji
  • Conclusion  


Register for Shodō 6-Week Introductory Online Course

 $199

  • Six weekly lessons (starting the day you join) 
  • Video instructions on how to write the basic strokes of calligraphy
  • PDF handouts of all the basic calligraphy strokes
  • Learn a total of 6 basic Kanji by the end of the course
  • Comprehensive lectures on "the four treasures of calligraphy"
  • Opportunity to become a student of Gohitsu Shodo Kai

Enroll Now

🤚WAIT!
If you become a member of the Virtual Dojo, you get 50% OFF when enrolling in this course! Sign up for the Virtual Dojo first, then you'll get this course with the discount.