At Niji Dojo, you'll see lion artwork scattered about and a plush lion cub named Goldie hanging out in the plants.

All cats are autonomous, powerful, graceful, playful, and fierce, but lions are the most community-oriented of all the big cats.

Lionesses in particular lounge together, share food, and nurture each other's young. Cubs wrestle like they were born Black Belts.

In the Tarot, the lion symbolizes inner strength, which to me is one of the greatest benefits of a martial arts practice.

Special thanks to my friend, Kara Capaldo, who took this gorgeous photo of a pride in Kenya.