Gentle Tools

The Gentle Tools line emerged from a collaboration between Bob Quinn, DAOM, L.Ac. and Arnon Kartmazov, a master blacksmith who trained 12 years in Japan with master craftspeople there. He had earlier training in Israel with a master smith there.

How did this all get started?

Arnon dropped by a shonishin seminar that was being hosted by Bob Quinn where his daughter was a model patient for the teacher. Arnon was fascinated by the tiny shonishin tools and how they connected to his earlier life in Japan. In his shop he started to play with a few designs, and with minor feedback from Bob Quinn a line of tools was developed. They have sold for years in the Portland area and now through Blue Poppy are made available to a wider audience.

These tools are now in the hands of 100s of practitioners and the feedback is universally positive. Six master Japanese acupuncturists have been gifted these tools by Bob Quinn, and they all say the same thing as soon as they hold them in their hands: It is hard to find quality like this in Japan anymore. These are true, hand-forged lifetime tools at an affordable price. Each piece is hand-crafted by Arnon in his Bridgetown Forge.

We hope that through your hands these tools come alive and that children all over the world benefit.

Blue Poppy Institute: Youtube Gentle Tool series