Mah jongg has been part of Michele Frizzell’s life for as long as she can remember.

Her journey began with her Filipino grandfather, whose love of the game sparked a family tradition that would shape the course of her life. In 1973, Michele’s mother, Carolyn, learned Wright-Patterson Mah Jongg and passed her enthusiasm for the game on to her daughter. What started as a shared pastime quickly became something much more—a lifelong bond built around tiles, friendship, learning, and community.

Carolyn went on to lead several mah jongg groups, and many of Michele’s favorite memories are of sitting at the table with her mother and her friends. Through those experiences, she learned that mah jongg is about more than strategy and skill. It is about connection, belonging, and the joy of gathering around a table with others.

When Carolyn passed away from cancer in 2004, Michele found a meaningful way to honor her memory: by sharing the game with others. What began as a personal tribute gradually evolved into a mission to help players learn, improve, and enjoy mah jongg with confidence.

Michele has been teaching American mah jongg since 1990 and has spent decades helping players of all experience levels deepen their understanding of the game. Her background as an educator shaped her approach to instruction—breaking down complex concepts into practical, approachable lessons that help students build both skill and confidence.

Today, Michele is the founder of Mahj Life, a modern educational platform dedicated to American mah jongg. Through books, courses, livestreams, workshops, speaking engagements, and educational resources, she has become one of the game’s most recognized voices. The Mahj Life community includes more than 90,000 Facebook members and 60,000 YouTube subscribers who turn to her for guidance, strategy, and ongoing learning.

Michele is also the founder and leader of the Mahj Life Instructor Guild, a nationwide community of educators committed to excellence in mah jongg instruction. Through mentorship, professional development, teaching resources, and peer collaboration, the Guild helps instructors strengthen their skills and expand their impact.

In 2026, Michele launched the Learning Lab, a supportive educational environment where players and instructors can continue learning together through discussions, livestreams, resources, and skill-building activities. The Learning Lab reflects her belief that learning never ends and that growth happens best within a supportive community.

Whether she is helping a beginner understand the Charleston, coaching an experienced player through advanced strategy, speaking at a conference, or supporting instructors in their teaching journey, Michele’s goal remains the same: to empower instructors and inspire players.

Because the more confident we all are, the more fun we can have.

Through the years, Michele has become an advanced player of several styles.

What makes Michele unique is that she teaches all of these styles as well. She has designed comprehensive player references and developed tried-and-true teaching methods that have significantly shortened the learning curve for most players. Anyone who has learned to play from Michele speaks highly of her creative approach to learning and great patience as a teacher.

Lessons

Are you new to the game? Do you already know how to play and just want to build your skills? Mahj Life instructors are ready to help!

Read More

Books

Do you learn by reading books? My primers are available in e-kindle and paperback on Amazon.

Read More

Speaking

Do you have a speaking opportunity? See if I am a fit for your audience by visiting my speaker page.

Read More