American Mah Jongg · learning / training (product)
Mahj Life
Also called #MAHJLIFE; Mahj Life Instructor Guild
Canton, GA. Bylaws version 20260821.1 print the principal place of business as 6175 Hickory Flat Hwy, Ste 110-335, Canton, GA 30115.
Category: American Mah Jongg · learning / training (product) Also called: #MAHJLIFE; Mahj Life Instructor Guild Last checked: 2026-08-23
What it is
Mahj Life is an American Mah Jongg (NMJL) product: a public instructor directory, a free rules wiki, and a paid Instructor Guild. It is a product, not a Mahjong Plaza brand, and it is not the National Mah Jongg League.
Who it’s for
New or improving American (NMJL) players who want a teacher; instructors who want a guild, materials, and a directory listing.
Why it’s listed
This is an instructor-and-wiki product for American tables, not a live 4-player server and not Plaza.
- Homepage (https://mahjlife.com) title on 2026-08-23: “#MAHJLIFE, the QUINTessential Mah Jongg Resource Center.” Four homepage paths: Find an Instructor, Search the Wiki, Get Involved, Instructor Guild.
- Instructor directory (https://mahjlife.com/instructor-guild-directory/): “Teaching FACE-TO-FACE and ONLINE, nationwide.” Search by category, keyword, lesson setting (in-person / online), US state, and version. The version filter lists American/National Mah Jongg League first (also Wright-Patterson, Hong Kong Old Style, Japanese/Riichi, MCR, and others). Listing in the directory requires the Instructor Self-Assessment System (I-SAS), per the Guild membership page.
- Wiki (https://mahjlife.com/wiki/): “FREE, searchable, on-demand” tagged articles (rules, strategy, sportsmanship, teaching tips). The page says the content comes from “over 50 years of gameplay, and 30 years of teaching, research, and analysis.” Attribution requested to Michele Frizzell #MAHJLIFE. Popular articles listed: American Mah Jongg (162), How to Pick a Hand (183), NMJL Card FAQs (254).
- Instructor Guild (https://mahjlife.com/instructor-guild-membership/): paid professional-development / mentorship for instructors. Purpose stated on that page: help instructors “build a sustainable mah jongg lesson business and teach with confidence.” Founder Michele Frizzell: playing since 1973; teaching American Mah Jongg since 1990; business rebranded as Mahj Life in 2022.
- Bylaws (https://mahjlife.com/instructor-guild-bylaws-and-membership-agreement/), version 20260821.1, footer “Mahj Life, LLC.” Annual dues $197.00 USD. Members must buy at least one NMJL card per year, own the current Mah Jongg Made Easy, and distinguish house rules from official NMJL rules. Members are independent instructors — “not employees, agents, or franchisees.”
Prices above are what the official bylaws and membership page showed on the check date. They can change.
Official URL
Instructor directory: https://mahjlife.com/instructor-guild-directory/
Wiki: https://mahjlife.com/wiki/
Instructor Guild: https://mahjlife.com/instructor-guild-membership/
Location
Canton, GA. Bylaws version 20260821.1 still print the principal place of business as 6175 Hickory Flat Hwy, Ste 110-335, Canton, GA 30115. Governing law: Georgia; venue: Cherokee County.
Notes
- List as a product, not as Mahjong Plaza. Directory quality depends on current members. The Guild is a paid membership.
- American / NMJL-oriented (card purchase and Mah Jongg Made Easy are Guild requirements). The directory can filter other versions; that does not make this a Riichi org.
- Not affiliated with Mahjong Plaza.
FAQ
Q: Is Mahj Life the same as Mahjong Plaza or the National Mah Jongg League?
A: No. It is a separate American Mah Jongg product (directory + free wiki + paid Instructor Guild). It is not Plaza and it does not issue the NMJL card.
Q: Is the wiki free? What about the Instructor Guild?
A: The wiki page calls itself a free, searchable collection. Guild annual dues on the 2026-08-23 bylaws (version 20260821.1) and membership page were $197.00 USD.
Q: Do Guild instructors have to teach official American (NMJL) rules?
A: The bylaws require members to keep current on official NMJL rules (Mah Jongg Made Easy plus the annual card/bulletin) and to distinguish house rules from official NMJL rules when they teach them. Members run independent lesson businesses; they are not Mahj Life employees or franchisees.