Thanks Tyson Ray

FRIDAY KNIGHT NEWS

Today I'm sharing a foreword from my upcoming new book on principles based martial art instruction. This portion was written by a long time student. I salute Tyson and all the members of our police and military forces that serve and protect the constitutional rights we cherish in our country.

"RD Lawrence was my second martial arts teacher, but he is my FIRST sensei. I happened upon him after my first school disbanded. I found his flyer with his yellow business cards (Pragmatic Martial Arts) attached on the billboard of the grocery store I worked in as a teen. That was 20 years ago, and today he is still my sensei. I remember fondly learning Kempo-Jutsu from Lawrence, sensei. His movement and techniques in all honesty looked effortless. While training I would watch him demonstrate on one student so the rest of us could see what was going on and I’d think, “yeah ok I have this”, only to find that what looked effortless from sensei was quite the opposite for me, it was effortless for him and he made it look so easy because he had spent many years refining his movements. I recall during a demo at a seminar I volunteered to be his uke for a technique. I attacked and was flung across the room, with little effort from RD. After I took the fall, or flight, no one else in the room would volunteer, this included many mid to higher level black belts. For me that was normal training.

I have traveled the world, literally, and have met many great teachers and learned much from all of them. From the arts of Judo and Aikido to Kali or Muay Thai, I have been lucky to train under many great and gifted people, but I have always came back to RD and his teaching. For me the other arts have maybe increased or tweaked my understanding or let say, expanded my breath of knowledge, but it all comes back to my foundation from RD’s Kempo-Jutsu. As it is said, the foundation is what holds everything up and its true as a martial art because everything I have done in the other arts all comes back to my foundation or roots.

After a class in Aikido, I would think that was great I have never done that before, yet after a more careful reflection and review of the technique, it was clear that I had indeed done that before with Lawrence, sensei. I wasn't learning anything new, I was refining my movement. Maybe the Aikido entry was different, but the end result was the same. That is why I also keep coming back to RD. He had sifted through things and made it easier to see, for example “Kote-Gaeshi” is one technique that can be applied to a variety of different attacks. In some systems it looks as its many different techniques based on the entry or method you are attacked. I think that confuses people and in the end that is why I left Aikido. I was tired of the debates about how it’s not the same technique. I had achieved what I wanted from Aikido, and I had gotten my “movement” back. Lawrence, sensei has done a great job of weeding out the repetitiveness while maintaining the effectiveness of the techniques.

If you are a martial artist and you need to “fix” your foundation, this is for you. If you are a beginner and need to start your foundation, this is for you. I am thrilled that RD is now putting to paper what I have been taught so I can always have a training reference no matter how far away I am."

Larry "Tyson" Ray
MSgt, USAF
San Dan Tokoshi Kempo Jutsu

Beyond the Dojo by R. David Lawrence, Patricia Lawrence and Phil Lawrence (Jan 19, 2013) - Kindle eBook

The Path: Warrior Insights of Masaru Taro by R. David Lawrence, Patricia Lawrence, Kay Francis Brewer and Larry Tyson Ray (Aug 13, 2012) - Kindle eBook

Enlightenment Kicking and Screaming (The Paradox of Martial Art Training) by R. David Lawrence, Patricia Lawrence, Kay Frances Brewer and Steve Smith (Jan 11, 2013) - Kindle eBook

My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with paranormal or supernatural events. The following links are to the Kindle version books from the "Dream Walker” series. Our adventurers find themselves on a quest where they are confronted with both conspiracy and mystery. Their challenge is to unite their mind and body skills together utilizing what they have learned in the martial arts with the transcendental power of dream mediation. They attempt to do this while they are trying to make a life for themselves and elude those that seek to use and control them.

Conversations with a Sage (Book 1 of the Dream-Walker)

Conversations with a Sage: This explores Xander Davidson's early encounters with the mysterious fog like Dream Walking martial art sages. He ponders if they are real or if they are only remnants of his dreams. He mainly keeps this secret world to himself as he tries to copes with abuse, growing up without support or guidance and the mystery of his family's past. 

Xander and the Assassins Gift (Book 2 of the Dream-Walker)

The Assassins Gift: Xander Davidson struggles with the conspiracy of his family and the group that is actively trying to manipulate him to join them or die. The young Dream Walkers learns an early lesson to be careful about whom they let into their circle.


Warriors of Perception (Book 3 of the Dream-Walker)

Warriors of Perception: Xander Davidson and his band of friends embark on a mission to free themselves from their oppressors. They bravely face the challenge all the while vying for the right moment to turn the tables.

Jace Lee The Shift (Book 4 of the Dream-Walker)

Jace Lee The Shift: We find a new apprentice, Adam, that is fighting for his life. He is struggling to understand the amazing skills of his mentor, Jace Lee; a younger man that has trained under Xander Davidson. All the while his mentor attempts to reconcile the fact that his skills do not match up with the other Dream Walkers.


Jace Lee No Agenda (Dream Walker Book 5)

Jace Lee No Agenda: Jace Lee attempts to find himself on a self-imposed vision quest of sorts. Instead he finds himself being stalked by the same group that had previously sought after his teacher, (Xander Davidson). Instead of mastering his odd Dream Walking skills he finds love and the potential loss of his powers.

Jace Lee and the Tutelage of Ming Wu: Dream Walker 6 

Jace Lee The Tutelage of Ming Wu: Jace Lee rejoins his teacher Xander Davidson as they cope with a possible combined threat (the mysterious), Ming Wu and the Council that has continuously monitored the Dream Walkers.