The Goal of the Teacher

Friday Knight News 

The goal of a teacher is first to inspire because without inspiration there would be no dedication to practice. The teacher serves as a practiced witness to the students practice making sure that they practices true to form. A teacher demonstrates how to interpret the signs and symbols along the road to mastery and they point the direction to follow. It is not as important who inspires us, but how they inspire us.

Most often our first instructor sets the standard for what we seek. My first instructor was old and feeble when I met him but he was a master of misdirection and leading the mind. Subsequently all of my intermittent instructors failed to measure up to his standard as they generally relied on purely physical attributes and sporting skills to transmit the art.

While some of my instructors were very self defense oriented and followed my interest in a holistic lifestyle our associations together were brief. Due to my background I developed a distrust of organizations and the agendas of associations. I had become like a ronin (a master less samurai), but during these times I was fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of many inspirational individuals.

The greatest and most influential person on my martial art career is my sensei Tom Manson. Tom is a mountain of a man or a Junior Moose as he would describe himself with a breath and depth of martial art knowledge held by few. He was not the fastest, strongest, most fit or most flexible martial artist I had seen or trained with but he was the most tactical. He also was generous to a fault and he was always willing to accept illumination from others.

Seminar instructors and authors also taught my list of inspirational martial artist. Tony Annesi, Bill Wallace, James Williams in the late Joe Lewis and Jay T Will top my list. Tony Annesi, sensei is probably the most influential person in my development as I had been following his writings for almost my entire martial art career. I’ve only spent a few physical days training with him over the years but he has remained in contact offering insight and guidance for almost 20 years now. His approach to principles and techniques are the softest and most subtle I have experienced.

I have met many individuals who were stronger or faster and even more flexible than Mr. Bill (super foot) Wallace. The thing is the insights and charisma set him apart. Bill Wallace is an individual who has inspired me to train around my injuries. He has demonstrated throughout his career how to develop despite the odds.
James Williams, sensei is the closest example of a modern samurai that I have experienced. I find his instruction insightful well rounded and entertaining, even mesmerizing at times. I have trained with other sword masters and I have worked with agents and other law enforcement officers and training officers with hundreds upon hundreds of felony arrest under their belt. Many of these men also followed the way of the sword as part of their overall development in the warrior’s arts but Williams, sensei excludes haragei. To me he is the quintessential modern day samurai.

Joe Lewis greatest gift to me was that he on several occasions sought me out to ask about my training and to give me a few pointers. This stood out to me more so than the dozens of classes I had with him as they were directed to me personally. The next thing that I appreciated from Joe was his teaching that confidence comes from the authority of your techniques. He and Jay T Will had been longtime friends and having Jay T taking a personal interest in me after my first seminar with him was very powerful to me.

I liked Jay T’s teaching style and mannerisms and while I do not have his big booming voice I believe my instruction style is closest to his approach. Kempo Jutsu was my first martial art and having a prominent Kenpo master like Jay T. acknowledge me was gratifying. Our friendship had been short-lived as we had only connected at Dr. Jerry Beasley’s karate college for the last few years of Jay T’s life.

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.