The Curse of Fame & J T Will

Friday Knight News

Even in a small pond the curse of fame has weight. My wife always hated it when we got up in the morning and went for a walk and there were students waiting to follow us. I can only imagine what famous folks felt like having this all the time. The late kenpo karate master J. T. Will was the first man of national recognition that seemed to find validity in my approach to martial arts. I had first written him when he was recovering in the hospital from heart problems and we finally met in a seminar he was instructing. He had remembered my card and letter even though I wasn't in his organization. In fact I had never seen or practiced his form of kenpo until we met in seminar. I had studied several types of kempo jutsu from my youth and I briefly had taken lessons in an American kenpo school in my teens that was close to what he was teaching. I stood in the back row of his seminar that was filled to capacity and he still noticed me.

He was a big man with a big voice and I found his sense of humor and kindheartedness gratifying. I was astounded that he selected me from the swarm of students and gave me not only words of encouragement, and advice but also included me in his circle later on as he hobnobbed with martial art greats. It was nice being able to rub elbows with his friends outside of the seminar format. These were men that I grew up admiring after having read of their exploits in martial art books and magazines.

Due to my background I had always been apprehensive about drawing attention to myself. In fact this was something that we had discussed and he had reassured me that the nature of my background was of little importance compared to the quality within. J. T. Will had told me that I was good enough to be on the national circuit teaching seminars if I would only carve out a special niche that was separate from what all of the other individuals were teaching. He told me in this way you can be accepted into the circle without stepping on any toes.

After considering his advice I recognized that you do not have to come from a famous lineage to be legitimate. In fact studying under someone of prominence might establish you initially but then there is the burden of caring their name. There is something liberating about a clandestine background and only relying on the authority of your own skills.

I only spent time with him at seminars and also hanging out with him afterward for a few times before he passed. He had been losing weight and watching his diet the last time I had seen him and he asked for a picture together. We shot quite a few but the flash on my camera was not functioning. J.T. suggested several times that we go outside and take a few under the shade of the trees where the light was better. Thinking I was out of film I brushed off his suggestion saying that we could shoot the photos after the next seminar.

However, the next seminar never came about; as his weight loss had been about more than his walking and dietary changes. I never sought out the opportunity to teach on the seminar circuit after that last conversation. I found that training with my friends from my instructor’s law enforcement-based group was sufficient for me. I recognized the quality of instruction was not diminished because of the lack of fame of the master instructors I studied under. The presentation might have been lacking decorum but that was often true in many of the national circuit level seminars as well.

It all boils down to if you are famous and you break a board with a spear hand and place it online you get people who will swoon over it and people who will criticize it. If you are unknown the same thing will happen but on a smaller scale. The break could have been performed with the non-dominant hand and people will say you were afraid to injure your good hand.  If it looks too easy they say it’s fake and if you build it up a say you’re showboating. When you are using your dominant hand they complain about that too and say things like the board was already cracked. It’s hard to become successful without achieving a measure of fame and notoriety makes you a target.

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.