Where are the Jedi

Friday Knight News

Some people just don't get it. I started in the martial arts not because they were cool (even though they are), but because it was who I was. I am tempted to say my first memories were about martial arts but that is not true, after all I have memory prior to my birth. Although I have blocked the memory of birth possibly due to the trauma. I have spent my life being aware of consciousness and the discipline of martial arts has been the best multifaceted tool that I have found to deal with it and writing has been an equal partner for expression.

My early reading was geared to the exploits of the Sherlock Holmes and the Hardy Boys and when you throw in TV and movies you can add Charlie Chan. I loved fencing, boxing, wrestling in films as well but the FBI self defense manual on jujutsu and my interest in the fictional detectives lead me not only into law enforcement but martial arts. All of my success in life has come from my pursuit of understanding the martial arts. Reading, writing, and teaching the martial arts all played a part of my martial art practice. The pen and sword are not what I do; they are the expression of who I am. Before Billy Jack, Kung Fu (the TV series), Enter the Dragon and Ninjutsu were big I was on the quest to be a mystic warrior. When Star Wars hit the big screen my kenjutsu went from me being called a crazy guy with a stick to being called a Jedi and it happened overnight. There is a story of this incident in my book  "Beyond the Dojo."

In the small book "Beyond the Dojo" I have tales expressing what I consider sardonic humor over my chagrin in some elements of the martial arts. As in all my books fiction and non fiction, I have used composite characters and situations from my day to day reality. I have even toned some of the unusual Jedi like things down as no one would believe them unless they were there themselves. Even for those of us that were there during many of these stories as in the examples from my books "Enlightenment Kicking and Screaming (The Paradox of Martial Art Training), the Dream Walker series and Chopsticks and Applesauce", these events are mostly still unexplained. I still love the mystery of unfolding consciousness, this is what the practice of the martial arts is all about to me; the mind and the body becoming in tune. The side benefit of having practical applications of self defense skills and interesting exercises is a plus too.

The name of this blog was created from the Mushin University the home of the Maka Knights in the book "Enlightenment Kicking and Screaming (The Paradox of Martial Art Training)." It was because of my desire to reach people who also felt like me that the martial arts was a modern day expression of what the Shaolin monks, ninja and Jedi were all about.

I approach my writing in the same manner that I train in the martial arts. I do it daily; as I need to, and I try to improve upon it while fully expression my vision as I learn to adapt with the the rigors of life. As my understanding and needs change I try to adjust to the situation. I like substance over flashy moves I have faced guns, knives, and makeshift weapons in real life and I try to reflect this in my writing. My goal is to seek the transcendental element that makes us more than the sum of our parts. My characters try to do this in the face of danger and with the setbacks and challenges of life with a calm detached response. My work reflects the working philosophy I sand and polish daily in an effort to improve despite the circumstances and failings of living. These stories reflect the fact that even talented and gifted individuals struggle and fall but they also depict the manner in which peaceful warriors use to recover from these setbacks.

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.