Memories

Friday Knight News

Martial arts have always played a major role in everything that I have done since childhood even though often times its influence was veiled. Looking back to my childhood I can see how this interest persisted and influenced my direction. When given the choice of having a free experiment to do in chemistry I had chosen to create nitroglycerin. It was a lovely controlled explosion that resulted in denting a quarter inch steel plate in the ceiling over the lab station.

I spent a lot of time doing these secret experiments until I lost interest in them but they all had a martial element to them. Being the eldest of my siblings I was pleased when my younger brother had the opportunity to study with one of my former science teachers. My brother informed me that he was not pleased when the instructor questioned if he was actually indeed related to me. I had a love-hate relationship with many of my instructors from my youth. It also served as the foundation to my abhorrence of bullying.

While some of my instructors loved me many others seem to hate me. I had teachers who insisted that I was slow and some had even spoken to my parents about putting me in a special class. This eventually led to the school having me tested (three times), and finding that my intelligence quotient was the highest recorded in the district. I was vindicated but I had never got over the scarring that I receive from several of my earlier instructors, who seemed to take delight in dressing me down in front of the class. Perhaps some of them regret them as well.

Memories are a strange thing, I had always wanted to have eidetic memory but it seems that I have fallen far short of that skill. I never have been good about remembering numbers, dates and information in general when pressed by a bully or an authority figure. In contrast my sensei often mentioned that he would forget his head if it wasn't attached. He had no short-term memory to speak of although he could remember strings of numbers like no one else.

As an example sometimes sensei would ask me what the name was of a certain individual we met at a seminar. I would then ask if it was a martial art seminar or a shooting class. Sensei could be referring to teaching federal marshals weapon retention defense or it could have just as likely been that we were across state serving as referees for jujitsu or a karate competitions. After I was able to ascertain where we were and what we were doing I could give a description of the individual as well as their name. Then depending on the situation sensei could give the man's telephone number, license plate number, as well as the service weapon serial number.

Well into adulthood I recognize the fact that I suffered from hysteric amnesia in certain situations. There was a side benefit to this as when I found myself in this no mind state, I found that I was still able to function with the application of my martial arts skills.  From my time in junior high to high school alone, I have laid out a few such individuals. Martial arts also helped me to develop the emotional detachment necessary to function normally when physical confrontation is not advantageous.

What amazed me was that the principal of my high school actually appreciated my anti-bullying stand, even though he called me to the office 80% time when I was in school. I was lucky that the majority of my teachers spoke well of me and I was a good student so I got to spend the time in the office with the principal in friendly conversation. He told me that he had to call me in to appease things politically and he had never given me a stern lecture at any time. It seems that he felt my actions in every case were what he would've done if he had been allowed to and this was in the days when corporal punishment was still enforced in public schools.

Years later while walking down the sidewalk outside of Columbus, Ohio a small bent gray haired old man called me by name and came over and shook my hand. He thanked me for what I've done and the stand I had taken back in high school. I was surprised to see this small individual was once the man who had seemed to be a giant to me. He was my old high school principal, a fellow who struck terror in the hearts of many teenage boy for his ability to give a swat that had lifted many six-foot and 180 pound plus teenagers right over top of the desk.

He revealed that he had almost lost his job in confrontations with the school board over my actions with bully students and teachers alike. He also informed me that I had very nearly been expelled, on more than one occasion. Martial arts had been the source of my courage during this time. I realized that standing up and doing the right thing was all that mattered. I had rationalized that there was nothing to fear as to what any of the bullies could do to me. After all I routinely had world and national champion black belts beating on me for fun. Later on I realized that this was equally true for me  in life-and-death experiences with dealings in a secret organization,  working with the general public as night manager, and being a law enforcement officer. I have always tried to incorporate my experiences if not the situations in all of my books, stories and novels.

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.