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"You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” Bruce Lee
Several martial art teachers were discussing what was the best style and had not become watered down. A wise teacher replied that it is the practitioner that makes the art and not the art that makes the man. He believed that any art that covers the full spectrum of skills could translate into the needs of the student if given enough time and practice. He pointed out that the key to adapting had to be left up to the student. The other teachers wanted to see proof of this and so he invited them to audit his class from time to time. Each time they came he revealed a special teaching to the students, so he could also make an example for his fellow instructors. He knew that many of the teachers were afraid that his art was watered down because he was not a ridged traditionalist. So he asked them to reserve their judgment until the students had been exposed to the full circle of training.
The wise sensei stood before his martial art class with a bag of rocks and a large mouth earthen jar sitting in front of him on a low table. When the class began, he mentioned that he was going to reveal secrets from the ancient wisdom of a Chinese martial arts over the course of time. It was knowledge he hoped the students would incorporate in their home training. He then picked up a very large and empty hand conditioning liniment jar and proceeded to fill it with the smooth round stones. He demonstrated how he could practice doing his spear hand thrust into the jar and also finger strength enhancing gripping techniques by lifting the jar by the rim only and all the students were impressed. Being good students they went home to duplicate their teachers training device and they all began utilizing this with their training at home. But some students didn't like it because striking the stones was too hard and so they stopped but they did the gripping exercises.
After a few months the sensei once again got out the liniment jar, but this time he added a box of sand into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up many of the empty spots between the stones. This made for a more dense surface and it added weight to the jar. The sensei demonstrated once again how he could grab stones from deep in the sand held in the jar. The finger strength enhancing gripping techniques by lifting the jar by the rim was also better. All of the students were impressed. Some of the most dedicated students went home to duplicate their teachers training. But some of the students didn't liked tearing into the firmer sand braced stones because the sand made it more difficult. However, they did like the extra weight that was added to the jar so they continued training their grip strength in this manner.
Finally one day the sensei got out the old liniment jar again, but this time he produced a pot of herbal tea liniment that filled the air with both pungent and effervescent odors. He poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the stones and the sand. This made an extremely densely packed surface to which only the most dedicated students could effectively use. It was also the heaviest gripping container as well. However, many of the other students realized that they could still train with specific jars filled with the various substances. One jar held the smooth stones that were good for thrusting, the next jar held the sand that was good for grabbing, and the last jar had the herbal tea liniment that their sensei told them would eventually turn to wine over a period of time and it would help heal their bruises and injuries.
The sensei was pleased to see the progress of the students even though they had not all used the exactly same method that he practiced they had learned the whole art. He did not feel that the art was watered down because they had adapted the art to fill their needs. He realized the art much like the stones, sand, and water that was infused with the beneficial herbs filled all the necessary gaps in their training. By the end of the audit all of the other instructors were able to perceive that each student derived their own lesson according to their needs and nature. Their art was not watered down, it was just a little more fluid.
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.
The wise sensei stood before his martial art class with a bag of rocks and a large mouth earthen jar sitting in front of him on a low table. When the class began, he mentioned that he was going to reveal secrets from the ancient wisdom of a Chinese martial arts over the course of time. It was knowledge he hoped the students would incorporate in their home training. He then picked up a very large and empty hand conditioning liniment jar and proceeded to fill it with the smooth round stones. He demonstrated how he could practice doing his spear hand thrust into the jar and also finger strength enhancing gripping techniques by lifting the jar by the rim only and all the students were impressed. Being good students they went home to duplicate their teachers training device and they all began utilizing this with their training at home. But some students didn't like it because striking the stones was too hard and so they stopped but they did the gripping exercises.
After a few months the sensei once again got out the liniment jar, but this time he added a box of sand into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up many of the empty spots between the stones. This made for a more dense surface and it added weight to the jar. The sensei demonstrated once again how he could grab stones from deep in the sand held in the jar. The finger strength enhancing gripping techniques by lifting the jar by the rim was also better. All of the students were impressed. Some of the most dedicated students went home to duplicate their teachers training. But some of the students didn't liked tearing into the firmer sand braced stones because the sand made it more difficult. However, they did like the extra weight that was added to the jar so they continued training their grip strength in this manner.
The sensei was pleased to see the progress of the students even though they had not all used the exactly same method that he practiced they had learned the whole art. He did not feel that the art was watered down because they had adapted the art to fill their needs. He realized the art much like the stones, sand, and water that was infused with the beneficial herbs filled all the necessary gaps in their training. By the end of the audit all of the other instructors were able to perceive that each student derived their own lesson according to their needs and nature. Their art was not watered down, it was just a little more fluid.
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.
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.
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 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.
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