Friday Knight News
"A bullet from a gun does not make a distinction between practice and combat. You are training to be one and the same way in your life." Miyamoto Musashi
Are martial arts merely combat sports with a historical reenactment segment, or are they for combat training that is akin to self-improvement and personal development? I came across a post by a martial artist that I have come to know from his posts on the internet. He is a kind and thoughtful man who had offered to help my younger brother when he moved into his area. I appreciated the instructor's efforts even though my brother had decided to just practice on his own due to his unusual schedule. At any rate this teacher, whom is skilled in a wider range of arts than myself, had set off a small discussion after a comment about the use of firearm training in the martial arts. It seems to me people responded not to the statement, but what they perceived as the tone of the statement. As I read their posts, I recognized that each of the authors that responded fell into the category of teachers who very well understood the consequences of firearm training, but many avoided the practice for various legitimate reasons.
Are martial arts merely combat sports with a historical reenactment segment, or are they for combat training that is akin to self-improvement and personal development? I came across a post by a martial artist that I have come to know from his posts on the internet. He is a kind and thoughtful man who had offered to help my younger brother when he moved into his area. I appreciated the instructor's efforts even though my brother had decided to just practice on his own due to his unusual schedule. At any rate this teacher, whom is skilled in a wider range of arts than myself, had set off a small discussion after a comment about the use of firearm training in the martial arts. It seems to me people responded not to the statement, but what they perceived as the tone of the statement. As I read their posts, I recognized that each of the authors that responded fell into the category of teachers who very well understood the consequences of firearm training, but many avoided the practice for various legitimate reasons.
I train with the katana (shinken) everyday as it teaches me warrior consciousness and focus for empty hand and armed encounters. Before I had become a LEO, I had seen guns (pistol, rifle, shotgun), knives, bottles, broken glass, hypodermic needles, screwdrivers and super soakers (filled with chemical and biological substances), used as weapons. I also was taught about many unconventional weapons and fire arms that are not manufactured for the general public. These things are also things that police officers and other agents have to contend with albeit rarely.
My sensei taught armed and unarmed self-defense and tactics for LEO's in our state. That is not just one local department or sheriff's office but three out of five districts. That includes various SWAT group training. We used real state issued weapons and fired pom pom rounds, and one prime bit of focus was always on weapon retention. For this hand-to-hand skills are a must. A lot of people do not seem to realize that undercover officers often have to go in unarmed, and even uniformed officer have to lock up their service weapon in certain facilities.
Some sensei only concerned themselves with fighting for the tournament, others for unarmed defense on the street. They ignored weapons training for the martial artist as a martial art was required to forge their body into a weapon. Then I have also trained under sensei that focused on being able to use any tool as an extension of their body. A warrior was measured by their ability to adapt whatever they found into one of the five weapon types (mentioned in previous post). On the other hand I have had sensei that required meditation before and after class as part of the curriculum with an increasing duration of time for meditation included on promotional tests. Interestingly enough schools that included meditation in the curriculum turned out good students. I still like the idea of balance found in the pursuit of a tournament champion from the historical reenactment training group of the (insert your preference of military or police organization), Zen Yogi, master black belt.
"In the martial arts, introspection begets wisdom. Always see contemplation on your actions as an opportunity to improve." Mas Oyama
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.
Some sensei only concerned themselves with fighting for the tournament, others for unarmed defense on the street. They ignored weapons training for the martial artist as a martial art was required to forge their body into a weapon. Then I have also trained under sensei that focused on being able to use any tool as an extension of their body. A warrior was measured by their ability to adapt whatever they found into one of the five weapon types (mentioned in previous post). On the other hand I have had sensei that required meditation before and after class as part of the curriculum with an increasing duration of time for meditation included on promotional tests. Interestingly enough schools that included meditation in the curriculum turned out good students. I still like the idea of balance found in the pursuit of a tournament champion from the historical reenactment training group of the (insert your preference of military or police organization), Zen Yogi, master black belt.
"In the martial arts, introspection begets wisdom. Always see contemplation on your actions as an opportunity to improve." Mas Oyama
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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