Friday Knight News
"It is said the warrior's is the twofold Way of pen and sword, and he should have a taste for both Ways," Miyamoto Musashi
Okay this is where it gets tough, I'm down to two spots left of the many martial art masters that impress me. As I've said before my top five list are like my favorite song list. My mood or what I find interesting one day can be a channel change on the next day. This doesn't indicate any change in their skills or abilities. It just means that today this element is something more pleasing to me. That could be caused from such mundane things as having a bad hang nail and not wanting to do finger jabs today. That alone could drop a finger jab expert off of the list, or at least drop them down a notch or two. As previously noted, I decided to select men that I have not met personally and are still alive teaching and improving their part of the world.
If I were selecting martial art masters that impress me that I've met before, the list would be different. Then again, if I also included martial artists that are no longer with us, the list would change again. So, I continue on only with living masters that I've not met. I want to emphasis masters that can talk the talk and also walk the walk. Part of being top notch, in my view, is to equally balance the pen and sword. Having insight into the martial arts and the ability to transmute their martial art acumen into other areas of creativity is a valid measure that has stood the test of time. Look at the Mushashi's "Go Rin no Sho"; Tony Annesi's "The Principles of Advanced Budo"; and Bruce Lee's "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" as examples. Furthermore, please remember that the criteria I used to select these people also included that these individuals had to be recommended to me by one or more martial artist/s.
This left out quite a few people form this list, and the first to come to mind was Tommy Carruthers. While I have not met him personally, he was not recommended to me by anyone else, but we still had an interesting introduction on line. In fact, I may write about that introduction after this series is complete. On this week however, I'm going to go with a martial artist that has lived an unconventional life, or at least that's how it seems to me. Although I'm not one to point fingers about who is or isn't living a conventional life.
I don't know much about Eric Pearson other than he is lives and runs a dojo in Austin, Texas, and he has lived and trained in Japan. He is a member of the Kaze Uta Budo Kai which is run by another gifted martial art master named Nick Ushin Lowey. I understand that Eric has studied Daito Ryu and holds an associate professor rank in Daito Ryu AikiJujitsu from the Shofukan under Ota Ikou Sensei of Numata, Japan. He also holds ranks in Tomiki Ryu Aikido from both the Kaze Uta Budo Kai and from the American Tomiki Aikido Association. Pearson sensei studies Judo and has developed a knife defense built on principles of Daito Ryu, Systema, and Silat.
The above reasons might be why he has been developing such good aiki, so if you are looking for a good dojo, you know where to look. I have been around enough to know what good aiki and good martial arts looks like. This is because I have felt and experienced them at the hands of some of the best martial masters in the world. Eric is also a magician, much like my first sensei. He is an artist, a brewer and to top this off he is also a writer. His blogs are named "The Dragon's Orb & Sanctum Sanctorum" make sure you check them out. You can contact him via his blog.
"The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings." Okakura Kakuzo
Okay this is where it gets tough, I'm down to two spots left of the many martial art masters that impress me. As I've said before my top five list are like my favorite song list. My mood or what I find interesting one day can be a channel change on the next day. This doesn't indicate any change in their skills or abilities. It just means that today this element is something more pleasing to me. That could be caused from such mundane things as having a bad hang nail and not wanting to do finger jabs today. That alone could drop a finger jab expert off of the list, or at least drop them down a notch or two. As previously noted, I decided to select men that I have not met personally and are still alive teaching and improving their part of the world.
If I were selecting martial art masters that impress me that I've met before, the list would be different. Then again, if I also included martial artists that are no longer with us, the list would change again. So, I continue on only with living masters that I've not met. I want to emphasis masters that can talk the talk and also walk the walk. Part of being top notch, in my view, is to equally balance the pen and sword. Having insight into the martial arts and the ability to transmute their martial art acumen into other areas of creativity is a valid measure that has stood the test of time. Look at the Mushashi's "Go Rin no Sho"; Tony Annesi's "The Principles of Advanced Budo"; and Bruce Lee's "Tao of Jeet Kune Do" as examples. Furthermore, please remember that the criteria I used to select these people also included that these individuals had to be recommended to me by one or more martial artist/s.
This left out quite a few people form this list, and the first to come to mind was Tommy Carruthers. While I have not met him personally, he was not recommended to me by anyone else, but we still had an interesting introduction on line. In fact, I may write about that introduction after this series is complete. On this week however, I'm going to go with a martial artist that has lived an unconventional life, or at least that's how it seems to me. Although I'm not one to point fingers about who is or isn't living a conventional life.
Eric Pearson aka Erik the Strange or Sensei Strange
I don't know much about Eric Pearson other than he is lives and runs a dojo in Austin, Texas, and he has lived and trained in Japan. He is a member of the Kaze Uta Budo Kai which is run by another gifted martial art master named Nick Ushin Lowey. I understand that Eric has studied Daito Ryu and holds an associate professor rank in Daito Ryu AikiJujitsu from the Shofukan under Ota Ikou Sensei of Numata, Japan. He also holds ranks in Tomiki Ryu Aikido from both the Kaze Uta Budo Kai and from the American Tomiki Aikido Association. Pearson sensei studies Judo and has developed a knife defense built on principles of Daito Ryu, Systema, and Silat.
The above reasons might be why he has been developing such good aiki, so if you are looking for a good dojo, you know where to look. I have been around enough to know what good aiki and good martial arts looks like. This is because I have felt and experienced them at the hands of some of the best martial masters in the world. Eric is also a magician, much like my first sensei. He is an artist, a brewer and to top this off he is also a writer. His blogs are named "The Dragon's Orb & Sanctum Sanctorum" make sure you check them out. You can contact him via his blog.
"The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings." Okakura Kakuzo
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 meditation. 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 cope 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 cope 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, which 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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