Friday Knight News
"Determine that today you will overcome your self of the day before, tomorrow you will win over those of lesser skill, and later you will win over those of greater skill." Miyamoto MusashiThey say that we are losing twenty-two military veterans a day from suicide. What if dojo, dojang, kwoon, and all the various sundry of martial art schools across America banded together on a grass roots program to help prevent this from continuing? It would have to be a program that wasn't corruptible, tempting the leadership or headquarters into using funds raised for the vets to be spent on advertisement, marketing, recruitment, and bonuses. I believe it can be done, a simple program that each individual school can adopt and implement in their own area. One that would give complete autonomy to the people who raised the funds and would allow the schools to see the fruits of their labors immediately. This would have to be an ongoing project that provides a service for the community, teaches, and motivates the students.
The program is called Adopt a Hero, also known as a veteran. The goal is to get either sponsors or even the students themselves to pay a penny a push-up. The program will promote fitness both in and out of the dojo. Plus, it gives a goal and responsibility to care for those who have sacrificed for our protection. How it works is we pay into a bucket at the dojo just a penny a push-up with a goal of 22 push-ups a day in honor of the veteran that we lose to suicide daily. It might be easier to round up and just throw in a quarter. Then every 22nd of the month take a delegation to the VA or the VFW or even to a homeless veteran living on the street. The school and students can decide and even vary the recipient month to month. The visit will show that someone cares. The money raised no matter the amount, will at least buy a meal or a warm blanket even from a small garage dojo, bigger schools can choose to serve many or make a life changing gift to one veteran at a time.
I've written a few short articles for some martial art magazines in the past. A few times I even had my mug in a couple of shots; shots as unnamed bald guy. However, if we can get instructors of national prominence to endorse this program to the martial art publication them maybe we can really make a big difference. I think it would only take a good man with credibility to get the magazines attention to cover this issue. On the other hand, if we as dojo owners banded together to support this a grass roots program maybe we can save a lot of lives.
"Truth is not what you want it to be; it is what it is, and you must bend to its power or live a lie." Miyamoto Musashi
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My stories are about martial arts adventures that are intertwined with some science fiction, conspiracies, laughter, love and mystic experiences. 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: 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.
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: 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: 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: 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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