“The years that an artist has been studying is important to some and the answer can hold weight. My involvement is best stated - a lifelong journey.

I’ve been to different schools, have observed different styles. Where do they differ? What do they share? What did I find important? When am I practicing what, am I actually practicing?” Before you dive in, let me be clear about this book. It’s an easy read. It’s my thoughts and experiences. You may share in some of mine. Or is it ours?

It's absolutely ok to ask questions. Question even your seif. Pick this book up and put it down. Start from page one or the last page. Take notes in it. Record your thoughts. Keep reading. Go back and reread the text, use your own words or personal thoughts and incites. I hope you learn more than I have over the years. I hope you will pass along your knowledge and experiences with others as I am sharing mine with you.

Questions and questions. Let me see…perhaps I’ll leave answers to what's important, right here, or somewhere in this very textbook. While reading ask yourself, what is it that I'm doing? Are the contents gospel? There are a lot of different approaches and ideas that we can borrow from one another. What do we do with these ideas? How does this martial way impact our community?

My martial experience started with hard and sometimes frustrating work and countless repetition. I was unknowingly learning other lessons. I was reinforcing and making myself stronger, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Work hard, yes, work smart…even better. There was a strong moral component that I didn’t know for quite some time. There were pleases, yes sir/ma'am, thank you's, apologies, patience, preservice, discipline, dedication, responsibility, devotion, history, culture, math, working with others, humility, health components and more. Don't forget these thigs also...there is philosophy, reading and studying…its more than kicking, punching and breaking bords.

Read on!

Confidence not arrogance.