The 25 Questions

David Chapman

2010-07-19T22:16:00.000-07:00

25. Do I really know myself well enough to write this??

24. Sliding down a rocky canyon, my wolf in tow and my brother ahead, just so we could 'get lost.' GOOD TIMES!

23. Getting punched doesn't hurt. It is the IDEA of the punch that hurts. It does smart afterward.

22. I once thought I had lost some teeth after a hit, it pissed me off more than anything. Now the thought doesn't really bother me too much.

21. Rock climbing is like Karate with the ground in the 'wrong' place. Freeform is like skipping sparring class.

20. If you think you can, then you won't. If you know you can, then you will.

19. Talk is one thing; lets' roll a bit... Win, lose, or draw, it is always fun.

18. Myself and my buddy, were once referred to as “Crazy Karatekas” by a big man who refers to his Gi as “Pretty Pants.”

17. Climbing a rock face freeform in Deep Creek, I look down to see my three sons halfway up and my 1 year old daughter trying to jump for a grip on the ground below. Little Monkeys...Crawl before climb.

16. I once had a guy call me Waldo because of my shirt, he obviously liked to monkey dance, so I turned to him and asked how he could see me then walked away.

15. I started Karate because of Soccer (or Football depending on which side of the Pond you come from.

14. It doesn't take much to bust the bridge of your nose open. I know, mine was gushing pretty badly after a nice forearm shot to the face when I zigged instead of zagged.

13. They used to call me 'Huh' as a kid in my old Dojo, don't ask why.

12. I knew a Sensei, he had no rhythm, he knocked himself cold trying to do a crazy Nunchaku trick when visiting Bremerton.

11. If you ever hear a WOOSH followed by a maniacal 'WOOHOO' and a crash, it was probably me being slammed into the floor or some other object again.

10. I freaked some Aikido guys out with the above; I don't think they were allowed to enjoy the experience in their school.

09. Words of wisdom? What are those?

08. If you are preserving tradition can you stuff me when I die too?

07. I liked the tactics in the scene with the Ninjas and the forest in the movie 'Spies Like Us.' GOOD STUFF!

06. I hate it when people say stuff like,
“I will just do this' and back out of the conversation when I ask them to show me.”

05. A helping hand is better than a closed fist, but sometimes a firm grip is required.

04. Character is very important, that is why some days I am a pirate, other days I am a cowboy, and on really good days my kids take me down as a robber with their special move... The Dog Pile.

03. My brother shoots me in the leg with a BB-Gun, and then throws it at me when I charge... We beat the crap out of each other, and then we laugh for an hour... My head really hurt, but I forgot about my leg.

02. If someone is trying to convince me of something I wonder how many times they recite the same mantra? Every day? Every week? Bi-weekly?

01. You're not really lost if you didn't know where you were to begin with.

Crazy Dave and Family's Karate
9 Mile Falls, WA
509-216-8330
ZenHG@yahoo.com

"S"

2010-06-11T11:56:00.001-07:00

20. "Hit them first, and then use karate."

19. The codifying of skill and knowledge begins the growth of a system, but also starts the cancer that will eventually ossify and kill it

18. Try to meet a great teacher and his immediate first-generation students. Observe closely what they have, which others are missing

17. Be aware of your adversary's goal; Realize that a person's motivations may be completely different from yours (e.g. Fear, survival, social status, desperation.)

16. Incentives matter in all things, from tiny to large

15. *This* is all there is

14. The use of force is effective for self-defense, ineffective for coercion, ridiculous and self-defeating as a threat

13. Hunt the ego, kill and burn it

12. Many "authorities" are Just Making Shit Up as they go along

11. Remedy for avoiding martial arts fantasy-land: practice with folks from the Jujitsu/Judo realm

10. The dojo is a classroom - keep calisthenics and warm ups minimal and essential. If you need a fitness workout, do that on your own time

9. Punching the air should be the training tool, not a fighting system

8. Only practice blocks & slips against someone who is actively trying to land his punches, at a realistic engagement distance

7. "Sparring" teaches very little of value

6. Injuries are not macho. Injuries and damage add up over time. Only train with people you trust. Corollary: there are lots of uncoordinated, nonathletic, or just plain nutty people in the martial arts. They should find someone like-minded to train with

5. Maybe 80% of techniques/applications as taught are pure fantasy, but hardly anyone wants to practice the boring, gritty 20%

4. If a 200 year old style seems awkward and ridiculous, try to meet an expert in it. Your mind might change

3. Many sad stories could have been prevented with self-defense within the social arena, far in advance of physical danger

2. There is danger in numbers. Be wary around rowdy or intoxicated groups

1. Kobudo is good for something, but it's not obvious. Kobudo and karate are related, but different. You have to think hard about the differences and the similarities

Lawrence Kane

2010-05-15T11:09:00.000-07:00

25. It is empowering to know that you could kill your boss in a heartbeat but choose not to do it. And it's that, not oppositional thumbs, that separates us from the animals.

24. If in doubt wear your good clothes.

23. There isn’t enough time in the day to do everything that needs to be done, let alone everything you want to do. Nevertheless, it’s paramount to harmoniously balance professional, social, and family commitments. It does no good to succeed in one area while destroying another.

22. Don’t participate in any sport that the inventor died from.

21. The older I get the more I find that time is more valuable than money. Spend your time wisely.

20. Take responsibility for accomplishments and failures alike; failure is merely an opportunity to learn. Anything you live through and learn from was ultimately worth doing no matter how painful (or embarrassing) it was at the time.

19. If you don’t want it emblazoned across the front page of the New York Times with your name associated to it, don’t do it. A rancid reputation can last forever.

18. Despite advances in medical technology, surgery sucks. But I suppose it beats the alternatives.

17. Most times it’s easier to remember the bad things than the good. If you don’t keep events in perspective life can be extraordinarily depressing.

16. I finally learned decent study habits after joining a fraternity. How weird is that?

15. Spending a month in a Third World country was truly enlightening. It gave me a much greater appreciation of the little things… you know, stuff like running water, covered sewers, and working electricity.

14. Trust but verify. That’s sensible in so many ways, particularly when using a computer.

13. Wrangling drunks is fun. No matter how stupid you are, you’re smarter than an inebriated foe.

12. Getting paid to watch football is awesome… until some moron pulls a knife… then its way too much like work.

11. Bureaucracy sucks.

10. Self-defense isn’t about fighting. Fighting is what you do when you’ve screwed up your self defense. Far too many people get that backwards.

9. Miracles really do happen; you just need to know how to look for them.

8. Life’s too short to take too seriously unless it will seriously shorten your life.

7. Build bridges through keeping trust and honoring commitments. Sooner or later everyone can spot a charlatan.

6. Life is good. Count your blessings and try to give something back.

5. If you look at it through the eyes of a child, the world is an amazing place. Try not to “grow up” so much that you can’t deeply enjoy life, living, and the wonders of creation. It’s sad when the extraordinary becomes mundane.

4. If it hurts you’re still alive.

3. The content of your character is your choice. When faced with tough choices integrity can be the light that guides your way.

2. The tougher you are the less you should feel a need to prove it. That sentiment has kept me out of jail on more times than I can count.

1. A virtuous child is the greatest legacy.

Lawrence Kane
e-mail: lakane@ix.netcom.com
web site: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JOYS9U

Brent Yamamoto

2010-04-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

25. Usually I would rather shut up and listen to what other people have to say. But since Kris asked…
24. Part of me wants to live in a world where it is acceptable to knee-cap people simply for rude behavior.
23. Life is relentless. Better eat your Wheaties.
22. I have trained for a lot of different reasons over time. These days I train just because it makes me happy, and I can’t think of a better reason. Then again, nobody shoots at me on a regular basis.
21. I don’t like the term “basics” in martial arts because it implies they are easy. I prefer “fundamentals”. Basics is a lot easier to say though.
20. Pursuing fun and excitement is not the same thing as pursuing happiness. I sure like it when fun happens along the way though.
19. It’s fascinating to me how two people can see the exact same thing and draw completely opposite conclusions.
18. When someone says to me “you can’t make generalizations”, I think they’re basically saying that they are incapable of observing the world and drawing some reasonable conclusions. Now whether or not the generalization is CORRECT is another story.
17. I love how some people make an argument and conclude with “Just sayin’”, as though that flat declaration irrefutably ends the debate. “Oh, you’re JUST SAYIN’. Well in that case you are clearly correct.” I find this to be complete jackassery. Just sayin’.
16. What’s good on a personal level isn’t necessarily good on a societal level.
15. I have taken two online personality quizzes and both times was told that I am Wile E. Coyote. I am not sure what that means.
14. Do what’s right because a lot of people aren’t going to like you anyway. I fail at that sometimes but I do my best.
13. I am grateful for many things.
12. #13 reminds me that I need to thank my parents more often.
11. Do my kooky beliefs impact your liberty? Do yours impact mine?
10. The only reason I don’t cry over the Oprahfication of America…is that I have not been Oprahfied. Yet. (shudder)
9. Simple is not the same thing as simplistic.
8. Speak softly and carry a .45.
7. I don’t think we can control our emotions, but we can control our behavior. Just because that isn’t easy is no reason to abdicate that responsibility.
6. Attitude may not be everything…but the rest is pretty much rounding error.
5. A bad mood is like bad breath. Please brush your teeth.
4. People should not be invertebrates. If you haven’t already, please grow a spine. Please see #23.
3. I really do try my best to heed my own advice. Work in progress…
2. One question that made an impact on me: “Are you a joy to be around?”
1. Have a Coke and a smile.

www.nwmartialarts.com

Nicholas Guinn

2010-04-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

25. I studied karate for several years till one day a judoka got a hold of me.
24. I then studied aikijutsu to develop my grappling skills. Now that I understand karate better I feel like I have come full circle.
23. In chemistry there is one fundamental truth everyone should observe - hot glass looks exactly like cold glass.
22. I love my kids! And I would do anything for them. I hope they never figure that out. :-)
21. I started my study of the martial arts because I wanted to be a hero like Bruce leeroy from the last dragon. I know, what a nerd.
20. I love the martial arts and every field that could possibly be related. Kinesiogy, physiology, etc.. I always have. So what degree did I get from college? Computers. Talk about the biggest duh moment in history.
19. Which leads me to a favorite quote: do something you love and you will never work a day in your life. - Samuel Clemens
18. Another good quote - aikido versus aikido breeds weakness and self deceit - toshishiro obata
17. I feel like we can substitute any martial art name in the quote above.
16. One more quote I really like is: choosing not to follow in the footsteps of the masters but rather seeking what they sought. - Matsu Basho
15. I aspire to be friends with all the people posting their 25 lists.
14. I have worked as a fight consultant on a feature film. It was great fun and I could see making a career out of something like that easy. I'll tell you when the film hits theaters.
13. I like seeing the light bulb moment on peoples faces when they understand how kata really work.
12. My son has a natural athletic ability and is great at the martial arts but would rather play soccer.
11. I love to read.
10. I am typing this whole list on my iPod touch. This is probably the best toy I have ever bought me.
9. I recently took a part time job as a bouncer to get better at reading people.
8. I wish something like the halodeck from star trek existed so that I could really use what I know in the martial arts without messing anyone up for real.
7. I have accomplished most of my bucket list from my childhood. I need to write a new one.
6. I have not consumed any soda for over 17 years. I stopped drinking it before a karate test years ago. Now the stuff upsets stomach.
5. I admit I have a weakness for chocolate.
4. I enjoy getting up in front of crowds. I took a public speaking class in college and was the first person to give his speeches every time.
3. My dad and I used to spar some. I still remember the surprise on his face when after a year of study in karate i was fast enough to get him back. (He was very fast)
2. I am constantly learning new things that make me re-evaluate everything I know about the martial arts. Some might find this irritating, I love it!
1. Next time what about asking 25 questions?

http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/

Loren Christensen

2010-04-22T09:48:00.000-07:00

25. A young man traveling home came to the banks of a wide river. Staring hopelessly at the great obstacle in front of him, he pondered for hours on just how to cross such a wide barrier. Just as he was about to give up his journey, he saw a great teacher on the other side. The young man yells over to him, "Oh wise one, can you tell me how to get to the other side of this river?"
The teacher looks up and down the river, and yells back, "My son, you are on the other side."
24. I strive to make everything in my life – martial arts, writing, relationships - simple. Some people seem to do just the opposite.
23. My martial arts adventure, which began in 1965, has been an amazing ride. I would do it all over again.
22. The one thing that still impresses me in the martial arts is great speed.
21. Law enforcement: I had a 29-year love/hate relationship with it.
20. I’ve shot at two people. I’m so glad I missed them.
19. When I was a cop, I liked it when child abusers resisted arrest.
18. When I had to do something dangerous as a cop, I would call my kids and tell them that I loved them. I never told them why I was calling.
17. Exhilaration: Watching an AC-47 airplane, known as “Puff the Magic Dragon,” spew 18,000 rounds per minute (300 rounds per second) down onto a Vietnam rice paddy.
16. In Vietnam, I punched a guy in the chest so hard that he had a heart attack. It was a long night waiting to see if he would live and if I would go to jail. He did.
15. Fear: Standing on a rooftop in Saigon, Vietnam and watching thousands of people flee the city. What do they know that we don’t?
14. My three kids have brought me tremendous joy and they’ve added age lines to my face.
13. I made a lot of mistakes as a father; I hope they remember the good things I did.
12. I wish my grandkids lived closer.
11. When I was a young man, I thought that much of what my parents did and thought was goofy. As I get older, I see their wisdom.
10. There is no experience that equals meditating in a Zen monastery as the sun comes up.
9. When you meditate on something deeply, not just think about it, it reveals itself to you.
8. Approaching everything with a beginner’s mind means you have an attitude of openness, eagerness and no preconceptions. The “beginner’s mind” kanji is tattooed on my arm.
7. Life/God: The older I get the more questions I have but seldom do the answers satisfy.
6. Whoever said that “God will never give you more than you can handle” was never truly given more than he can handle.
5. I write at least five days a week, 8:30 to about 3:00 pm.
4. Our two dogs and one cat - Rocky a 5-pound Yorkie, Boot a 6-pound Maltese and Lexii, a 17-pound cranky fir ball - spend their days in my office with me. I like that.
3. Splurging: Lisa and I have two home theaters, a sound system that can blow your face off, and hundreds and hundreds of DVDs.
2. There are some movies I can watch over and over. Lost in Translation and Ghost Dog to name two.
1. Friendship is one mind in two bodies. That describes Lisa and me, plus a whole bunch of other things.

LWC Books

Bohdi Sanders

2010-04-18T18:49:00.000-07:00

25) Everything can be justified if you’re dishonest and know how to spin things – look at intentions, not justifications when trying to judge a situation.
24) Honor is not black and white, but an action is always either honorable or dishonorable.
23) If the ultimate goal of karate is the perfection of character, why do so few instructors spend time discussing issues of character in the dojo?
22) If bad intentions make right actions dishonorable, do good intentions make wrong actions honorable?
21) Think about how short life is and how it should be lived – then live that way.
20) If you are too busy to meditate, you’re too busy.
19) Are you sure that your martial art training will hold up in a life-or-death situation?
18) There is no such thing as fighting dirty; if you have to fight, anything and everything goes.
17) Perfecting your character and integrity will serve you long after you are too old to think about fighting.
16) Green tea – it’s good for the soul.
15) If you will listen, your intuition will not steer you wrong. But you have to learn to listen. When in doubt, always trust your intuition.
14) When I first started my martial arts training, I traded painting my instructor’s house for lifetime karate lessons. (it was a BIG house).
13) The etymology of my name means enlightened protector – no wonder I am into martial arts! ;)
12) I have been shot at, stabbed and beat like a piñata. All in all, I prefer a good massage (also good for the soul)!!
11) The only sport that I watch on TV on a regular basis is college football. I’m an Ole Miss fan.
10) What would we do if we had to write manuscripts on a typewriter? Now there’s a nightmarish thought for you…
9) When writing I usually listen to Loreena MacKinnitt. If you haven’t been introduced to her music yet, you should check it out good stuff!
8) Things are very rarely exactly what they appear to be at first glance.
7) Do you walk the walk or merely talk the talk?
6) Now, this very minute, is the only time you have to live your life – don’t waste it.
5) Is it the style of martial arts that you practice or the skill that you acquire that really matters?
4) A true friend is the rarest thing on this earth; when you find one you are truly blessed.
3) You have to be right on the inside to be right on the outside.
2) What religion is God?
1) Be your best – prepare for their worst.

Bohdi Sanders
WarriorWisdom@comcast.net
www.TheWisdomWarrior.com

Wim Demeere

2010-04-18T17:50:00.000-07:00

25. I never know how to start lists like this. It's always a balance between giving too much personal information and not saying anything worth reading.
24. When I was a teenager, I often pretended to have cerebral palsy while I waited for the train. It taught me how fundamentally evil people can be towards their fellow man: they avoided me like the plague, were vicious and rude, got up and left when I sat next to them, etc.
23. I have five first names. Don't ask...
22. If I could, I'd train all day long, every day of the year.
21. Sometimes I still feel like the shy boy I was thirty years ago. But for some reason, nobody believes that's true. Go figure...
20. Every now and then, I think practicing martial arts is pretty vacant. What kind of weirdo spends all his time finding better ways to kill,maim and hurt other people?
19. Then I remember the countless benefits of practicing and train a bit harder.
18. In my bedroom is a framed quote from James Joyce to his wife. It's the most accurate expression of true love I've ever read. The woman that wakes up next to me in the morning gets to read it every time because it expresses perfectly how I feel about her.
17. I love vampire books and movies. Just love 'em.
16. I've been accused of thinking too much by more than one person. They're probably right.
15. I'm the biggest IT nerd and gadget freak I know.
14. I used to be so convinced I was right about so many things. Then I learned I was wrong. These days, I tend to think I might be on to something but everybody else probably figured it out already.
13. Whenever I feel bad about a situation and can't fix it, I remember my mother's advice on those things. It's not something I can repeat in public...
12. Sometimes, when I look at my children, I wish my own father had lived longer.
11. I can't imagine life without books. You can keep your E-readers, I want to turn pages and find out what's behind the next one.
10. I wish I could sing or play an instrument well. My children wish it even more when I break into song and clouds gather for a storm.
9. One of my best memories: standing on top of a hill in Phoenix, Arizona. Two dear friends by my side, watching the sun set. I was in a bad place then but being there made it all go away for a while. Priceless.
8. I could listen to Pavarotti sing Nessum Dorma all day long. Even though Turandot isn't that good an opera.
7. Why is it that every time I'm in a hurry, a slow-moving truck is in front of me and there's no chance of passing him?
6. If I could, I'd travel constantly to spend more time with friends from different countries all over the world.
5. Teaching is my greatest passion. It fulfills me in ways nothing else can.
4. Writing is a close second. Nothing compares to finishing a manuscript and sending it off to the publisher. Perhaps the feeling of picking up a published book for the first time...
3. My plan is to train and teach until I die. Or until my wheelchair breaks down. We'll see which comes first...
2. I've been blessed to have met and become friends with some amazing people.
1. I love my children and partner more than words can express, more than they'll ever know. The sun rises and sets with them.

www.wimsblog.com
www.wimdemeere.com
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Eric Parsons

2010-04-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

25. The world would be a better place if everyone was required to live in a developing country for a year or two.
24. I am not ashamed to say that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is my all-time favorite television show (but Lost, Spaced, and The Office are pretty damn good too).
23. Self-sufficiency is just a nicer way of saying subsistence.
22. Travel is amazing, but it's even better if you can escape being a tourist, even for just a little while.
21. Focusing on technique instead of outcome can lead to better outcomes.
20. The best way to make sure something doesn't get done is to form a committee about it.
19. I want to believe in nurture over nature, but as I get older, I'm not so sure.
18. I need to continually learn from people who know. Otherwise, I'm selling my students a bill of goods.
17. If people understood economics and statistics, they would make better decisions.
16. There is such a thing as a stupid question.
15. Caring less about what others think of you is a truly liberating experience.
14. Wanderlust is my constant companion. I just haven't decided if she's a friend or an enemy.
13. My dad has a saying for everything. Some don't make sense. All are hilarious.
12. One of my main goals in life is to make sure my boys grow up to be good men.
11. My interest in the martial arts likely started with Batman comic books.
10. Martial artists form tight friendships because you're never closer than you are to the people who you're willing to let beat the crap out of you.
9. Never be afraid to put your ideas out there. Some may stink, but it only takes one good one to change everything.
8. Timing truly is everything.
7. I am the cumulative sum of all of my life experiences. Therefore, if I am happy now, I can't regret past events, even if they seemed bitter at the time.
6. People are kind of like sharks. When we stop moving, we die.
5. You only need to preserve something if it's dead or dying.
4. Memories and reminders of Africa give me the good kind of chills.
3. Everything has an inherent nature. Some of these can be changed. Others are immutable. If you can't tell the difference, you're in for a lot of frustration in life.
2. I know I'm biased, but I have the cutest boys in the world.
1. When I say that my wife is my best friend, I mean it.

BlueRiverMartialArts
Karate4life
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Iain Abernethy

2010-04-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

25 - I’m a complex individual who can’t possibly be summed up in 25 sentences.
24 – My punch bag is always ready to listen about my difficulties and frustrations.
23 - The biggest secret in the martial arts is that they can be a good laugh!
22 – Making excuses is easier that making progress.
21 – I have an IQ of 146 … and I wrote my name in the wrong place on the test paper (ignore number 25 as this one sentence sums me up perfectly!).
20 – The two biggest mistakes we can make when discussing the traditional martial arts is to think the past masters knew nothing, or that they knew everything.
19 - Is there something profoundly wrong with people who spend so much for their time training to fight? I think there is!
18 - I’d rather be known as a good friend than a good martial artist.
17 - I find working hard easy and I find it hard to take it easy. I’m working hard on correcting that.
16 - Have the martial arts helped me expunge my aggressive nature; or have I just found a socially acceptable home for that particular character flaw?
15 - For tens of thousands of years, every single one of my ancestors has survived long enough to have children. I’m a thoroughbred survivor and so are you.
14 - The most valuable thing the martial arts have given me is friends.
13 - Training is often far from being fun; but I love the feeling of having trained.
12 - I was the only kid in my school that was given extra lessons for writing: I’m also the only one who is a published author.
11 - Training is where my stronger side trys to put my weaker side in its place.
10 - There’s no such thing as “dirty fighting”; there is just fighting.
9 - The only valid measure in the martial arts is whether something worked or not.
8 - A failure to clearly identify the point of any given part of martial practise is a sure-fire way to ensure training is pointless.
7 - Most people prefer convenience over truth.
6 - Fighting is what happens when self-defence has gone wrong.
5 - Using your eyes and ears frequently removes the need to use your fists.
4 - If you have not done it live, you’ve never done it.
3 - The two most important qualities needed for a good life are bravery and generosity.
2 - It’s worth remembering all of the above comes from a man who earns his living on the basis of his ability to punch people in the head. All of it can therefore be safely ignored.
1- Enough from me. How are you doing? ;-)

Jeff Stevens

2010-04-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

25. Do not blindly believe what you see or hear. Investigate and question but be open to the possibility of the truth.
24. Humor can be a tool.
23. The brain is a magnificent tool.
22. Prejudice is weakness.
21. Smile, it's body language at its best.
20. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.
19. Learn from your mistakes, seriously.
18. Dance as if no one is watching.
17. Be aware of your surroundings, but be so in control that it does not appear to be a sign of fear.
16. Never lend money that you can not afford to just give away.
15. Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common.
14. Avoid discussing religion or politics at work or socially. The results can change the dynamics of a good standing relationship.
13. When the rights of the weak, insignificant or minority are restricted or removed, the right of the group as a whole are at risk.
12. I train to be defensive and I will not attack. But if I have to be defensive, I will attack.
11. Do onto others as you would want to be done to you.
10. God is an abstract principle rather than an anthropomorphic (person like) entity. An abstract principle that is the sum of all that was… is… and shall be.
9. The test of a man is the fight that he makes,the grit that he daily shows,the way that he stands on his feet and takes fate's numerous bumps and blows.
8. No one will ever get out of this world alive. Resolve therefore to maintain a reasonable sense of values.
7. Take care of yourself. Good health is everyone’s major source of wealth. Without it, happiness is almost impossible.
6. Resolve to be cheerful & helpful. People will repay you in kind.
5. Avoid angry, abrasive persons. They are generally vengeful.
4. Avoid Zealots. They are generally humorless.
3. Resolve to listen more & to talk less. No one ever learns anything by talking.
2. Be chary of giving advice. Wise men don’t need it & fools won’t heed it.
1. Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving & tolerant of the weak & the wrong. Sometime in life you have been all of these.

Jeff Stevens holds a Sandan in Goju-Ryu Karate

Al Peasland

2010-04-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

25.Sometimes, 25 questions just aren’t enough.
24.I love animals more than I love a great deal of people.
23.Love your family, Love your friends, Love your partner, but most importantly, Love yourself. You are the only one who is guaranteed to be with you your entire life.
22. With a beginners mentality the world of opportunity opens up, but with a masters mind the choices are few. The moment you think of yourself as being “in the room”, is the moment the door is firmly closed in front of you.
21.If you want to be a tall tree, don’t chop all the others around you down – just grow taller. My brother Mick Tully
20.You know you have to make things change when you find yourself sleeping on a sofa with a gun under your pillow.
19.Some days all you need is a cuddle, other days you just need to toughen the hell up.
18.My Animal Days are many. Some are ongoing battles that feel like they’re never going to end. Some are over in a flash with instant rewards.
What’s your Animal Day?
17.Embrace the ones you love with open arms.
16. We may want to achieve great things, but sometimes we do that by helping others to achieve great things.
15.We make a living through what we get but a life through what we give. Sir Winston Churchill
14.You can’t learn to swim without getting wet and you can’t learn to fight without getting hit.
13.When you are balanced you are more difficult to knock over. That applies to the attacks from your training partner and the kicks and punches that life will throw at you.
12.You can be a Jack of All Trades AND a Master of One.
11.Work smarter AND work harder.
10.The tallest branch is never the safest roost, but it certainly gives you the best vantage point.
9.Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are busy living our fears.
8.Integrity is precious and fragile. You work your life to build it up but it can all be lost in one moment’s action.
7.You’ll find out who your real friends are the moment it becomes uncomfortable for them to be your friend.
6.Self Protection begins with the “Self”.
5.The day I am not laughing and having fun on the mat – is the day I find something else to do.
4.Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take – but the number of moments that take our breath away.
3.Reputation is what others think of you – but character is what you actually are. Work more on your character and be concerned less about your rep.
2.If it was easy – everyone would be good.
1.You cannot have Courage without having Fear.

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Al Peasland founder of Complete Self Protection
5th Dan Senior Instructor in the British Combat Association (BCA)
Longest serving instructor under Geoff Thompson (7th Dan BCA), teaching the Real Combat System
Martial Arts, Self Protection and Personal Security Specialist

Rory Miller

2010-04-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

25 If two people agree on everything, we don't need both of them.
24 Bullfrogging is kind of snorkel-hiking a stream. It's fun.
23 My body is my second favorite toy.
22 Integrity. Loyalty. Courage.
21 The only difference between a strength and a weakness is whether you use it or it gets used against you.
20 Individuals, I like. People in groups annoy me.
19 They call it "trivia" for a reason.
18 I choked on Biochemistry in college and decided to drop the double- major.
17 Smoking orange tobacco in a Narghila with Haider in Baghdad is one of my most peaceful memories.
16 If we could see our own blindspots, they wouldn't be blindspots...
but wouldn't it be cool?
15 Performance anxiety? Teaching CQ handgun with a former Delta operator watching.
14 Everyone is perfect. No one is flawless.
13 I have the best circle of friends ever. And, yes, my friends can beat up your friends.
12 Talking to most martial artists about violence is a lot like talking to eighth-graders about sex.
11 I can say "Hello how are you?" and not much else in 11 languages and dialects.
10 Being a good guy or a bad guy is all in how you use the skills.
09 I know life is easy because I see stupid people do it every day.
08 Sometimes there is a pure joy in life-or-death because it is so completely real.
07 Who are you? Why do you care? What would knowing the answer change?
06 My favorite dreams are about fighting zombies.
05 Everybody dies. You can run from the truth or it can free you.
Your choice.
04 Enlightenment is not the accumulation of wisdom. It is the absence of bullshit.
03 On the mat, everything makes sense.
02 If there is nothing in your world more important than yourself, you are nothing
01 Kami keeps me sane.

Rory Miller Blog

Kris Wilder

2010-04-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

25. Cathedral architecture fascinates me
24. Obsession is not truly descriptive of my focus on Washington State University Football
23. Simple meals are best
22. British humor cracks me up
21. Habitual tardiness is my biggest peeve
20. My kid makes me laugh every day
19. I been shot at twice in my life, and it is enough
18. Frequently I am reminded that I am severely out of touch with the culture
17. I’ve been back stage with GWAR – Three times. (Thanks Bonnie)
16. College Football, Canadian Football, and the NFL, in that order, Cougs, Stamps, Raiders
15. I have empirical proof I am blessed
14. My bed room is dominated by a 4 1/5 foot hand painted San Damiano crucifix
13. I have known my friend Kenny since the first day of First Grade
12. I have met all the members of Motorhead…except Lemmy, he elude me
11. I don’t like socks that much
10. Dislocated several toes at the Stones concert in Seattle, jumped off the 100 level of the Kingdome - stayed for the whole show
9. I have come one degree of separation from two different serial killers… Kevin Bacon, Kevin Schamacon
8. When I am king, Judo will be part of every school curriculum, decaf coffee will be banned, and all Styx albums confiscated.
7. I was academically ejected from college, and removed from student housing via the police on the same day
6. I have worked for a President and Senators, and members of Congress
5. I hope someday to be as resilient in life as my Aunt Syd
4. Intermittent irregular and selective bursts of hyper-vigilance are part of my normal daily existence
3. Speling and puntuatun not like me good
2. My first job was cutting suckers for $1.05 an hour
1. God is pretty darn important

Kris Wilder
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