When I was still working in the IT industry, we would have a new slogan or motto every year. I remember one year, in the 1980’s, the motto was: “Partners In Change”. It was pretty appropriate, since we were busy reorganizing almost constantly, trying to remain the strong, dominant player we had been for the previous three decades. Of course, as regular employees, we felt ourselves to be mere peons within the huge, 500,000-employee, worldwide corporation. My own version of that year’s motto was: “Partners In Change…Small Change.” (Small change, get it?…like working for nickels and dimes) It used to get an appropriately small chuckle from my co-workers. Fast forward twenty years, and I was working for the US Army, as an employee in the Transformation Office, one of the highest priority initiatives and leading edge unit in the modern Army. Its meaning is far more than a motto, it represents a massive, Army-wide effort to address the complex, dangerous situations occurring today in global warfare. I firmly believe that the best things in life are truly transformational… a deep kind of change that gradually (sometimes suddenly) brings one to another level or direction. Two very common examples are: marriage [...]

Before every training session of the karate-do ministry, as with other ministries, we begin with prayer in fellowship. Though each prayer is unique, most contain an invitation to the Lord’s presence, a thankfulness for the health and time, and place to train, asking for protection over the fellowship, as well as a blessing over those members who can’t share that day’s session. I have realized over time, that no matter who leads the particular prayer, before we line up, before that first “Shomen Ni Rei!”, a simple request is heard again and again…that we might learn the unique lessons that He has in store for each of us during that training session. The Do and the ministry are so much more than just conditioning, stretching, movement, self-defense, or cultural history. As a Christian, if you are Saved…why wouldn’t the Lord take you from your temporal existence immediately? No one can answer for the Lord, but it’s generally thought that the reason each of us continues our mortal existence is because we have more to do and more to learn, here on earth, before we are called forward in His time. I know I’ve mentioned before, that prior to starting in [...]

This Saturday (16 Sept), will be exam time for some of our white, green and brown belts. It’ll go by faster than one would imagine. Please show up on time or earlier, if possible. I plan on being there by about 08:40 am. This way, we can finish sweeping, placing down the position tape and answer any last minute questions anyone may have. I intend to have sempais James and Doreen help me with grading on the exam (six eyes is better than two). Sempai Wes (recovering from back surgery) is standing by to help with any brand new beginners out by the grill area. For those of you who are just watching… please take this opportunity to learn about how you might do even better, the next time you take an exam (a strong spirit and loud kiai are very important). We’ll start right at 09:00 am, have a quick warm-up, and commence with the exam. Don’t forget, during exam time, the kata is done facing in a different direction (towards the left of where we normally face), so try not to get mixed up in your orientation, especially when you finish. After the exam, we will continue with [...]