Posted: August 31st, 2008 | Author: Don | Filed under: Misc, Religion, School, Work | Tags: aikido, Army, arts, Bishop, black belt, body, body mechanics, Cardiovascular Technician, catholic, catholic church, church, circular wind ryu, circular wind ryu jutsu, circular wind school, Combat Medic, dan, defense, exercise, Father, fight, investment, judo, kendo, kicking, martial, Martial Arts, massage therapy, Master Instructor, Paramedic, Physician's Assistant, pray, prayer, pressure points, Priest, Religion, Religious, ryu, School, self defense, Sensei, Shiatsu, stock, sword, sword work, tang soo do, throws, US Army, work out | No Comments »
For over 30 years now I have been studying martial arts. I have acquired a 6th Dan (Black Belt/Master Instructor) in AiKiDo, a 5th Dan (Black Belt/Master Instructor) in Judo, a 3rd Dan (Black Belt/Instructor) in Kendo (the Art of the Sword), a 3rd Dan (Black Belt/Instructor) in Tang Soo Do, and a 3rd Dan (Black Belt/Instructor) in Hapkido. I have also studied with other Masters in other styles, belting in some (at various levels) or just learning new things.
During this time of studying martial arts, I was studying and learning about the body through becoming a Combat Medic, a Cardiovascular Technician, and a Physician’s Assistant in the Army, and a Paramedic in the Civilian world. I also studied Shiatsu (massage therapy and pressure points), becoming a Master Technician in the State of Texas.
About 12 or so years ago, I started teaching individuals a mix of what I had learned, keeping the techniques in tact, and the “requirements” for each styles “belting”, with one minor twist, I took some belts out, and required more in each belt before taking a “Belt Test”. (I’m WAY old school when it comes to testing… I think it SHOULD be White Belt, Brown Belt and Black Belt, that is it…)
My martial theory consist of this:
1. Learn the arts to learn more about yourself.
2. Gain confidence in yourself.
3. Try to talk your way out of a fight, offer to take them for a drink, or food, or …
4. If that doesn’t work, walk (run?) away.
5. If that doesn’t work, block the attack, always trying to go back to 3 and 4.
6. If that doesn’t work, hurt the attacker (via a solid punch (often stops the fight), kick, throw, etc.), always trying to go back to 3 and 4!
7. If that doesn’t work, break something of the attackers. (Hand, wrist, arm, leg, jaw, etc.), always trying to go back to 3 and 4!
8. If that doesn’t work, maim them, always trying to go back to 3 and 4!
9. And if that doesn’t work, as a final and LAST resort, you make it lethal. This is ALWAYS a LAST RESULT, and only if you can’t walk/run away, or take them out for a drink, and the other things in the middle don’t stop the fight.
ANY time you get in a fight, you are going to get hurt, even if it is only the hurting of your hand when you hit them, because if you hit them right, your hand (or foot) will hurt too! Hopefully not as much as they will hurt (if you study under me, I can show you how to hurt them more than they hurt you!). Any time I get in a fight, it hurts me emotionally as well, fighting is not something anyone should be doing if at all possible!
Now, some of you may ask, why is someone like me, a “religious” person, teaching or partaking in martial arts? Well, after MUCH talking with several Priest and one Bishop of the Catholic Church, as long as I’m not studying or teach with the intent to do harm, but rather to learn more about the body, people, and “self defense” there appear not to be an issue with it and the Church. (Remember in the “old days” when Priest use to have boxing schools for their young boys, and when Priest had boxing in Seminary?)
Martial arts, to me, is about learning about my body, the body in general, and about staying in shape, the later of which I really need to do! It is not about hurting people. or about getting in fights.
All this to lead to the comment that I am in the process of opening up my own dojo! (Training Hall/School). I am now forming my own style of the ” Way of Circular Wind Ryu“. I am going to be aggressively be putting together a school, and have already started putting the blocks together!
To learn about that, click on “Investment” above! I could use your help. 
You can also see my initial web site at http://cwryu.tripod.com/index.html. This will soon(ish) have it’s own domain and a better built site, but is a good start, if I do say so myself. The content there will be update over the next two weeks.
My opening day should be on or before October 6th of this year! Wish me luck, and pray for me!
Posted: August 24th, 2008 | Author: Don | Filed under: Religion | Tags: bible, catholic, catholic church, faith, Jewish, news, press, Religion, Scripture | 1 Comment »
A Order Brother sent me an email with a bunch of statistics about the Catholic Church. It is attributed to a non-Catholic person that is actually Jewish. I was not able to verify that info, and somehow don’t think that is who originally authored it, but I did verify the statistics:
Proud of Being Catholic
Excerpts of an article written by Sam Miller,
prominent Cleveland Jewish businessman -( NOT CATHOLIC )
Submitted by Dee Lynd.
18 April 2008
Why would newspapers carry on a vendetta on one of the most important institutions that we have today in the United States, namely the Catholic Church?
Do you know – the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students everyday at the cost to your Church of 10 billion dollars, and a savings on the other hand to the American taxpayer of 18 billion dollars. Your graduates go on to graduate studies at the rate of 92%, all at a cost to you. To the rest of the Americans it’s free.
The Church has 230 colleges and universities in the U.S. with an enrollment of 700,000 students. The Catholic Church has a non-profit hospital system of 637 hospitals, which account for hospital treatment of 1 out of every 5 people – not just Catholics – in the United States today.
But the press is vindictive and trying to totally denigrate in every way the Catholic Church in this country. They have blamed the disease of pedophilia on the Catholic Church, which is as irresponsible as blaming adultery on the institution of marriage.
Let me give you some figures that you as Catholics should know and remember. For example, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner; 38% acknowledged other inappropriate sexual contact in a study by the United Methodist Church, 41.8 % of clergy women reported unwanted sexual behavior; 17% of laywomen have been sexually harassed. Meanwhile, 1.7% of the Catholic clergy has been found guilty of pedophilia. 10% of the Protestant ministers have been found guilty of pedophilia. This is not a Catholic problem.
A study of American priests showed that most are happy in the priesthood and find it even better than they had expected, and that most, if given the choice, would choose to be priests again in face of all this obnoxious PR the church has been receiving.
The Catholic Church is bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. The agony that Catholics have felt and suffered is not necessarily the fault of the Church. You have been hurt by a small number of wayward priests that have probably been totally weeded out by now.
Walk with your shoulders high and you head higher. Be a proud member of the most important non-governmental agency in the United States. -Then remember what was written in Jeremiah:’Thus says the Lord: Stand by the earliest roads, ask the pathways of old. Which is the way to good, and walk it; thus you will find rest for your souls.’ (Jer 6:16 [show]Jeremiah 6:16
[16]Thus says the LORD:
"Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'
).
Be Proud to speak up for your faith with pride and reverence and learn what your Church does for all other religions.
…… Be Proud That You’re A Catholic……
These are trueish numbers. The number of students may be up or down each year, but the rest of the numbers are pretty close to the “real” numbers.
Posted: May 15th, 2008 | Author: Don | Filed under: Religion | Tags: catholic, catholic church, Christianity, church, crusades, faith, infallible, pope, pope benedict, Religion | 5 Comments »
It was brought to my attention that I may have made a typo in this posting. (I know, I’m in a retreat, and should be away from my computer, but I check emails and voice mails in the PM due to family things going on, and I need to be in the loop…)
In that post I said that I do not believe that Pope to be infallible. When it comes to the dogma and teachings of the Church, I do believe he is infallible when he makes a declaration on such things. What I mean by him not being infallible is on things not related to the faith and beliefs of the Church.
For example, approving of the Crusades, which was not an issue dealing with what the Church believes and teaches, but was an attempt to regain control of religious items and of trying to mass convert other faiths, was something that the Pope approved of and gave his blessings on.
There have been other non-faith interpretations, non-dogma and non-teaching related events and issues in which the Pope may have made the wrong choice on, with or without the help of his Cardinals and Bishops.
So, what I should have written was that I believe that the Pope is human, may make bad business moves, but when it comes to the Faith of the Church, he has the backing of our Lord and God, and his teachings are infallible.
So, I guess I do believe that he is infallible, but I also believe that he is human and may make mistakes and sin in life. His teachings are true though.
Words from our current Pope, Pope Benedict:
“…The pope is not an oracle, he is infallible on the rarest of occasions, as we know…”
Posted: March 24th, 2008 | Author: Don | Filed under: Religion | Tags: catholic church, Easter, Easter Vigil, mass, RCIA, Religion, Roman Catholic Church, Saint Henry Catholic Church | No Comments »
This past Saturday at Easter Vigil a good thing happened. I was confirmed into the Catholic Church.
Misc/DSCN0125.jpg
The Mass was celebrated by Father Francis, the Pastor of Saint Henry Catholic Church, of the Roman Catholic Church. I was the only one from my RCIA class
Misc/DSCN0020.jpg confirmed at this church, they all got confirmed at Saint Elizabeth of Hungry Catholic Church.
Feels good!!
Posted: January 1st, 2008 | Author: Don | Filed under: Misc, Religion, SAR | Tags: 2007, 2008, book, books, catholic, catholic church, dog, fatih, Ghost Writer, goals, Kodi, publishing, Religion, rescue, Saint Henry's Catholic Church, SAR, search, search and rescue, theology, weight loss, year end | 1 Comment »
Well back in Dec of 2006 I set goals for 2007. I didn’t fair too well…
Goal1: Get weight down to 210.
Status 1: Not so good.. I got down to 220, and over the last three months, got “lazy” and am back up to 260ish…
Goal 2: Finish and Publish my first book….
Status 2: Started studies in Theology and Philosophy, and have basically changed my life plan significantly. I think I’ve written about two chapters in my book… Contemplating getting a Ghost Writer…
Goal 3: Re-Establish connections from the past.
Status 3: Again, not as great as I had hoped. I’m talking to about three people of the fifteen or so I wanted to get back in touch with. Partially attributed to my studies, but not fully…
So, Goals wise, my year was not so good. Else wise, I had a pretty good year. Made some new friends, such as Debbie, and several people at Saint Henry’s Catholic Church. I have gone to some great shows with the folks at St. Henry’s, and I have spent some great time with Debbie getting to know her and her family!
One other sad thing that happened this past year is that I lost my great friend, companion and pet, Kodi, whom I loved dearly. I will miss our jaunts to the malls, movies, and search and rescue calls.
So, what are my goals for 2008:
Goal 1: HIT 210 lbs!!
Status 1: Working out already, and eating better already…
Goal 2: Become confirmed in the Catholic Church, and live a more religious and righteous life.
There are a couple of other goals I am contemplating, and will update this post, or post a new post when I get them worked out.
Hope you all (what probably two readers?) have a great New Year, had a great Christmas, and that you and your families are healthy and happy!
In Christ,
Don
Posted: December 28th, 2007 | Author: Don | Filed under: Misc, Religion, School | Tags: books, Canon, Canon Law, catholic, catholic church, Christmas, faith, holiday, holidays, phiolophy, read, reading, School, studies, study, theology, Vatican, Vatican II, Vatincan II letters | No Comments »
Ok, now that Christmas is over, it is time to dig in and get back full force into my studies and future plans! I FINALLY finished the book on the Catholic Canon Law today when flying back from Ashland Kentucky, was visiting a good friend, and am back to reading the Vatican II letters/etc. I received a few books (many actually) on theology and philosophy, so my reading list will be growing in the next few days. Once I finish the current books on my “now reading” list, I will be going over my to read list, updating it, and working with my Spiritual Director on which one I should be reading and reporting on next… All list will be updated by the 6th of January.
Christmas was good to me this year, and I had an interesting week away. But it is definetely time to dig in!
Posted: December 6th, 2007 | Author: Don | Filed under: Misc, Politics, Religion, Wonder | Tags: catholic, catholic church, Catholicism, Chrisitian, Christ, Christmas, church, happy holidays, holidays, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Merry Christmas, politically correct | No Comments »
As we near the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, I would like to wish each one of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Now I know that is not “politically” correct, but I don’t care. This past few weeks I have heard on many TV stations, radio stations and individuals saying how they do not like that it is not politically correct to say Merry Christmas. So they won’t say it. Bah Humbug to them. Christmas is all about the birth of Jesus. You don’t see people “boycotting” any other celebration based on faith… And I sure do see a lot of people with candy canes (which stand for the J in Jesus, and the red represents the blood he spilled for us, and the white the purity of Jesus), buying presents, and decorating. IF you support all of that, say Merry Christmas! If you don’t, don’t say Merry Christmas, but allow others to celebrate the day as their faith does!
For those of you that are not Christian and do not want to say Merry Christmas, I hope you are working on the 25th to allow those of us that do celebrate the birth of Christ to so celebrate!
In Christ,
Don
Posted: August 22nd, 2007 | Author: Don | Filed under: Native American, Religion, School, Wonder | Tags: book, books, catholic, catholic church, Catholicism, philosophy, read, reading, Saint, Saints, theology | No Comments »
IF ANYONE out there actually pays attention to this blog, over the last few days you have seen some pretty quick changes to what I am currently reading. I figured I should tell you why that is happening.
The first book I had put up as being read was 
. After starting this, during some of my studies in Catholicism, I came upon 
and 
. These too books I ordered from the local library early this week. Surprisingly they came in the next day! So, I started reading “Holy Teaching”, and placed “I would Follow Jesus” back in the “to read” pile.
I had also ordered 
and one other on Saints. “Lives” came in yesterday, the other one hasn’t come in yet.
After reading the first couple of chapters of “Holy Teaching”, I felt that I needed to read “Summa Theologica” first, then come back to where I left off in “Holy Teaching”, which summarizes “Summa Theologica”, so I picked up the Saints book and am now reading it. I am awaiting Book 1, 2, 4, and 5 of the “Summa Theologica” book, as they only sent me Book 3 for some reason.
So, I will finish this Saint book, then follow up, it should be here by then, the second one, and then start on “Summa” as it should be fully here. (Unless you want to buy for my Birthday (which is Monday, shameless plug) “Summa”, which I would like to own. You can find it wish list at Amazon! (ANYTHING on the list is cool for the BDay.)
Happy reading!!
