Welcome to the GMAF Newsletter! We pray it will encourage you in your Martial Arts and Outreach for Christ.
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Matthew 7:24-29
Jesus Christ
" For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
The Apostle Paul
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
Proverbs 11:30
(This article is the second of six in a year-long study about teaching children and young people about wisdom and character development through Christian martial arts programs. GraceLife Ministries and Grace Martial Arts Fellowship present this series in the hope it will help you in your life and martial arts ministry.)
There's an old saying that a person should not teach what they do not know or what they cannot do. An important part of teaching anything is making it part of your life first. A martial arts instructor is first and foremost a martial artist. We practice what we teach. We would practice the art whether we taught or not, whether we were part of a class or not, whether we had a partner or not, whether anyone watched or not. We are first martial artists because we love it; then we are teachers.
The same is true of teaching wisdom to our children. We must know wisdom and practice it. Wisdom must be part of the very fiber of our life. We are first wise, then we are teachers of wisdom. How do we become wise? How do we practice wisdom? God makes the process clear.
The first step in becoming wise is to love your soul. That's what we saw in our previous study about wisdom. "He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good." (Proverbs 19:8.) We know getting wisdom demonstrates we love our soul. Soul-love is love at a deep level. Jesus answered a question about the greatest commandment by saying, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." (Matthew 22:37-39) The greatest love is love God with all our heart, soul and mind. The next greatest love is to love our neighbors as we love ourself. A person who loves God with all their heart, soul and mind is wise. A person who loves their neighbors as themselves is wise. "He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul."
The second step in becoming wise and teaching wisdom to others is to fear God.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 111:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." Proverbs 1:7
"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding." Proverbs 4:5-7
Wisdom is the "principal" thing in life and it begins by having a reverential fear of God. Having a healthy fear of the Almighty God is a good thing. It prepares our hearts and minds to receive knowledge and with knowledge comes understanding. To teach wisdom to others we must first fear God. It's like the fear a child has for their father. They love their father and their father loves them. The child wants to please their father in every way. They do not want to displease him. When they disobey their father, they see the displeasure and disappointment in his eyes. They don't want to see that. They don't want to receive his discipline. Wise children obey their parents because they love and fear them.
The Hebrew word for "fear" in Psalm 111 and Proverbs 1 is yirah. It is translated by many English words, including "fear, piety, reverence, awesome and revere." Wisdom begins with reverential subordination to God. Most people in the world have made themselves "god" and glory in themselves. They are wise in their own sight. If they do worship a god, it is one of their own creation. Billions of people through history have made gods from wood and stone and made up their own religions from their human wisdom. God has laughed at them and destroyed their gods and attempts at human glorification.
The Apostle Paul told the sad story of the folly of human wisdom in his letter to the Christians in Rome.
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." Romans 1:18-32
"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." How true that is. Go to any bookstore or library in the world and you'll see how the human race professes itself to be wise and in doing so they become fools. There is no wisdom outside of God's Wisdom. There is no truth outside of God's Truth. God Knows everything; He is All-Wise. The beginning of wisdom for any person is to fear God. That's where it begins for us; that's where it begins for our students. If we do not fear God, we cannot teach our children and the children of others how to fear God. If are "afraid" of God, we cannot teach reverential fear. We must know, understand and experience God's Love as the great love of the greatest Parent Who has ever Loved. Our fear of God must be based on love and respect for God, not fear because we don't want to get caught or be punished. If we fear God for the wrong reason, we play games with God, others and ourselves. We cannot model Godly fear for children that way. They'll see we're phonies and hypocrites and either walk away or learn more devious ways of playing the self-righteous, hypocrisy game. Each generation of game players becomes worse until faith loses all meaning and purpose. We must be real with God, real with ourselves and real with others. That's difficult but necessary to having wisdom and teaching wisdom.
Having fear of a physical attack is healthy. It teaches us to be aware of our surroundings and be prepared for an attack that could come at any time, by any method and from any direction. We teach children and young people to defend themselves in scary situations in life. We introduce our students to ways of defending themselves against attacks that would frighten most people. We teach children and teens to defend themselves against yells and threats, grabs and holds, punches and kicks, tackles and throws. We teach them how to face someone carrying a stick, knife or gun. That kind of training would give most adults a severe headache. The training we give our students develops "knowledge and understanding" that leads to "wisdom" about how to deal with physical and mental attacks. They develop godly confidence and self confidence during their training that prepares them for the real thing. Being "afraid" doesn't protect people. That leads to freezing or panic; just the reaction an attacker wants. "Fearing" an attack works because it leads to knowledge gained through training which produces skill and the wisdom to use it.
I invite you to spend the next two months considering what God meant when He said: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Here are some Scriptures to help you in your study. Meditate on His Word and make it part of the fiber of your life. Write your thoughts in a notebook or journal so you will be able to share them with your children and students.
Genesis 22:9-14
Exodus 1:15-21 ... 14:31
Leviticus 19:1-32 ... 25:17
Deuteronomy 6:1-25 ... 8:1-6 ...10:12-20 ...13:4 ...14:23 ... 17:18-20 ... 28:58-62 ... 31:11-13
Joshua 4:23-24 ... 24:14-15
1 Samuel 12:14-24
2 Samuel 23:1-4
2 Kings 17:25-41
1 Chronicles 16:23-36
2 Chronicles 19:7-9
Nehemiah 7:1-2
Job 1:1-22 ... 28:28
Psalms 2:1-12 ... 5:1-7 ... 15:1-5 ... 19:7-9 ...22:22-24 ... 25:12-14 ... 33:8-9 ... 36:1-12 ... 61:1-8 ... 66:16-20 ... 67:1-7 ... 86:1-11 ... 89:1-7 ... 96:1-4 ... 102:13-16 ... 103:13-18 ... 111:1-10 ... 112:1-3 ... 115:11-18 ... 118:1-4 ... 128:1-4 ... 135:19-21 ... 145:18-20 ... 147:11
Proverbs 1:7, 20-30 ... 2:1-5 ... 3:6-8 ... 8:13 ... 9:10 ... 10:27 ... 14:1-27 ... 15:16, 33 ... 16:6 ... 19:23 ... 22:4 ... 23:17 ... 24:21-22 ... 31:30
Isaiah 2:10-21 ... 11:1-5 ... 29:22-23 ... 33:1-6 ... 50:10 ... 59:19
Jeremiah 5:24-31 ... 10:6-7 ... 32:37-40
Daniel 6:26
Hosea 3:4-5
Haggai 1:12
Malachi 3:16
Acts 9:31 ... 10:1-4 ... 13:15-26
Romans 3:10-18
2 Corinthians 7:1
Ephesians 5:15-21
Colossians 3:22-25
Hebrews 12:28-29
1 Peter 2:17
Revelation 14:6-7 ... 15:1-4 ...19:5-6
(Next month: "Teaching Wisdom To Our Children" Step Two)
Dear Abba Father
Well, here I am again, wondering how and why, what and who. You know, HOW am I going to do whatever your will is for me, WHY I am experiencing anxiety about the things I think are necessary to reach the goals set for me. I am not really sure about just WHAT it is I am supposed to do. Then there is the WHO am I supposed to do, whatever it is I'm supposed to do to PERSONAL. I would like to write a column each week that would really reach deep inside of anyone reading it. Something that would bring them closer to Jesus Christ. But who am I to do anything? Well, God has shown me that HE can and does use ANYONE. Wow! Can you imagine? Being a team member with the Creator of all things. Almighty God HIMSELF. I find it difficult to understand what God would have for me to do, since I was such a rotten sinner before, and still fall more than I like to admit. It's tough to hold my temper, when I become irritated about something. My Alligator mouth sometimes overloads my mosquito behind, much more than it should. It's easier to be a sinner, than it is to be a Christian. I found that it takes a real man to overcome so many temptations that the enemy sends. Pride is the biggest culprit, with anger stemming from it.
Not many of us are really intelligent enough to actually understand what our relationship with our GOD truly is. Try to visualize that you are the son or daughter of the richest man in the World. OK! Now think how it would be to have a Father that could heal every, and I mean every little or big health problem you had. Think about having a dad who could cure any disease imaginable. A pop, which could cure your children no matter what their condition. Wow! It just blows my mind when I even attempt to realize how Blessed we ALL are who Love Jesus Christ, who has made it possible for us to have a Daddy the likes of GOD. My dad can beat your dad, stuff. Ha! No contest. The Bible teaches us that If God be with us who can be against us? There is also a teaching about The Holy Spirit of God being stronger in us than any enemy spirit in our foes. OH! Yea! We can all be killed, Murdered by stupid terrorist, smashed in an accident, have cancer, or other diseases. How do we explain this kind of disaster? Only God knows for sure. However we can be assured that what others mean for evil God can turn to good. When hard times do come, we must not allow our pride to take control and our tempers to flare with blame at God.
Remember that Psalms chapter
18 verse 6 where it teaches" The Lord is on my side: I will
not fear. What can man do to me?" If I die, in that same
moment, I open my eyes to see Christ there waiting for me. That
is very comforting to those of us who have thought it over and
asked God to forgive us of all our sins. We have asked for Jesus
Christ to be with in us and for the Holy Spirit to guide and lead
us in all we do.
Write me at keichudo1@aol.com
or on my two web's. www.keichu.com
or www.keichudo.com.
I have known Joseph Lumpkin for many years. He is a man after God's Own Heart. Joseph loves God and people. He loves martial arts. One of my teachers, Ron Shively, was president of Karate For Christ International when Joseph became the vice-president of the organization. I quickly learned that Joseph was a wonderful brother in Christ, a superb martial artist and was going to do great things for the Gospel of Christ. Joseph became president of Karate For Christ several years ago and has done a fantastic job leading the organization and expanding the voice of Christian Martial Arts around the world. Joseph and I were talking on the phone recently when he told me the time had come for him to hand the leadership of Karate For Christ to another. I thanked him privately for his service to all of us and wanted to thank him publicly for his stand for what's right about Christianity and martial arts. We are a better group of people today because of Joseph's hard work, sacrifice and prayer.
Even as Ron Shively passed the ministry of Karate For Christ into the able hands of Joseph Lumpkin, so Joseph has passed the ministry into the able hands of Daryl Covington. Our prayers are with Ron, Joseph and Daryl today as God leads them in His Will for their lives and outreach. I know they will appreciate your prayers.
On July 20th, Joseph Lumpkin sent a personal note to the membership of Karate For Christ International. I thought Joseph did a marvelous job of explaining God's leading in his life and the ministry of Karate For Christ. We are reprinting his note so members of GMAF will have the opportunity to rejoice with Joseph and Daryl and give thanks to God for His Great Work in the lives of thousands of people around the world.
Dear Friends and members of Karate for Christ;
Six years ago the Lord gave me a vision that enabled us to take a small ministry from a few dozen members in less than a dozen schools to thousands of schools, tens of thousands of students in dozens of countries. As I accomplished the goal set before me, the Lord also directed that the needs of the members and the Christian community be met in various areas. We commissioned a style for those who had lost their home style, teacher, or linage. We launched a Christian based publishing company so that the voice crying in the wilderness could be heard more clearly. We established Karate for Christ as a non-profit ministry so donations could be increased. We have sent out missionaries and are continuing to send out teachers and ministers to other countries as well as within the USA.
This was the vision God gave me. I have fulfilled my vision. Now, It is time for another vision, a fresh anointing and a new word from the throne.
Power and authority is granted from Heaven for a season. It is not intended to be permanent and it does not follow a person. It follows the hand of God. My season has come to an end. It has been a wonderful and full one, but now, for me, it is autumn and the season must change.
There was a
time in Israel's history that Saul was king and David was anointed.
Saul was foolish and attempted to keep power even though his time
was through. David awaited his time but Saul was too proud and
attached to his place as king to step down with grace. History
proved this was an error
and cost Saul his soul. If Saul had only realized that God placed
him as king for a time and that same God was calling another,
Saul would have retired with grace and had been remembered well.
It is true that for every thing and person there is a season.
We are entering a new season. It is time for Karate for Christ
to change leadership. As Ron Shively passed Karate for Christ
to me when his time was up, I now pass it to Dr. Daryl Covington.
Karate for
Christ has become one of the largest Christian Martial arts ministries
in the world. With that we have drawn into ourselves those who
are really not Christians and those who God has saved but who
do not follow the ethical or moral rules set out by this ministry.
Since we offer free help, free advertising, discounts and wholesale
supplies of uniforms, patches, manuals, tapes, CDs, DVDs, and
other items, we have been targeted by those who wish to take what
we have to offer by becoming members
while not being Christians. We are also being used by those who
do not follow our simple guidelines of conduct. These two types
of groups are few and far between, numbering only in the single
digits. As we have confirmed who they are and have addressed the
problems directly with them. If they have
confirmed they are not Christians they have been asked to leave.
If those who claim to be Christians have not corrected unbecoming,
unethical, or immoral actions, they also have been removed from
our membership.
One such group
was Buddhist based. They accused us of "judging them. We
did. When they were asked about their salvation and how they would
get to heaven the leader responded, "I drive a Ford."
The response makes for a nice, silly Koan, but shows the problem
we are facing. Other groups are attempting to join from the Middle
East. Many are non-Christian. They attempt to join in order to
gain access to the US by way of any means possible. This includes
camps, seminars, contests, or by way of establishing
friendships with members and gaining invitations. They are being
weeded out also.
Posted very clearly on our website is a very broad definition of what one has to believe to be considered a Christian. It is the Apostle's Creed. Such creeds have been the mainstay of Christianity since 400 AD.
Our Creed: The Apostle's Creed:
I believe in
God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in his
son Jesus Christ our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified,
dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead; he ascended
into heaven, and sitteth at
the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall
come to judge the quick and the dead.
By joining
Karate for Christ it is expected that the person is a Christian.
It is not Karate for Buddha, after all. Thus, we are indeed, judging.
We are judging these groups to be liars and frauds. We are judging
them against a set of conditions we have posted which set up a
simple criteria for what it takes to be a Christian Belief that
Jesus is the Son of God and the only way to God and Heaven.
The last problem group and area is more difficult. They are the "Christian" teachers that are not adhering to a reasonable moral, ethical, or spiritual code. Here we get into subjective judgment calls. We are told to judge the fruit and the offense. If we do this on the criteria of loving God and loving our neighbor, things become fairly clear.
Here is how
we do it. If an act is questionable, we ask, who will benefit
by the action. Who will benefit by the seduction of a student?
Who will benefit by hurting or injuring students intentionally?
Who will benefit by a bogus organization passing out certificates
for money? Who will benefit by the selling of rank? Who will benefit
by using our mailing lists to promote their sales and membership?
Who will benefit if rank is given out freely with no thought toward
performance? (These teachers want followers and influence. They
care about numbers, not performance.) If the question yields an
answer other than God and Neighbor, the action is not correct.
We are a Christian and a Martial organization. We are expected
to act with discipline and spiritual purpose. I believe the weeding
out of these groups and
the dismissal of the small handfull of those unable to follow
a reasonable code of Christian conduct was my last mission.
God has called a others for this next season. I can now turn the ministry over to them in as much of an orderly state as I know how. Because of the way the non-profit status of Karate for Christ is structured, I must remain on and run the home school from where the non-profit status is conferred by the IRS. I will step into a figurehead position. The title of this position does not matter. For now and for the sake of the IRS we will call it C.E.O. However, it is to exist as an advisory position and for the sake of funding the ministry. My position as head of the Shinsei system will not change. As head of family, I will pass the system to its inheritor in my old age. My place in Karate for Christ must lessen so God's man for the next season can increase.
Dr. Daryl Covington
has been appointed as the new President of Karate for Christ.
He has trained for this position for 4 years now. Daryl is well
equipped to handle all situations that may arise. He has been
doing so for several months now. His is the one who God has given
the next vision. To EXCITE MEMBERS TO ACTION FOR CHRIST! Daryl
is from a military background and from a military arts background.
If you thought I was tough,stand by for news, Daryl is tougher.
Daryl will continue as second in command and 7th dan in the Shinsei
system. Daryl has appointed David Dunn as the next Vice President
of Karate for
Christ. David has a heart for ministry and will serve in his position
well. All other positions will remain the same.
It is my hope
and prayer that you have been served well under my ministry and
that Karate for Christ will continue to grow under the next season
of leadership. I will not tell you it has always been easy. Martial
artists are not the easiest people to lead. We are strong, stubborn
and arrogant at times. But, strong and stubborn are the same traits
that have taken us to this height in our growth. We continue to
add new members each day. We have lost count of our numbers but
we believe there are now well over 7000
members representing 70,000 - 300,000 students touched by this
ministry. Since we do not sell worthless paper or rank and because
we serve many schools in third world countries we are funded by
only a very small percent of our membership. Our main benefactor
is not even a martial artist. She
simply believes in our vision with her entire heart. I want to
encourage you to have a world vision and see what we are doing
in the world to seek and save the youth, to raise up warriors
for Christ, to serve the communities, and to mature the saints.
Then give to this ministry according to your ability. Help Daryl
take Karate for Christ to the next level.
I am yours in Christ's service.
Joseph Lumpkin
We are working on a ranking board for Karate for Christ. We will in NO WAY be able to cover ALL the styles. If you are a member, keep on trucking. If we form the board and do not cover your style, you can keep on with the way you are going. We are not trying to "CONVERT everyone to the same styles. We are offering a promotional path, the best we can, to those that may no longer have one, or cannot afford one. There will be no cross ranking, per say. Let me explain, If you are, let's say a 1st Dan in Tae Kwon Do, and need to TEST to second, that path will be available, for you to test in Pa Sa Ryu Tae Kwon Do. You will be able to keep your old forms, but will meet the requirements from 1st to 2nd in the PSR TKD system. Once you make 2nd Dan, you do not have 2 TKD ranks, a black belt in one style, and a black belt in another style, you only have 1 style, the one you tested in. The board will not tollerate people trying to PAD a resume.
IF your style is not offered on the ranking board, you can keep on with what you are doing. No one is saying it is wrong. BUT, if you desire to promote THROUGH KARATE FOR CHRIST'S BOARD, we will only be able to offer promotions for those styles on the promotional board. Listen, does that mean if you are an instructor in a style we Don't have on the board you can't promote your students? NO NO, it doesn't. Does that mean you HAVE to have your rank from KFCI? NO NO it doesn't. We are only trying to EXPAND the services we offer our members. What is DOES mean, is if you are an instructor in a style, you can continue to teach and promote in that style. If you no longer have a promotional path, or the FEES get too high, we will have SOME styles represented you can choose to promote in. The requirements will be TOUGH. Already, people are complaining "MY art isn't represented, "THose requirements are too tough." Listen, up until now, NO ONE'S STYLE has been represented. Keep on with what you are doing. This isn't a "HAVE TO" deal, it is an option. Currently, Karate for Christ issues NO RANK, NOR HAVE WE EVER.
Local schools have issued rank, and certificates have been sent with KFCI logo, but NEVER have we had a legit. ranking board for ANY ART, until now. This is a Service FOR THE MEMBERS, not a REQUIREMENT for the members. If you choose to rank through the board, GREAT. If not, GREAT. If you don't make our requirements but do somewhere else, GREAT. With the literally 1000s of styles, there is NO WAY we can represent them all. We have chosen to go with some BASE styles and not try to cover all the new SHODAI SOKE systems. We aren't discrediting them, we are saying there are too many for us to cover. Right now, we will have representation for the following, and be able to rank to the said following rank:
TANG SOO DO: up to 5th Dan
Pa Sa Ryu Tae Kwon Do (Will accept most TKD styles): up to 4th Dan
Pa Sa Ryu Karate (Will accept, Shotokan, Iss. Wado, etc): up to 4th Dan
Kenpo: up to 7th
Kodokan Judo: Up to 2nd Dan
Hapkido: up to 7th Dan
Ju Jitsu: up to 7th Dan
Tai Chi Quan: up to Master Level
Jeet Kune Do: up to Master Level
KeichuDo: What ever Karl Marx Says
What if your art isn't listed? Just keep on doing what you are doing. If you decide to train or get promoted, you are welcome to "come into one of the aforementioned systems," but you won't have to. This is a service, not a requirement.
For those that wish to come
through this board, HERE ARE THE BASE REQUIREMENTS:
ALL RANK ISSUED THROUGH THE KARATE FOR CHRIST RANKING BOARD SHALL
BE TESTED FOR. THERE IS NO CROSS RANKING. IN ADDITION TO EACH
STYLE'S REQUIREMENTS FOR RANK, THE FOLLOWING ARE ADDED FOR ALL
STYLES:
I DEGREE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· At least 15 years old.
· A minimum of three years training in the martial arts.
· Must have a personal relationship with God.
· Provide Christian character references from their pastor,
teachers, principal, employer, or instructor.
· Must be a member of Karate for Christ International.
II DEGREE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· At least 16 years old and a minimum of one year as I
Degree.
· A minimum of four years training in the martial arts.
· Has demonstrated the physical, mental, and spiritual
maturity worthy of the Christian black belt during the year as
I Degree.
· Provide Christian character references from their pastor,
teachers, principal, employer, or instructor.
· Must be a member of Karate for Christ International.
III DEGREE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· At least 18 years old and a minimum of two years as a
II Degree
· A minimum of six years training in the martial arts.
· At least one year as an assistant instructor.
· Provide Christian character references from their pastor,
teachers, principal, employer, or instructor
· Must have be a member of Karate for Christ International
for at least 1 year.
· Must be currently teaching a class.
IV DEGREE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· At least 22 years old and a minimum of three years as
a III Degree.
· A minimum of nine years training in the martial arts.
· Provide Christian character references from their pastor,
teachers, principal, employer, or instructor
·Must have be a member of Karate for Christ International
for at least 1 year.
· Must have been instructing as member school of Karate
for Christ International for at least 1 year.
· Must be currently teaching a class.
V DEGREE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· At least 30 years old and a minimum of four years as
a IV Degree.
· A minimum of fifteen years training in the martial arts.
· Provide Christian character references from their pastor,
teachers, principal, employer, or instructor
· Provide three promotion recommendations from three black
belts ranking IV Degree, or higher.
· Must have be a member of Karate for Christ International
for at least 2 years.
· Must have been instructing as member school of Karate
for Christ International for at least 2 years.
· Must be currently teaching a class.
VI DEGREE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· At least 35 years old and a minimum of five years as
a V Degree.
· A minimum of twenty years training in the martial arts.
· Hold master instructor rank.
· Provide Christian character references from their pastor,
teachers, principal, employer, or instructor
· Provide three promotion recommendations from three black
belts ranking IV Degree, or higher
· Must have be a member of Karate for Christ International
for at least 3 years.
· Must have been instructing as member school of Karate
for Christ International for at least 3 years.
· Must be currently teaching a class.
VII DEGREE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· At least 40 years old and minimum of five years as a
VI Degree.
· A minimum of twenty-five years training in the martial
arts.
· Hold master instructor rank.
· Provide Christian character references from their pastor,
teachers, principal, employer, or instructor
· Provide three promotion recommendations from three black
belts ranking IV Degree, or higher
· Must have be a member of Karate for Christ International
for at least 4 years.
· Must have been instructing as member school of Karate
for Christ International for at least 4 years.
· Must be currently teaching a class.
VII DEGREE
TO VIII DEGREE
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
· Must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
· At least 55 years old and a minimum of five years as
a VII Degree
· A minimum of thirty-five years training in the martial
arts.
· Hold master instructor rank.
· Provide Christian character references from their pastor,
teachers, principal, employer, or instructor
· Provide three promotion recommendations from three black
belts ranking IV Degree, or higher
· Must have be a member of Karate for Christ International
for at least 5 years.
· Must have been instructing as member school of Karate
for Christ International for at least 5 years.
· Must be currently teaching a class.
(Reprinted with permission from Karate For Christ International)
I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct. Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire.
I am a volunteer in this army,
and I am enlisted for eternity. I will either retire in this army
at the rapture or die in this army. But I will not get out, sell
out, be talked out or pushed out. I am faithful, reliable, capable
and dependable. If my God needs me, I am there. If He needs me
in the Sunday school, to teach the children, work in the youth,
help adults or just sit and learn, He can use me because I am
there!
I am a soldier. I am not a baby. I do not need to be pampered,
petted, primed up, pumped up, picked up or pepped up. I am a soldier.
No one has to call me, remind me, write me, visit me, entice me
or lure me. I am a soldier. I am not a wimp. I am in place, saluting
my King, obeying His orders, praising His name and building His
kingdom! No one has to send me flowers, gifts, food, cards or
candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be cuddled, cradled,
cared for or catered to. I am committed. I cannot have my feelings
hurt bad enough to turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough
to turn me aside. I cannot lose enough to cause me to quit.
When Jesus called me into this army, I had nothing. If I end up with nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win. My God has and will continue to supply all of my needs. I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all things through Christ. The devil cannot defeat me. People cannot disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me. I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my Commander calls me from His battlefield, He will promote me to captain and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army, and I'm marching claiming victory. I will not give up. I will not turn around.
I am a soldier, marching Heaven-bound. Here I stand! Will you stand with me?
Author Unknown
When it comes to violating modern principles of athletic training,
sports with strong training traditions- traditions based on unfounded
beliefs and myths- seem to have an edge on inefficient and often
counterproductive training. Although sports scientists have undertaken
research that condemns many of the training myths, tradition,
poor dissemination of research results and reluctance to accept
inevitable change (progress) have resulted in coaches often subjecting
their athletes to less efficient training regimens. The sport
of Judo, even in the face of the revolutionary training ideas
advanced by Judo coach Geof Gleeson in the 1960s, still refuses
to accept many of the changes that have been proposed, and steadfastly
clings to training concepts that the more progressive sports threw
out years ago.
One training principle that
seems to be consistently beaten to death by Judoplayers and coaches
alike is the principle of specificity. The principle of specificity
or transference states that training must mimic as closely as
possible competition conditions and variables in order to maximize
learning and training effects. Training must duplicate the biomechanics,
neuromuscular patterns and energy system requirements of competition
skills. Drill training is the foundation upon which competitive
skills are built. In order to be effective, drill training must
allow skills to be repeated frequently and in their entirety while
being realistic and reflecting the conditions under which the
acquired skills will be used.
Note: Since many Judo athletes practice skills in training that
they don't use in competition, it is suggested that athletes and
coaches first analyze video tapes of competition performances
to create an inventory of skills which will then be used to implement
a more effective and realistic drill training program.
Below you will find some simple guidelines to make your practices more specific to Judo competition.
SET UPS, MOVEMENT PATTERNS:
Classical drill training or uchi komi involves little or no movement contrary to the requirements of competition. Realistic, dynamic movement patterns in conjunction with grips should be used to bring your opponent into the right position to effectively throw him. Make sure that the movement pattern you use in training is the same one you will use in competition.
TEMPO, PACE:
This refers to the speed of your movement pattern. The tempo used in training must be the same you will use in competition. Remember, however, that the throws in your inventory may require different tempos.
GRIPS, RESISTANCE AND POSTURES:
Opponents you will meet in competition offer a variety of grips, resistance and postures. You must incorporate those same variables into your drill training. Use cross grips, end of sleeve grips, double sleeve grips, belts grips, unorthodox grips, classical grips, right and left sided grips, stand-up postures, crouched postures, exaggerated left and right stances, stiff arms, crunching arms etc. to add reality to your training.
SPEED:
Your Judo techniques must be practiced in their entirety and at the same speed they will be performed in competition. Slow motion training, outside a few repetitions to get the feel of something new, should not be undertaken as this is counterproductive.
Note: Don't confuse the speed of a skill with the pace of your repetitions. Perform each skill or repetition as fast as possible without affecting the quality of the skill. Don't rush from one repetition to another. This idea is contrary to uchi komi practice where quantity but not quality seems to be the overwhelming goal.
BIOMECHANICS:
Judo training is most paradoxical
and inefficient when it comes to the biomechanics of skill. Coaches
allow athletes to train one way but then expect them to perform
in another way. Uchi komi and kata practice force the athletes
to alter the biomechanics of Judo skills to the point of creating
skills that no longer resemble competition skills. To exemplify
this, let's analyze O soto gari. In training, a right side O soto
gari involves stepping forward with the left foot and reaping
with the right whereas most competition effective O soto gari
are performed with the left leg stepping back to create a forward
drive while the right leg hooks initially and reaps only much
later in the throw. These throws may both be called O soto gari
but any reasonable person can see that they are very different,
so different in fact that they are biomechanically two distinct
throws. Therefore, if drill training is to be effective, athletes
must practice skills as they will be performed in competition.
Practice perfect skills only. Keep in mind that it isn't the quantity
of training or repetitions that counts but rather the exactness
of the skills. It is far better to perform fifteen properly executed
skills in their entirety than it is to slop through one hundred
partially executed throws as illustrated by traditional uchi komi.
To help you execute biomechanically sound skills, pay attention
to the function of the following;
Head Must be aimed in the direction of the throw. Wherever the
head goes, the body follows.
Body Must be angled (30 to 45 degrees) in the direction of the
throw. This is called angle of attack. To remain standing after
you throw is to practice a different skill, one which won't approximate
your competition skill enough.
Legs:
At least one leg, the driving leg or driver, must be placed behind you in order to achieve a proper angle of attack. Power from leg transfers up through the hips to the arms. Arms Must lock, fix, pull or drive opponent's upper body.
Note: By now you should understand that in the world of modern athletic training principles, uchi komi are a fraud. The practice of traditional, static uchi komi has very little validity and should be discontinued. Spend your training time more efficiently by practicing intelligently.
TERMINAL JUDO
If proper biomechanics are applied with an angle of attack, the attack will then culminate with both players being driven into the mat where ne waza (mat work) will ensue. All throwing skills should end terminally.
LINKS, FOLLOW-UPS:
All techniques, skills or attacks, whether successful or not, should be followed by subsequent techniques, skills or attacks. To help you mimic competition situations during drill training always follow up mistakes with secondary attacks just as you would normally do in competition.
Note: The above concepts will also apply to drill training of mat work skills.
SUMMARY
· Your practice skills
should mimic your competition skills
· Perform skills in their entirety
· Set ups should involve grips and movement patterns
· Use appropriate tempo or pace for movement patterns
· Your training partner must vary his grips, postures and
resistance
· Practice your skills with speed as long as you don't
affect quality
· Perform biomechanically sound, perfect skills
· Create the correct angle of attack for terminal Judo
· Immediate links or follow-ups
(Reprinted with permission from Karate For Christ International)
KOREAN 101
Do-jang - Training hall
Do-bok - Uniform
Dee - Belt
Bong-su - Six-foot staff
Jap-gi - One who throws
Bat-gi - One who is thrown
Dahn-jak - Inseparable friend (fellow student)
Dan - Black belt
Gup - Colored belt
Dahn-boh - Red/black belt
U-dahn-jah - Black belt holder
Jo-kyo-nim - First degree black belt
Kyo-sah-nim - Second degree black belt
Pu-sah-bum-nim - Third degree black belt
Sah-bun-nim - Fourth degree and above
Kwahn - School
Hapkido - Way of Coordinated Power
Mu-do - Martial Arts
Ho-shin-sool - Self-defense
Ki Power - (inner strength)
Tu-do - Gentle Way
(Reprinted with permission from Karate For Christ International)
We would love to hear from you about any topic relating to Christianity and the martial arts. Please send your thoughts and articles for publication to mmcgee@gmaf.org.
Members of Grace Martial Arts Fellowship now have their own patch! It uses the image of Christian martial artists coming together from around the world for the purpose of sharing the Gospel of God's Love and Grace through Jesus Christ His Son. The image tops the official GMAF website at http://www.gmaf.org/gmaf.html. The 3 1/2 inch patch has a dark circle around the image and will look great on any color uniform.
GMAF's cost for each patch is $3.00. We currently have 100 patches in stock and can send them to you within a week of receiving your order. It will take a little more time for large orders so we can get more made and shipped to us. We'd appreciate your help with shipping expenses since we're making the patches available at our cost. We'll send them the least expensive way available. Our address is: GMAF, P.O. Box 360383, Tampa, FL 33673-0383. Please make your checks out to Grace Martial Arts Fellowship.
We're excited to tell you about four new Christian Martial Arts books. Three of them have been published this year. Each book is about the foundation of different Christian martial arts ministries. The first is about Keichu-Do Martial Arts. The second is about Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi Ch'uan Kung Fu. The third is about Shinsei Hapkido. The fourth is a primer for Christian Martial Arts.
We hope you will join us in thanking God for His guiding Christian authors to write about their love for Christ, His children and those who do not know Him yet. We are also grateful for Christian publishers rising up to meet the challenge of getting the authors' words into print and distributing them around the world.
Grandmaster Karl William Marx Sr. is founder of Keichu Karate-Do and Ju-Jitsu. He is a Christian and pastor and one of the first American Sokes (head of a martial arts system). He is also one of the early members of Grace Martial Arts Fellowship and has been a wonderful encouragement to our ministry.
In Martial Art Spirit, Master Marx writes about his martial arts training and shares his wisdom through a series of personal letters to one of his students. These letters were written during a period of several years (1974-1978) and cover the very heart of the Keichu-Do system Grandmaster Marx created and taught all his life. Chapters include "Similarities of Keichu-Do and other martial arts," "Philosophy of Keichu-Do," "Power of Mind-Mental Attacks," "Ki (Chi) Superconscious," and "Assertive Behavior, Repression, and Depression."
Grandmaster Marx uses Keichu-Do Martial Arts to teach Christian faith and values. We're proud to tell you about his new book.
You can purchase Martial Art Spirit from Fifth Estate Publishing.
"Those who set out to learn the exercise, do not misjudge the value of The Chinese Five Word Song."
Verses 133-134 of The Chinese Five Word Song
The Chinese Five Word Song is an unusual Christian Martial Arts book. The original 134 verses were written by a Taoist martial arts master a thousand years ago at the beginning of China's Sung Dynasty. It has been used for centuries as the primary manual for Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi Ch'uan Kung Fu.
Grand Master John Chung Li was a wonderful Chinese Christian who came to the United States in the late 1960's to share the Gospel of Christ and the health and self-defense principles of Hwa Yu T'ai Chi. Many of his students around the world called Mr. Li "preacher" because of his fervent belief in Jesus Christ. He used The Chinese Five Word Song as both a T'ai Chi Ch'uan manual and opportunity to share Christ. Mr. Li translated the Five Word Song from Chinese into English and wrote a powerful and insightful commentary on each verse. The Chinese FiveWord Song is an amazing document of tremendous value to Christian martial artists. It is also a wonderful testament of the love one man had for His Lord and Savior. It acts both as the foundational text of the principles that guide students of Hwa-Yu T'ai-Chi Ch'uan Kung Fu around the world and a tool for sharing the Truth of Jesus Christ.
GMAF is privileged to offer the insights to this phenomenal martial art and healthcare science through the publication of The Chinese Five Word Song. It is the first book in the Grace Martial Arts Fellowship collection.
You can purchase The Chinese Five Word Song from Fifth Estate Publishing.
Encounter The Warrior's Heart is about the philosophy of Shinsei Hapkido. It was written by the two Christians who know the system best: the Founder (Joseph Lumpkin) and the Director of the Shinsei Hapkido Federation (Daryl Covington), both members of GMAF. It is without a doubt one of the best martial arts books ever published. The almost 500 pages include insights to the history and philosophy of Shinsei, Christian meditation vs. Eastern mysticism, The Warrior's Heart, Winning Without Fighting, and the Ministry of Martial Arts (Mr. Lumpkin is also President of Karate for Christ International).
Encounter The Warrior's Heart also includes articles from some of the top martial arts teachers in the world today including Mark Barlow, Karl Marx, Erle Montaigue, Eddie Greydon, Joel Redmon, and Craig Hamm. Fariborz Azhakh, Charlaine Englehardt and Chris Dewey have excellent articles about teaching martial arts to children.
GMAF is pleased to share this wonderful book with you and we hope you will purchase a copy for yourself and your ministry. We believe you will find it to be an invaluable tool in your life and outreach.
You can purchase Encounter The Warrior's Heart from Fifth Estate Publishing.
Wendy Williamson is a wonderful author and martial arts educator. She has already given the Christian community a tremendous gift through her book Martial Arts: The Christian Way published by Agapy Press in 2002. Sensei Williamson is also a long-time GMAF member and we are thrilled to see her newest book published.
One of the most asked questions we've received at GMAF is about Christian Martial Arts class material. Sensei Williamson has answered the questions with Christian Martial Arts 101. It is a curriculum for Christian martial artists and Christ-centered martial arts classes and programs. The 101 lessons can be used as a personal devotional or as a curriculum for a Christian martial arts class. Sensei Williamson's experience as an educator is a tremendous time saver for busy Christian Martial Arts instructors who are looking for help in developing lesson plans for their classes. Sensei Williamson has done the work for us!
Christian Martial Arts 101 begins with an excellent assessment of various martial arts styles followed by the 101 spiritual lessons. GMF highly recommends the book for your own devotional use and for your martial arts class. Instructors will also want to get a copy of Christian Martial Arts 101: Instructors Edition. It has the same material as the student's copy, but includes great teaching resources in the back.
You can purchase Christian Martial Arts 101 from Agapy Publishing. They offer a 40% discount when ordering in quantities of six or more.
We also want to remind you of the many great Christian Martial Arts books published in recent years. The titles include The Warrior's Heart Revealed, Dark Night of the Soul: A Journey to the Heart of God, and Twelve Tribes of Mankind from Fifth Estate Publishing and Martial Arts: The Christian Way from Agapy Publishing.
Another Christian Martial Arts book you may want to consider for your library is A Biblical Perspective of Martial Arts by Robert Bussey. It is available from Amazon.com.
The West Virginia camp will be Labor Day Weekend, Sept 4th and 5th. For more info contact Adam Bradford at bigsifu@yahoo.com
For reservations to the lodge contact Twin Falls Resort State Park, Rt. 97 Box 1023, Mullens, WV 25882
(304) 294-4000 ...1-800-CALL WVA
E-mail: twinfallsinfo@wvstateparks.com
American Defensive
Arts Alliance / Karate for Christ
2004 "Week-end In The Woods (September 10-12)
Hickory, NC
Here's What You Need to Know!
Where is it?
Valley Haven Camp Retreat Center ("Camp Joy to the locals.)
7655 Valley Haven Dr., Hickory, NC
Valley Haven is a Christian facility located out in the country away from all normal distractions. The log cabins are bunkhouse style (1 for men, 1 for women) with fully equipped bath facilities.
When is it? Friday, September 10 through Sunday, September 12, 2004.
Phone Number? 828-328-3920. This is the camp phone and is unattended. If anyone needs to contact you, have them leave a message. We'll be checking it regularly. Also, be aware that due to the surrounding mountains, there is virtually NO CELL PHONE reception. There are a few specific spots where you can retrieve voice mail or MAYBE make a call. We think pagers work, but we're not sure.
What to bring? Registration Form for everyone under 18, it MUST be signed by a parent or guardian, or you will not be allowed to participate. Sorry...no exceptions. Towels and washcloths, linens for a twin bed, pillow and toiletries. Even on very warm days, the cabins can become chilly at night, so you may want to bring a light blanket, too. We'll have some snack food available, but if you want specific snacks or sodas, bring your own. Clothes for free time and hanging-out. (Sweats, t-shirts, shorts, whatever) Bathing suit towel, if you plan to use the pool. For work-outs, bring your gi, sparring gear, bo (if you want to work on a bo kata). Kicking-shields, handpads, etc. if you have them. Extra work-out clothes for an outdoor session in the grass. It WILL stain your gi. Optional: a videocamera for recording some of the teaching.
What's there to do during free time? Basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball, swimming pool (unheated), canoes and paddleboats in a pond, hiking, creek-walking, trampolines, porch swings, rocking chairs, and whatever else you can find.
Rules? No alcohol, illegal drugs or firearms. Treat the grounds and work-out areas as if they were your home/dojo. Treat each instructor as if he were your own Sensei. They have all worked very hard for years for their rank and position, and they deserve your respect.
Basic Proposed
Schedule
(Everything is subject to change)
Friday.
5:30 6:30pm
Check-in at the Lodge and get settled in.
7:00pm Welcome and introductions.
7:30pm Work-out session.
9:00pm Campfire Smores! Basic "down-time, relax, goof-off,
have fun.
11:30ish Let's try to get to bed and rest. We have a BUSY day
on Saturday.
Saturday.
7:00am Sunrise
Warm-up with Sifu Cox.
7:45 am Breakfast: Dianne's cooking a real country breakfast!
(There will be light
fare too, if that,s not your style.)
8:30am We begin with Dr. Daryl Covington.
Noon Lunch.
1:00pm More "fun with the Senseis.
3:00pm "Mini-tournament", forms, sparring, exhibition.
4:00pm Free time.
6:30pm Dinner.
7:30pm Let's go again.. are you tired yet?
8:30pm LET'S RELAX.. maybe a movie with popcorn, or personal time
with a
Sensei, or just sitting with ice on sore muscles!
??? Bedtime.
Sunday.
8:00am Breakfast.
9:00am Praise Worship.
9:45am One more work-out.
Noon Lunch.
Clean-up.
Free-time and head for home.
Expected instructors (subject to change):
Master Hank
Williams (8th Dan,Hard Hand Hapkido)
Dr. Daryl Covington (7th Dan, Shinsei Hapkido)
Michael Lewis (Shihan-Dai, Shito-Ryu and Goshin-Budo)
Master Thomas Collins (5th Dan, Heishin Bushidokai)
Sah Bohm Nim John Plyler (4th Dan, Tang Soo Do)
Sifu Lane Cox (Master Chinese Kempo, Jeet Kune Do)
Kyosa Nim Eric Vanderleek (3rd Dan, Tang Soo Do)
Kyosa Nim Curt Stock (2nd Dan, Tang Soo Do)
Seishin-Do
Karate Seishoku-Kai PRESENTS: " Putting On The Full Armour
(Ephesians 6:10-17)
Karate for Christ Clinic (18 September 2004)
The Clinic will Feature the following Master Instructors:
* Fred Thomason-Kyoshi,
Kaicho of the Silver Dragon Karate-do Union
Founder of the Ging Ryu-Ha ShuHaRi Shito-Ryu Karate-do System
( Session on: ShuHaRi Shito-Ryu Basics )
* Dr. Daryl Covington-Shihan, Kaicho of Karate for Christ International
Shinsei Hapkido System of Karate for Christ.
( Session on: Shinsei Hapkido )
* Butch Velez-Shihan, Kaicho of the American Goshin-Budo Association.
( Session on: Goshin-Budo )
** Velez-Shihan's appearance is pending at this time.
Special Added
Feature:
A demonstration by the "Little Archangel's Class, our children's
class of ages 4 - 9 years old.
The clinic will be held at the Seishin-Do Karate Seishoku-Kai, Honbu-Dojo ( In the Family Life Center "Gym ) Tabernacle Church of Norfolk, 7000 Granby Street, Norfolk VA 23505
DATE: Saturday,
September 18th
TIME: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
PRICE: $35.00 per person ( price includes lunch )
* Important Special Notice 1: No children under 11 year's age may participate in the clinic, due to the nature of this very demanding physical training.
* Notice 2: Lunch will be provided from 12:00 noon - 1:00 PM by Smokey's BB-Q. The price of lunch is included in the participation fee.
* Notice 3: I'm sorry to say "no overnight accommodations" have been arranged or planned for. Anyone that might be coming in from out of state, must make their own arrangement for overnight accommodations. If anyone needs a list of hotels in the area, please contact me and I will do my best to locate the most reasonable, but good ones for you.
For REGISTRATION AND WAIVER FORM information, please contact me via; email and I will email you one. Please make as many copies as you need for yourself and students.
P.S. => If anyone had mat's they can bring, please bring what you can. Be sure to mark (I.D.) them accordingly so we can identify them after the clinic. Thank you in advance.
God bless.
See you in September,
-Mike Lewis
Christian Forces
will be hosting it's 2nd annual Christian Forces Martial Arts
Tournament on Saturday, October 16, 2004 at the Sherwood Baptist
Church in Albany, Georgia. Tournament promoters are Sensei Joe
Morejon of Christian Forces and Sensei Mike Lee of Sherwwod Karate.
If you've been to our past tournaments, you know it will be a
great time of fellowship, sportsmanship, and fun! Events include
Traditional Forms, Traditional Weapons, Point Fighting, and JiuJitsu
grappling. Six Age Divisions (5-6yrs, 7- 8, 9 - 10, 11- 12, 13
- 14, 15 - 17). Three Places (First,Second,Third) Entry fee is
$10 per event. Registration Deadline is Sept 30th. Sorry, NO at
the door registration. To register online visit www.torukukai.com/tournaments.html or to register by
snail mail, email Sensei Joe Morejon for a registration form at
sensei@christianforces.org. Thank you for your
support and we hope to see you there! God bless you all!!
The 2004 Keichu Instructors Training Weekend will be held this October 22,23,&24th. We invite and encourage all of you to attend.
Follow this link to the online flyer: www.rapideskarate.com/training04.htm
If you have
any questions or need help making arrangements do not hesitate
to contact me at: info1@rapideskarate.com or (318) 641-1002
Thanks and look forward to seeing you all,
Danny Gilliland
January 15th and 16th there will be a HUGE seminar on the coast of Alabama. Mark Barlow will be hosting. I will be in charge of the Kid,s Camp. This is an opportunity for you to come and receive THE BEST QUALITY training on the planet, and to bring the little guys to a camp of their own! I think this will be the best seminar Karate for Christ has been involved in, period! You do not want to miss this one.
Some of the best Ju Jutsu, Ju Jitsu, Judo, Hapkido, Aikido, and Kung Fu practitioners on this third rock from the sun will be teaching, and the kids will have their own camp!!!! Simultaneously with the adult camp!!! Mark it down to come NOW, and we will see you there.
WOOSTER OHIO EVENT 2005
I am in the process of organizing a summer camp for Christian martial artists (non-Christian martial artist may attend as well) for the year 2005. Ideally it will take place at the beginning of June and held at or near my school's location in Wooster, Ohio. The camp will be open to all styles. We will concentrate on traditional Internal Chinese Martial arts training of tai chi chuan, ba gua chang, and wing chun. Instructors who attend might be allowed to bring some of what is taught at the summer camp to their school so as to add to their curriculum and draw more people to their school(s). In addition to physical training, mental and spiritual training will take place as well. Connections with biblical priciples will be intertwined with what is taught bringing more meaning to the training and perhaps a deeper understanding of the Bible. If you are interested in attending, please contact Martin Yoder at: wingchunner@yahoo.com or 330-466-3355.
God bless you all.
Martin Yoder
Many GMAF members have told us their favorite part of the monthly newsletter is Fellowship News. It's wonderful to see Christian martial artists praying for each other across the United States and around the world. No distance is too far for Christians. The instant we pray, God hears. We impact the lives of our brothers and sisters positively through our prayers. God answers prayer. It is pleasing to Him. Thank you for caring so much for each other!
Here are some of the notes of prayer and praise we received at GMAF the past two months.
Dear Friends,
I am writhing this message while being in Romania (Surduc) at the Eurasian Center for Inductive Bible Studies with my disciples, the instructors of Taekwon-Do Club "Stolas Leukas". While Mia and Costel Oglice, my teachers, teach all of us the course "Sex according to God", I give them a hard training for the II Dan Black Belt and also lead them in evaluating our activity for the past year and planning for the period September - December 2004 in order to have a more impact in spreading the Gospel in our country. Besides the groups the instructors are going to teach in 25 localities of the country which will include 1050 children, teenagers and youth, God gave us a vision to go to public schools and in the period September 2004 - May 2005 to teach the course "Sex according to God" to 25.000 pupils and students.
Radu Blendarenco,
the coach of "Tintasii" soccer team lead an intensive
training camp for his disciples in tents in the forest in company
with Taekwon-Do instructors and their disciples. The sportsmen
had a big growth in knowing God and their physical level, many
of them came to know Christ personally and one guy of the soccer
team has the desire to start doing mission forming a soccer team
in the kindergarten
in his village. Also, me and Radu will teach in September an seminar
for those who want to learn to do missions and evangelism through
soccer training.
Now, there
are running many of 73 bible study camps planned for 7500 students
as a project of Precept in Moldova for Summer 2004. Two weeks
was finished the English camp where came 230 participants to study
Joshua and Gospel of John. I am so thankful to our God for the
American brothers and sisters
who helped us to have this camps and also came to help by theirteaching.
As a result 20 students accepted Christ in their lives and 45
young Christians decided to enter Moldova Bible Institute in order
to be involved more in the Gospel. Veronica, one of the participants,
came from a Balabanesti village which is 7 km far from the camp.
Her mother, Liuba, teaches biology in the public school and she
was coming every evening to listen to the bible study and sermon.
Liuba said that she was asked by the principal of the school to
teach 9 hours of sexual education for teenagers, but they never
gave her a good material for this and when she found that we have
the course "Sex according to God" by Kay Arthur, she
asked for this books in order to teach this course to them and
to stop the growing immorality. Also, Liuba asked for an English
teacher to come and teach in their village English using Gospel
of John. One evening, Liuba came with another lady about whom
I was told was so desperate that she decided to go to another
country to practice there prostitution. (As I wrote you before,
out of 4.3 mlllion people of Moldova, 1.5 mlllion left the country
looking for jobs. According to unofficial statistics, among this
people there are 250,000 prostitutes and big majority of them
were forced to do this.) That evening, at the camp, I preached
about the faith and the changed life of Rahab. After the sermon,
I gave to that lady the book "Sex according to God"
and Liuba told us the next day, that she read the book all the
night and the next day came to Liuba saying that she abandoned
her bad plan. May God help us to bring His Word to all the women
who are in the same desperate condition.
In the month
of June, I had my final exams and thesis at the Theological Seminary.
While being there, Nastica, my wife, spent the time with the children
in the village and the kids eat a lot of cherry. On July 11 there
was our graduation in Curtici, Romania and I was very glad to
have there all my family, my
seminary teachers, my mentors Mia and Costel Oglice and many friends.
For the month
of September we pray and plan to have a session at the Bible Institute
of Moldova and to teach there Church Planting for the missionaries
who are involved in this ministry and for those who are
going to start working on church planting. May God help all of
us to have an big impact on the 800 localities of the country
where there is not yet an evangelical church.
Thank you for your prayer support. Also, let me thank all those who support our ministry by donations. Let me ask for your prayers and for financial support for the following needs:
1. Printing
of Bible study Workbooks. For September - December we need 20.000
books and the price for printing one copy is $1.5 - $3, depending
of the book. A donation of $100 will offer the possibility to
print and teach one bible course to a class in a public school.
2. Bibles - 5000 copies/$5 one
3. Support for missionaries - 150$/month
4. Vans for the ministry - 5
5. Sponsorship for camps - $65/student
6. Tents
7. Sleeping bags.
8. Sports equipment: soccer balls, soccer uniforms and shoes,
boxing gloves, Taekwon-Do equipment and uniforms.
9. LCD Projector
10. Laptop computers for the teachers of the Bible Institute.
They have to travel a lot to teach at the Bible Institutes of
Eurasia.
11. Desktop computers for the Evangelistic Computer School project.
May God bless you!
With love in Christ,
Vasile Filat
Director for Asociatia "Invatatura din Cuvant - Precept
Ministries pentru Moldova"
Ni hao!
It's so good to see other Christians doing Chinese martial arts! My name is Mike Sutherland. I'm the director of the Christian Wu Kung Association (htpp://home.earthlink.net/~cwka). I definitely want to join your fellowship - but I have something else that I must tell you about:
Our dream for the CWKA was always that one day we would own a retreat center where we could bring together Christian martial arts instructors to offer camps and seminars and to train Christians to use their skills for evangelism and discipleship. We now have that opprtunity. We are looking at a beautiful property just outside of Charlottesville, VA that includes an old church (a perfect training hall), a dormatory, a recreation building (sort of a ski chalet) aand a stone cottage. The buildings can accommodate around 50 people with several separate rooms and 4 small appartments. We are very excited about the property, but cannot qualify for the loan (the asking price is 1.2 million with a minimum downpayment of 240k), so we are looking for other like-minded groups who would like to be partners in this ministry.
Please circulate this info to your members and let me know very soon if you are interested.
May God bless you and your ministry,
Mike
Sutherland
Director
CWKA
Many of you have been praying for Karate For Christ CEO Joseph Lumpin. We are pleased to tell you he has improved greatly and is on his way to good health again. Thank you for your prayers.
(I know you will join us in praying for each of these Christian
martial artists, their families and ministries.)
We welcome these new members to Grace Martial Arts Fellowship.
Kuro Bushi Karate-Do Kempo
Trained by the late Grand Master Ferdinand T. Bigard Jr.
Owner of DELTA FORCE KARATE ACADEMY, New Orleans, LA
Winner 1977 Long Beach International Traditional Women Hard Style Kata and the Mardi Gras National Karate Tournament
Currently training with Grand Master David "Crowd-Pleaser" Blunt in the Art of Ju Bushi Do.
Member Kuro Bushi Kai Karate Do Kempo International and The All American Martial Arts Brotherhood
Master ... Choy Li Fut
Founder ... Jeng Chi Chuan
CWKA (Christian Wu Kung Association)
Website: http://home.earthlink.net/~cwka
School: CWKA Woodbridge Dao Chang
Location: Niagara
Shobukan
2621 Morse Ln.
Woodbridge, VA
Please let us know if you have moved, changed jobs, received a belt promotion, started studying a new martial art, started a Christian martial arts ministry, etc. We want to be sure your listing in the GMAF Internet Directory is all you want it to be.
You'll find every previous GMAF newsletter at http://www.gmaf.org/gmaf_newsletters.html . These newsletters are a gold mine of information about Christianity and the Martial Arts.
Please send us a picture and information about your martial arts ministry and we'll feature your group in an upcoming newsletter.
We'd like to hear from you! Let us know what you do in your martial arts ministry that you think is special and we'll share it with the Fellowship. Many members write us each month asking for guidance in developing and expanding their martial arts ministries. Please send your ideas to mmcgee@gmaf.org .
We appreciate your Fellowship in the Gospel of the Grace of God. We are praying for you and your opportunities to serve Christ. Please let us know about ways GMAF can help you in your service. If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving this monthly newsletter, please ask them to e-mail Mark McGee. We'll be glad to put them on our monthly mailing list.
If you would like to join Grace Martial Arts Fellowship ©, contact Mark McGee.
Grace Martial Arts Fellowship is a service of GraceLife Ministries ©.
