This is scary

On gang mentality
http://www.policemag.com/Blog/Gangs/Story/2012/01/Message-From-the-Belly-of-the-Beast.aspx?ref=OnTarget-Thursday-20120105&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter

20 years ago

On January 15, 1992 I opened the Ft Myers, Florida studio on College Pkwy. It was about three months after I moved to Florida from a short stay in New Hampshire and two days after my brother-in-law Rudy dies of a heart attack. He left my sister, Mary and a one year old daughter, Serena. Serena's birthday is the 15th also and she's now 21. So we have two anniversarys.
     I stayed in Florida for 19 years and 11 months before relocating here to the Austin, Texas area. Just as I left Chicago and now Florida, when people ask me if I miss it I tell them no. But I do miss the people, a lot. I made and kept many friends in both places and I'm fortunate to be able to return somewhat frequently to see them. And the web has made it easier to stay in touch with those I don't get to see.
     Those places were good to me. I'm sure Texas will be, too.
This time of year gives me much to think about - a grown niece away at school now, a widowed sister, the time spent living and teaching and what's to come. Thanks again to all of you who made it such an interesting time.

Kenpo described as a drug

I was in the gym early this morning and saw another one of those commercials for medication in which the side effects seem to be worse than the condition they treat. That got me thinking, so I wrote this.

Epaksazine – organic treatment

Originally developed in Hawaii and California, now world-wide. Largely unregulated but high-quality manufacturers exist in small areas.

Taken internally and may be applied externally to a spectrum of life-threatening conditions or a localized pain in the butt. Best taken with fertile, prepared mind, a warmed-up body and hydration.

Affects mood, strengthens musculo-skeletal system, improves balance, stimulates the central nervous system and is known to reduce cognitive impairments.

Recommended dosage is 2x/wk. Consult with a qualified professional before starting a course.

Side-effects
 May induce headache due to terminology.
Bumps, bruises, muscle aches, occasional sprains or breaks are possible
No anal leakage but a foot up a passage is possible
May induce thoughts of homicide...

Inform friends or family of thoughts of satisfaction with Epaksazine. If they last more than four hours, you’ve probably been to a Lee Wedlake seminar.

Studies show regular and/or application of Epaksazine to be successful in treating altercations of many types.    

More bragging

One of my old-time Chicago black belts, Ed Bilski, just earned his private pilot license. That's a big achievement.
The neat thing is that Ed was taught by his daughter, a flight instructor at Lewis University. And she took her first flight with me while on vacation in Florida.
Good for you, Ed!

I have stuff

I got my hands on some original IKKA materials. I have three second-edition Accumulative Journal binders, some crest decals and crest pins. http://www.leewedlake.com/store.asp

I just added some Ed Parker books, too. Nunchaku Guide, Women's Guide, Basic Booklet, Infinite Insights 1,3,4,5 and Memories of Ed Parker.

Infinite Insights books and other Parker books are coming, too.

New article at www.leewedlake.com

I have posted the January article for subscribers at my site. The title is Time with Miyamoto, a little about his Book of Five Rings. Here's an excerpt. (This book cover is from a historical-based fiction work about his that is pretty good. Thanks to Tim McKenzie in NH for the steer.)

One statement he makes in the Book of Earth about what we today call cross-training is that you should be doing it. His reason is that you need to become familiar with what other systems do in the event you have to defend against it. I remember Mr. Parker telling me just that when I talked with him about how he selected the demos at his Internationals tournament. I saw some unusual stuff there and he said he wanted us to have an idea what they do in case we ever came up against it. We would not be surprised and therefore better able to handle it. That’s a page right out the Musashi’s book.  Some systems require their students to go get a black belt in another system in order to advance to the next degree in their system. Can’t say I like that idea. Today it’s the rage to do Mixed Martial Arts, which is another take on grabbing something from this and something from that and integrating it into what you do. Today’s MMA concept is not new, it’s just popular. Musashi says it “makes sense to study other arts”. He continues to say that we learn about ourselves by watching others. I take this to mean you either cross-train or at least carefully observe other systems. You’ll need a fertile, prepared mind for this. But taking a few years to get a black belt in something else is not what I hear him saying. He actually writes that a “kempoist should understand jiu-jitsu”.

A yearly subscription is $29 at www.leewedlake.com and click join LWKS

The new Journey book

A second version of The Journey is on its way. Also authored by Tom Bleeker, this one updates some biographies and adds international instructors. I was told that updates included were only for those who have been active in contributing to the system since the original book was published. Should be out in April.