Open hands and open heart.  To some signs of weakness, to some signs of strength.   
I  continue to absorb as much as possible. 

My beginning  on this journey began when my youngest son  was a student of Master Mason
 and I was an observer.  The  atmosphere of Master Mason's class emitted through his senior 
students was irresistible.  I was drawn into the circle of  brotherhood and sisterhood first, 
before the study of  Kajukempo began.  This was a constant with Master Mason's  Dragon 
Cobra Te  organization.
  
I was never much to work toward the goals of  belts I was only interested in the knowledge.  
However, my first teacher Johnny Johnson would have no part of that and pushed.  Everyone 
else pushed, I absorbed, and  Mr. Mason kept giving me belts. Eventually he gave me a second 
degree black.   Soon after he needed to go away for a while and asked me to look over his class, 
school, dojo,  or whatever is the proper name for what he had built.  This was a very small thing 
to ask of me so I did it and was head instructor only temporarily while he was away.  Mr. 
James Hall was a constant rock who helped me for 6 years while we tried to spread the good 
news and change a few lives in the name of Master Mason's  legacy and  curriculum.  This was
 made possible through Morristown Parks and Recreation department making facilities available 
at Talley Ward building and before that at the old Sherwood School.  
 
My students, Mr. Hall and myself  finally put all the parts of the Dragon Cobra Te system on video.  
I made several copies for the students.  I plagiarized the heck out of  another video, magazine photos, 
 and personal photos.  It turned out pretty good.  It has all the katas, pinians, all the attack 
defenses (70+), butterfly circle, butterfly form,  some history, as well as turbo Tai Chi and Pa Kua forms. 
 I like it  but I know the director(lol).
 
I studied with Shihan Charles Allen during this period.  We trained in Sanuces Ryu for about a year.  
I tried to interject as much as possible the concepts of Sanuces into what I was teaching.    I feel 
Sanuces is for adults only so I was limited.  
 
I was awayŚ.  Now I'm back,  so let's go!   It's the best high you'll ever have.  All you have to do is 
think a little and move your body.  Yeah.  That means your butt can't stay in that chair and do it.
 

Sail-ing   -  A way to spend lots of money, work very hard, and go very s l o w