On February 6th, 2013, Jacob Thompson was awarded the rank of Full Instructor in Aneh Palu Kali-Silat.

Jake has been training with me for over a decade and has taken in the information, made it part of his daily life and turned into his own. He has a great way of teaching and while the material can be complicated at times, he makes it comprehendible.

I am honored to have known him and even more so to call him a dear friend and wish him the best. 

the downhill

We are moving into the final stages of having an official school location. The lease runs through March 31, 2013 and we will be spending march shutting down the school and moving things out. After that, we will be going back underground and returning to a more exclusive club with rotating locations.

I wish everyone a happy holiday season.

Summer's Over

It’s that time of year again! You could be headed back to college or this could be your first time away from home with no one’s rules to follow buy your own. You’re excited and nervous, scared but invigorated. This exciting journey can be full of fantastic memories and discoveries, IF you stay diligent about your personal safety. For you upperclassman, this is a good review of what you’ve been doing, right?

The following are a few simple rules to always keep in mind while you enjoy the next four amazing years.

• Drink responsibly. If you follow any of these rules, follow this one. You make yourself a very accessible target when you are intoxicated. Always be aware of your drinks –  even if you are drinking water or soda – an open drink is easy to drop something into.
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• Be aware of your surroundings. Texting and wearing ear buds also make you an easy target. Watch, listen and be in the now. Know where you are and be sure to stay in well lit, well traveled areas.
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• Secured buildings are secure for a reason – YOUR safety. Not to mention all the other people in the building. For that reason, do not leave outside doors propped open and make sure the door closes behind you.
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• Keep your own door locked as well. Even if you will only be away for a short period of time. Leaving your door unlock opens up your personal space and everything that is in it.
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• If your phone is not automatically equipped with ICE (In Case of Emergency) hot buttons, set it up manually. Most authorities know this is a common practice and will first look under ‘I’ if they need to get in touch with someone due to an emergency.
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• And last, and certainly not least, always let someone know your plans. A friend or a roommate’s knowledge of your whereabouts could help find you if you happen to go missing.

Be safe and be well!