Merry Christmas, is Humanity failing? Oh, and happy holidays….

With all the growing segregations and segregations within even more segregations, labels, factions, borders causing larger and larger gaps amongst people, rich and poor, races, men and women, religions, and even sexual orientations and with the ever growing selfishness, greed and individualistic lifestyles promoted and marketed worldwide…. Are we not indeed failing ourselves? Our future generations?

Future generations… this is a term that eludes so many as most live as if there will be no tomorrows to come with the mindset that the next generation will fix and repair the damage we’ve continuously caused to both ourselves and the very planet we live upon.

Fear of change coupled with selfishness, greed and laziness breeds indifference and indifference is what is hurting us all.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy new year, may God be with you, hope this year brings you the best, the purchase of gifts for loved ones and the purchase of gifts out of necessity for those that may get offended if they don’t receive, yet you really wouldn’t have gotten them a thing were it strictly up to you…

These are mere gestures we act out like a bunch of puppets on a string due to a national or international holiday based on fables and stories repeated from generation to generation, father to son, mother to daughter depending of course on where one was brought up. And these fables are only acted upon in certain times of the year, when guilt overrides an individual… we go to churches on Sundays only to forget everything we prayed for and promised the very following day as we walk by a homeless man or another in dire need.

We go to Mosques and synagogues and other temples to release and purge ourselves of our ‘sins’ and to pray to the very same God/universe that made each and every one of us; yet we hate, judge and condemn those that do not pray like us, look like us.

What is eluding most of us, is that all these fables were constructed by man in the hopes of unifying masses but in the end, create more hatred, segregation, war and death than any other entity or cause combined. War, hatred, death, racism, segregation, poverty…. All in the name of God.

And so the Christmas season is upon us again… and what have we done indeed? What are we doing? Christ preached love, peace and unity. He said it is better to give than to receive and though there are many that do and this isn’t about them, it is about all those that wear their crosses, go to church and pray every night who receive much, much more than they ever give or gave. It is about those that walk around wearing clothes totalling well over the 5 thousand dollar mark, wearing $4 thousand + watches driving in their 75 thousand + cars driving by and literally walking over homeless people on their way to and from work, dropping an occasional $20 or more in their cups to appease their underlying guilt that is mostly suffocated by their very own greed and need to fulfill their voids…

This is not judgement, this is fact. This can be seen much more often than not in all countries of this planet we live in, all cities, 3rd or 1st world alike.

One needs to as the picture states, define necessity. Where I live today, I see this on a daily basis… people driving by others in starvation in their multi thousand dollar vehicles. Day in and day I out I struggle with these issues for I do give and give allot on as many possible levels without allowing myself to reach the very own state of poverty I am trying to combat.

And some will argue that they do also give, and they do indeed give and do a lot of good for a lot of people who otherwise would have not received anything at all… but this isn’t about them. Though, to play devil’s advocate, yes, it is indeed about them as well because more can be done. Some of these ‘givers’ drive multi thousand dollar vehicles and live in extreme luxury. I however do not and am relying mainly on friends, family and cabs at this stage.

Rather than drive $75.000+ automobiles that consumes more oil and fuel than necessary and in turn depleting the earth of it’s vital resources, when there are entire cities and villages that don’t even have enough water to drink or bathe in, these people could be instead driving equally reliable cars for $25,000 or less and use the extra $50 grand + what is saved on fuel, insurance, etc. to build shelters for the needy. And if 50 people who own $75G+ cars pooled together and did that, then more villages can be saved, more of humanity can have their daily bread with a roof over their heads.

Too much to ask? “They deserve their riches because they worked hard for them??? How about all of the exploited children who work 21 hour days for less than pennies a day to make some of the very clothes these hard working rich folk deserve? Do they not count because they are out of sight and out of mind?

Does the following picture mean nothing to anyone?

Will you just look at it, say how horrible, click on the next page of your computer and forget it even existed? Will you deny that it is every single one of our responsibilities, perhaps even argue that fact? Will you go and hug your own child and say “Thank God?” but then, what kind of God do you pray too that you believe would allow you to be bestowed with the great gift of a precious child and the means to support that beautiful child yet deny and spit on others? Are we not all God’s children? Does the same energy that runs through you not run through every living thing, plant, animal and human combined?

Do we need luxury when half of us don’t eat for days or weeks? Is it fair in our hearts to vacation in 5 star hotels when half of us live daily in cardboard boxes? Is it not each and every one of us responsibilities? Is it enough to just give our $35.95 a month that gets taken off our credit cards to supposedly feed a hungry child half way across the planet? A child most will never meet? But that $35.95 allows us to perhaps sleep better at night, appease that continuously nagging feeling that we just can’t pinpoint deep in the corner of our souls… leaving us wanting more and more and more….

And so, if desired, if any of this made any sense to you, if you resonated at all with any of it then there is something everyone can do regardless of our positions in life.

It begins with ego. And that is the most difficult part because being human myself and as I am typing this right now, I am battling mine fiercely but I have been making this change step by step, little by little and I and my love Tania are well on our way… Tania Garby, my very first girlfriend back in 1986 which I reconnected 23 years later in late July of 2009 is one of those human beings who gives so much more than she receives, for reference of an amazing and inspirational story of selflessness and helping the less fortunate, please refer to our past blog article “The True Ripple Effects of Love and Selflessness” http://senshidointernational.blogspot.com/2009/08/true-ripple-effects-of-love.html

And so self defense truly does begin with the self… it begins with dealing with our very own personal demons, tackling our arch enemy, the ego… and fundamentally understanding at the deepest of all levels that we are all one. There is no greater gift than changing a human life for the better, than improving and providing another with the tools to excel, survive and thrive and I am not talking about street fighting or personal protection here, I am talking about sharing ones love with a stranger in need.

And so this holiday season, and all seasons, make an effort and lend a helping hand, a friendly ear, to someone in need, don’t just give a homeless man money to eat, take him out for a meal, sit with him and break bread with him. Sell your 500 thousand dollar home, purchase a $200 thousand dollar home and use the extra $300 thousand to build a shelter or provide education to those who lack it, instead of watching TV for 4 hours a night every night after work, volunteer somewhere you can make a difference in someone’s life, raise money for the needy and take the time yourself to go out there and help them make the best of it because simply giving to organizations such as the Red Cross or others doesn’t ever guarantee the needy receive the money as for the most part, they do not, case in point, Thailand, after the Tsunami hit, thousands donated to the Red Cross for the survivors, the survivors received nothing… the government kept it all….

Do not count on the powers that be, they too are human, count on yourselves, make the differences with your hands, see it with your own eyes, I can promise you that nothing is more enriching than saving another human life because I have done it and continue on doing it every single day. There is nothing more rewarding than that… and if this does not resonate with you, if none of this sounds right… then keep doing what you’re doing…

Once again, I leave you with the good Mother Theresa’s words:

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centred;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

And with that said, have yourselves a very merry Christmas, joyful and peaceful holidays and a fantastic new year and remember;

Peace is a state best always kept and not just during holiday season; may one and all achieve and maintain peace in your hearts and souls for all time...

Sincerely,

Rich, Tania & the Senshido International Team

Christmas and Holiday Specials!

10% of all Senshido profits go to charity.

Purchase any 3 DVDs/books from our collection and get another single (no packages) DVD/book Free of charge.

DVDs: http://senshido.com/sshp1_1.html
Books and manuals: http://senshido.com/sshp3_2.html

This special ends on January 1st 2010, NO EXCEPTIONS. And no, we are not going to backtrack either, it starts today, not last week or yesterday so please don't ask ... Place your orders through orders@senshido.com or call 514-312-5713 to order directly.

Thank you and a merry Christmas and happy holidays to one and all.

Peace.

Calm. Reduced fear. Managed the situation.

Some time back, I had a guy who became interested in Senshido so I started training with him, giving him private instruction. He had already seen and heard of what we teach prior to training with me. But as I tell people to see it and actually do it are two different things. He was blown away with the efficiency of the physical as well as behavioral, emotional and psychological training. After a few sessions he asked if he could talk with me about something that was on his mind.

Sure, I say. . . What’s up?

He asks me if I can train his sister. Sure, I say.

He goes onto telling me that her confidence is so low and she doesn’t know what to do as she is in an abusive relationship with her husband. I asked him if there was physical abuse to which he replied no. He said it was all mental – telling her she is stupid and she is not worth anything (not the exact wording he used) and things of that nature. I understand that sometimes the deepest cutting blows are not the physical – they are often the psychological. The mental beat down those words can do often leave lasting bruises and scars long after the physical injuries heal. I was very concerned about her. She was concerned because she thought it might get eventually get physical. This is always a concern in these types of situations however I thought she needed strengthing in the psychological and emotional areas of training.

I had a seminar coming up and I told he needs to have her there. When I met her at the workshop which her brother also participated in, I could tell her spirit was broken and she needed that area to be addressed. In that workshop we worked on the psychological, physical behavioral and emotional aspects of personal protection. In less than 3 hours, I could see the transformation take place. Her confidence was up and her desire to intelligently handle confrontations appeared to have increased. At the end of the day I told her I wanted to check in on her from time to time and if she needed me to call, regardless of the day or time. So, after about a month I sent her an email to see how she was doing. Although she the workshop she participated in was an introduction to personal protection this is what she said:

“I had an ugly scene (with the estranged husband) a few weeks ago. Things never got physical, but I believe with the knowledge I gained from your seminar that I would be able to handle it if things did get physical helped me stay calm and manage the situation. For me, the hands-on, realistic combat situations were more helpful than the contrived settings I have experienced in other training. I really feel that just the single seminar with you drastically reduced my fear of physical conflict.”

I told her I was glad that what she learned helped her avoid any harm situations and to please keep in touch.

Calm. Reduced fear. Managed the situation. Realistic combat situations. She stayed calm so she could manage the situation and her fear and if it became physical, she had realistic training that she could count on too.

Additionally, her fear was reduced to the point that she eventually moved out and is living a much more happy and prosperous life. Not a Shred or a blow exchanged. She side stepped the physical by using other tools and realized her strength as a human being was not rooted in Shredding her husband.

Hey, can you see me smiling through the Internet?

Glenn Wilson

Senshido International

Washington DC Metro Area

Back to our true roots, our higher selves...

I have just spent 4 days amongst Israelis, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists breaking bread, conversing, playing music and singing together in harmonious peace under the magnificent sky of the Sinai desert in Egypt on the borders of Israel and Jordan.

Being surrounded by silence, peace and all of nature’s elements, sleeping under the moon and starlight, it was once again reaffirmed to me the very nature of my work and the roads I have travelled and hells I have endured to get me where I am today.Being away from technology and living amongst people from varying cultures and religions has indeed taught me much and enforced the truth that technology unfortunately clouds us, constantly distracting us from our higher selves bombarding us with materialism and feeding the ego a constant buffet of lies.

I believe Mother Teresa said it best when she said:

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

Though I am by far not religious or faithful to any one faction, I do believe that spirituality is universal and less limiting, more accepting and carries a greater understanding of the collective-centric. I do not personally believe in personifying God as God is energy, the very energy of life and love and not a judge or jury or great commandeer of our lives…

I have personally stopped watching television in 2005 after my first divorce. TV was nothing more than a haven from the truth, from real life and from connection with other our and other souls… we now live in a world where thinking, analyzing and questioning is becoming taboo whether hidden in the wise brainwashing of marketing and media in first world countries or blatantly in your face corruption in third world countries but make no mistake about it, it is there whether cleverly disguised and sold and bought by the public or forced down our throats.

I have a close friend who as soon as he wakes up in the morning has his radio on, television on and computer on before lighting his first cigarette. And he falls asleep the same way… the constant distractions keep him from having to face his mundane life of robotically working from 9 to 5 for someone else, contributing nothing of value to himself or anyone else in the grand scheme of things for that matter and all his hard work is going into making someone else rich while he does make a decent salary… the problem is, he is working 50 weeks a year in a lifeless job in order to be able to escape that reality he created for 2 or 3 weeks of sunshine and relaxation on some beach outside his chosen country. Then it is right back to the mundane torture of everyday living a meaningless existence filled with "stuff".

I personally know successful actors, actresses, rich businessmen, etc. and I watch them self destruct at the deepest of levels while fighting and literally arguing for their painful realities. A few of these particular people wake up in the morning with a glass of vodka orange juice and a cigarette for breakfast yet by all intents and purposes, they seem or believe or are believed to ‘have it all’… wealth, fame, material possessions beyond most means… yet you look inside their eyes, their souls, and you find a vast abyss of emptiness. An emptiness they constantly try and fulfil with yet more technology, more material goods, bigger, better ‘things’… and there is where the ego’s biggest lie resides… in the false belief that the more 1 has, the more 1 gains, the better off 1 is… notice the lonely number 1… some of these people live in multimillion dollar homes. Homes of which they’ve never even visited half the rooms of in months or years perhaps… yet they are there… filled with every possible gadget and latest technology and most, admittedly so, are surrounded by false friends who no longer would be around were they to all of a sudden lose these fortunes…

Another friend of mine unfortunately cannot even comfortably hang around with a group of friends he introduced me too when the conversation goes beyond stand up comics, quoting movies and songs or the latest technological piece of equipment he can purchase and add to his collection… when the conversations begin to reach greater depths, he is the first to turn his back and bury his face into the internet and YouTube living vicariously through other people’s successes. The minute the conversation in the room silences for a second or two, he literally jumps at the opportunity to show us another stand up comedian on YouTube. Yes it is funny stuff, yes I do enjoy laughing as laughing is one of the greatest healers and soul cleansers but to use it to hide from our higher self is in my most humble of opinions, a crying shame.

Another good friend of mine who is in his early 40’s wants to get himself a motorcycle and has been urging me to join him in this venture… though the thought of owning and riding a Harley is definitely ‘inviting’, I can think of much better and more fulfilling things to do with my money and time at this stage of my life than to boost my ego with a Harley Davidson bike. Not that there is anything wrong with owning a Harley, not at all, but as long as these things are not compensating for our higher purpose.

It’s unfortunate that most need material objects, styles, and the like to define who they are as indeed it does to a certain extent define 1, it defines 1 to a large extent as insecure (as without these things 1 would feel a lesser man/woman), and as empty (as these things artificially and temporarily fill a void) and do not; as 1 would believe or have the ego make us believe, that we are indeed “better, happier people” with these things.

Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara said:

"The amount of poverty and suffering required for the emergence of a Rockefeller, and the amount of depravity that the accumulation of a fortune of such magnitude entails, are left out of the picture, and it is not always possible to make the people in general see this."

I couldn’t agree more. And one needs to look deeper than the socio-political-economical side of it.

The black and white truth of the matter is humanity literally only needs 5 things to survive more than happily on this earth and these things are as follows:

1. Love.
2. Shelter.
3. Food
4. Air
5. Water

Period. That’s it. That’s all we need. And I stress the word “need”… as everything else anyone can ever think of is no longer a need but becomes a desire… as needs are necessary for survival and fulfill the higher self and desires are necessary for the ego.

Does this mean all should live in poverty along the lines and life of Mother Teresa? Perhaps. Perhaps not. That is a personal choice but divine, pure and unadulterated fulfilment comes from the bettering and improving of another life. As the good mother Teresa once said, unless love is among us, we can kill ourselves with work and it will only be work, not love. Work without real love is slavery.

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” ~ Mother Teresa

And unfortunately the belief is that the more we have, the more we will be loved and unfortunately, many have subscribed to this false truth and are out there collecting and working to collect more and more ‘things’ in the hope of finding that love, that acceptance but the artificialness of it all still leaves them with a void inside, a bitterness of sorts and an underlining anger which more often than not result in some form of violence and abuse weather to themselves or towards others around them, weather they are aware of it or not.

I know this because I have lived this. I lived it for a long and painful time and I couldn’t fathom that the pain was self induced, was indeed, my doing and not the world’s, not the powers that be, not those that I believed spited me in whatever form I deemed… and now that I have lived through it, made my realizations, came to terms and became fully accountable for my own choices, my own life and all of my mistakes, failures as well as successes and fulfilments, I have found myself again, I have found myself amongst the rest of us, humanity… a whole… and sadly, those that are still stuck where I was cannot see this reality yet, perhaps some never will and I fully understand it because I too once was them and fought it tooth and nail.

But the truth now is, I am no longer enslaved by my anger and my anger no longer permeates hatred for I once hated venomously many a folk and many a things… and this hatred no longer exists inside of me, I can honestly say that now and feel it with every fibre of my being. And since this shift was made, which is still an everyday battle, make no mistake about it, but one that I am winning much more often than not for we are human and we will forever be plagued by a duality of right and wrong, light and dark, higher self and ego…. It is the ones we feed that will thrive and govern our lives, there will always be a choice and we will always make this choice.

The Sinai desert has reinforced much of this for me, the elements of water, wind, sun and earth surrounding me was replenishing beyond belief and one cannot fathom just how much the everyday rat race of the city truly damages the soul… it is the yin and the yang of life and the balance must be maintained. Thank you Sinai, nature and universe...

Peace out folks… for now… ;`)

Who should we fear most?

Self defense... we worry about the random attacks, we worry about criminals, rapists and the random violence out there and train hard for it perfecting our techniques, athletic abilities and such but there is a much greater threat. There is the threat that comes from the powers that be, the pharma and medical cartels, the FDA etc. We are being lied to constantly and our lives put at risk for pure profit, power and wealth.

The lies and bullshit about vaccins, prescription meds and chemicals being put into our genetically modified foods designed to make us sick and dependent on more pharmaceuticals has got to be put into light for those to see and make their minds up from there...

Do what you will with the info, knowledge is power.

Senshido for Kids

I recently did a session with a couple of co-workers kids on self-defense. I took them through pretty much the same things I would if I was training adults but of course making it more applicable for their situations.

The most important part of the session to me was not going through stranger danger type scenarios but bullying. It wasn't even so much as to how to deal with bully as much as it was on not being a bully. Just because you may not be "The Class Bully" but you could be a bully to someone. So, we were able to focus on what that meant how important it is to be a strong person with good ideals.

We also went over on what it meant to be mature and how to develop into a mature person such as communication with your parents. Understanding the your parents love is the closest thing you will get to uncomditional love and it is important to talk with your parents about everything. Their is no reason to keep secrets from your parents because they are always going to love you. For the girl closer to her teens we went over the fact that if you feel like you are adult enough to try drugs, sex, drinking, etc.... then you are adult enough to talk to your parents about all of those things first.

I ended it with letting the kids and parents know that communication is very important in maintaining a good relationship with one another and that this relationship will keep you safe. There us a lot more that I got into and yes I did cover some physical drills but I felt it so important as I do with adults that we really focus on the being a good person.

If we start training more kids now hoe much easier will it be later in their and our lives.


Dominic Alexander
Senshido International
Tucson, Az

Reducing the rape and violent crime statistic worldwide since 1994

With a Woman's Movement group in Heliopolis Egypt

Since our arrival in Cairo Egypt, we've been working with international women's movement's Girls Gone Gorgeous, the Association for Women's Total Advancement & Development (AWTAD) and The Association for the Development and Enhancement of Women (ADEW) to bring forth education and information on the empowerment of women in Egypt.

For a seminar clip on Facebook, click on or cut and paste the following: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/video/video.php?v=166802962739&ref=mf

Thank you.

Senshido Team member Wesley Deriquito Interview

A great intro to Montreal Canadian International Team member Wesley Deriquito, a fantastic instructor with heart and passion.

News, updates & upcoming UK seminar

From left to right: San Francicso Bay Area Team member Ted W., Montreal Team members Wesley Deriquito, Kenny Ramsahai, Rich and Nanaimo British Columbia Jeff "The Libman" Liboiron

Rich will be teaching his successful Walk The Talk Seminar for the first time ever in the UK, AT our place Unit 2C Little London rd in Sheffield this coming November Sunday 15th 2009.

This seminar delves deeper into enhancing perception time, decreasing reaction time, dealing with & managing powerful emotions and the adrenal stress condition phase, enhanced (auditory and visual) awareness, Senshido’s Emotional Invocation Drill, the complete Opportunity Drill and much more.

The seminar will be 12-5pm and cost £50, Rich is staying with us all week, so anyone needing or interested in private lessons, this can be arranged (evenings only).

Please contact us for more details or bookings at info@kapapsheffield.co.uk or call 07732 744188 for more info.

Thank you and hope to see you there.

Craig & Debbie Welsh

We'd also like to welcome 2 new additions to the Senshido International Team, Jeff "Libman" Liboiron & Ted W. Two amazing human beings full of heart and passion.

Soon to join the Senshido Team as well will be Germany's Norbert Mataush who's been working with our Belgium Team.

Richard Dimitri is now officially residing in Heliopolis, Egypt with a working contract for a private security company and has also opened up a 3x per week, monthly group class training sessions which he will be running with his assistant Amir Latif while still globe trotting spreading the Senshido Movement worldwide.

Richard Dimitri and Senshido International Headquarters new telephone number: 514-312-5713, all other information, website, email etc. are the same as before.

The first Senshido International Charity Event which occured in 8 countries/9 cities was a success, with many lives changed and over $11,000 (equivalent to US currency) collected for charities and families stricken by poverty. Though we were aiming for much more, it was our first one and we, with your help, are aiming to do better next year. A huge thank to all who particpated and donated to help us help others.

An Excellent Documentary: The Union.

An eye opening and very revealing documentary on the truth behind Marijuana.  Break the myths, break the propaganda, educate yourselves and above all.... Enjoy:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9077214414651731007&ei=qUqwSrCsJYjwlQfz6eS_Ag&q=%22The+Union%2C+the+business+of+getting+high%22&hl=en#

Help us help a friend...

Hi, my name is Jennifer.

I have made a film on OCD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is a low budget film but well made. I need funds to have the post editing done so I can present it to the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Foundation as well as to organize a screening of the film for family, friends and hopefully influential persons working in the field of OCD. My goal is to make available this film to treatment centers, psychologists and whoever could benefit from it. I would be very grateful for any financial help that you could give me. If my limit is not achieved, the money is refunded to those who contributed.

Yours truly, Jennifer

http://www.fundable.com/groupactions/groupaction.2009-09-03.0213178230

UK Sheffield England Senshido Intl. Walk the Talk Seminar Nov. 2009!

Rich will be at our place Unit 2C Little London rd Sheffield this coming November Sunday 15th 2009.

The seminar will be 12-5pm and cost £50, Rich is staying with us all week, so anyone needing a private lesson , this can be arranged ( evenings only ).

Rich will be teaching his successful Walk The Talk Seminar for the first time ever in the UK! This seminar delves deeper into enhancing perception time, decreasing reaction time, dealing with & managing powerful emotions and the adrenal stress condition phase, enhanced (auditory and visual) awareness, Senshido’s Emotional Invocation Drill, the complete Opportunity Drill and much more.

Please contact us for more details or bookings at info@kapapsheffield.co.uk or call 07732 744188 if you need moe infoThanks and details will be on our website.

Thanks

Craig, Deb and Cala.x

The true ripple effects of Love & Selflessness...

(The villagers/Tsunami Victims standing on their new platform)

(Sophie building away at the platform for the Tsunami victims of Thailand)

(Tania helping the villagers build the platform as Cyrille supervises.)

(From left to right: Cyrille Richard, Semer, Sophie, May & Tania Garby helping the Thailand Tsunami Victims in 2004)

My name is Tania Garby, and here's a little story for you to smile at! In 1986, I dated a guy named Richard Dimitri who happened to be my first ever boyfriend; I was 15. We lost touch for 23 years and he found me again on facebook last year which made us reconnect this past July in Jasper & stronger than ever. Rich is the reason why I'm here today writing, as he brings out the best in me and makes me grow at a rate I didn't think existed. I told Rich the story you're about to read and he insisted I write it down...when I say "insisted", I mean it! :)

December 2004, the Tsunami hit a big part of Thailand leaving thousands of people homeless with lost lives of loved ones. Before it created this chaos, my friend Sophie and I were planning a Thai dinner for the Jasper community in Alberta, looking to give the proceeds to a charity. Then, the Tsunami hit a big part of the Khao Lak coast in Thailand, not too far from Phuket. We decided that the money we’d raise would go towards the victims of the Tsunami.

When the word was out, Treks and travel (local travel agency) generously donated a ticket for us to go to Thailand so we can bring the proceeds ourselves and directly help people in need. (We shared the costs of the other ticket.) We manage to raise $3500 that one evening with donations and proceeds from the dinner. The whole $3500 was to be spent in helping the ones in need.Our goal was to make a difference in at least one family.

At first, not knowing where to start, we made sure the monks had clean water to wash and drink for a while. Then, we asked Pong, the guy that owned the guest house where we stayed at, if he knew anyone in major need of help. Pong witnessed the Tsunami, saving many lives. His heart is made of gold; everyday, he was looking for ways to help someone; we couldn’t have done this much of a difference without him! A man named Semer and his wife were people he knew for a long time. Semer was one of the few vendors selling eggs and chicken at the market. His wife had a little stand of “Pa loe” (5 spice steamed pork). They had savings but kept them in their bungalow, like most people do in Thailand; then the Tsunami hit leaving them empty handed in every way.

They had debts towards the chicken farmer and the egg farmer. We asked what would Semer do if he had money, he replied that he would pay his debts first, of course; then he would build platforms under their house. The government had provided them with temporary housing; a very basic room made of tin sheets on pillars with just enough room underneath to stand up. Since the ground was clay, and the monsoon was just around the corner, building platforms was a priority. These would allow them to cook and hang out with friends and neighbors while staying dry.

First, we went with Semer and his wife to both farmers and paid their debts. His wife was often crying of joy and disbelief. We also bought Semer’s wife new dentures, as hers were cracked and she couldn’t eat properly. We then built platforms with Pong’s help, knowledge and generosity; he’s an angel himself! We met a carpenter that was volunteering for the Mercy foundation and gathered a few of the Thai people from the little “village” to help us help them.

Lunches were brought out in the morning, since money was no longer an option and the government wasn’t providing enough food for everyone.

After we returned to Canada, I met someone that had just come back from Thailand; as I was browsing through his pictures, I saw the same platforms we had built but somewhere I didn’t recognize. Happily of the ripple effect, I exclaimed how cool it was that they continued what we had started. “It’s you!” he said with a big smile on his face. He then informed me that once we had left, some volunteers continued building platforms throughout the entire village, that was extending down a little hill. The story then states that a generous man came along and bought fridges for each family! I wasn’t there to witness it, but if this is true, good on him!

To see there are many of us out there that reach out to help someone gives me hope and makes me wanna be an even better person. Through actions, the intention is to make this world a better place...thanks Rich! You’ve had a huge impact on my life to this day, and I believe you always will!

Again, thank you love!
Tania

A time for Change...

For those that have been following our work pre 2005, you’ve probably noticed a bit of a shift in Senshido’s approach and philosophy over the last 4 or so years. Senshido has shifted from being what has come to be known as a Reality Based Self Defense System (RBSD, a term that I and many others feel is redundant but understand the need to differentiate in the industry from the Traditional Martial Arts, TMA, and Mixed Martial Arts, MMA) to also becoming a world wide Movement for Peace and Unity.

2005 Was a defining and monumentally significant year for both Senshido and I. My world as I knew it then, had collapsed from under me (much of course to my doing). I was to undergo tremendous change within a 4-year period…. I went through 2 divorces, 1 marriage, 2 heartbreaks, a few backstabs, loss of 2 homes, 2 lawsuits, an intense rekindling, 6 moves, the sale of the Senshido School itself, a shedding of an old skin & soul and a final move coming up in October leaving North America for an indefinite period of time. Quite a bit for a 92-month period…

Through out these trials & tribulations, something else happened… I also began to change, to see the world from an entirely differing perspective; I let go of the egocentricities and began focusing on the collective-centricities. I began seeing the bigger picture. I started to understand that humanity, is not a mass of individuals but a collective… and through that shift, Senshido began to change with me. I saw life as a singular energetic entity and not a vast sea of individual lives, species and races… but one single, driving energy lead by love.

Senshido the RBSD system is now and has always been really, the vehicle we (our International Team) use to reach people. It has also become, as stated at the end of the first paragraph, a worldwide movement for peace and unity, for tolerance and acceptance and ultimately for the message of love. Love, the moving and driving force that should be guiding us all…

And so Senshido’s International Team is growing and is comprised of those who teach and spread the Senshido way of life through the RBSD/Martial arts industry and those that spread Senshido’s Movement of Peace & Unity through their own every day chosen vocations, not having anything to do with the combative aspects that has brought us worldwide fame. Senshido has expanded much beyond the RBSD/martial arts realm today.

I began to understand that our worst enemies are a very huge and indeed, identifiable part of us. The Ego. The ego is also, unfortunately the primary driving force in most first world societies today. The ego is responsible for pride, racism, jealousy, insecurity, fear, hatred, anger, stress, pain, individualism, selfishness etc. The higher self however, is responsible for love, unity, coexistence, compassion etc. the higher self knows no fear, as it understands its place in the grand scheme of life.

And as ego is the primary motivational drive of all confrontations, Senshido began addressing the individual’s own emotional state (fear, stress, anger, hatred) as the springboard of defense for anyone harbouring any or all of these ego based emotions should be more concerned about the damage they are causing themselves and their loved ones be it directly or indirectly, it will always be worst than anything any “bad guy” or criminal will ever do to us. The simple understanding on a higher level of this concept alone is empowering enough to change one’s entire life for the better.

Going from the perspective of Self Defense for Self Development, Senshido and I yet continued to evolve… our testimonials went from thank you for the skills that helped survive a violent confrontation to thank you for changing my and my family’s lives. This set me off on a new direction again. I wanted to reach people way beyond the Shredder, way beyond the psychological or behavioural self defense arsenals… though these are still the foundational source of our vehicle in reaching the masses as we have a worldwide audience through DVDs, magazines, the internet and our International seminars.

I wanted to start a revolution, a peaceful one… this, after much ‘va et vient’ with my team and a select group of trusted friends and family, turned into us wanting to continue an Evolution as opposed to starting a revolution. An Evolution started long ago and lead by people like Jesus Christ, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, John Lennon & Yoko Ono, Bono, Lady Diana, Martin Luther King etc. We all live in this world, someone once said to me, you are either moving towards love or away from it... by every word, every action, every intention.

And more we began to do… a legacy project had already begun, I just needed to define it and focus on the ripple effects of it all. This is because legacy work is different from other good, solid and valid work. If you want to create something that will provide tremendous value to others and outlast your own life, you have to be able to clearly answer the question, “How will this really help humanity?” For most of us, asking this question can be difficult because it may cause us to realize just how little we do that has only insignificant long-term importance. It may reinforce that burning feeling we all have in our guts that we try to quell through various means but never succeed, and that is because it is greater than you and I.

Guess what happens when you make something greater than yourself… You re-awaken into life. You re-connect to this amazing source of energy that was always previously available to us only we had no idea how to achieve it… Work for collective liberation, because everyone's liberation is tied to each other's. If we are going to be free, we all need to be free… not a city, not a country, but the whole damn planet.

Hope, I realized, as I wrote to a good friend of mine on Facebook, resides in each and everyone of us... but as long as we all simply wait for the other to take action, nothing ever gets done... this is why people must unite worldwide and begin living the changes they want to see, becoming those changes regardless of adversity or perceived threat from the status quo... and Senshido International would like to offer a platform, a venue, a way for those like minded to unite and spread that message as there is power in numbers and as Pink Floyd prophetically sang on their “Wall” album in their song “Hey You”… “Together we stand, divided we fall.” And not as a nation, not separate from any other human being, but internationally… standing together world wide for the greater good of humanity.

Some may look at this and think or feel, too big a goal, impossible… why even bother? Or I have no time to contribute, no money to contribute… etc… but I have seen the changes, I have felt the ripple effect of our movement and the lives that it has already saved, empowered and enriched from the simplest of acts…

It takes little time and requires no money at all… it is the difference between living in our egos (how will this affect, effect, benefit me) as opposed to living in our higher selves (how will my actions affect, effect, benefit humanity, even in what I may perceive as the tiniest of ways…) as even the smallest, tiniest of things that may seem trivial to one, can enhance, enrich or even save another human beings life.

Acts any where in between such as those selflessly done by the people of our Good Deeds thread http://senshido.savi.ca/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3129, which in turn saved a life and gave many others a renewed faith in humanity causing them to go out and commit selfless acts; or on a grander scale such as my soul-mate’s Tania Garby and her friend Sophie’s when they raised $3500 for the Tsunami victims of Thailand and flew there personally themselves to help a family rebuild their lives, in turn creating a ripple effect that affected the entire village giving them hope and belief in the human race. People from all over the world got together to lend a helping hand out of the goodness of their hearts without wanting anything in return.

And so our short term goals are to spread awareness and as mentioned earlier, join with like minded people world wide, get them to actively help us spread the good word... we do this through our actions, we lead by the front and by example and we also appreciate the fact the we are far from perfect, that we have and will make mistakes along the way.

We’re not delusional about this, we only want to be a part of the chain of people that have come before us (Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Lennon, Lady Diana, Martin Luther King Jr. to name a few) to make a difference and create a monumentally loud enough noise world wide about it so that it attracts like mindedness and the ripple effect just spreads...

We’re not looking for free money or investors or to make a profit on this, as a matter of fact, 10% of all Senshido materials sold go into personally helping a less fortunate family in need struck by medical and financial problems... we’re looking for simple things like the spreading of our Good Deeds thread on our forum that has saved a life, our International charity event, etc. these are contagious things... we're the first to have tagged "Self Defense for Self Development" in the RBSD field and already I've seen someone begin "Personal Protection for Personal Development"... it spreads and that's a good thing when a good thing spreads... we want people to “rip off” our ideas... we want people to selflessly spread good... we just want to unify them under one umbrella and give them a sense of "togetherness" world wide as there is strength in numbers and people feel more empowered when they know they are fighting for a positive cause that is also internationally followed....

So if this resonates with you, if you would like to help us spread our movement, simply join our forum, facebook page and blog, help spread our message and know that 10% of any purchase you or anyone makes through Senshido International goes directly into helping a family in need. Help us network regardless of where you are in the world… share your stories with us, with others, spread your love as a little always goes a long way with the right intention and energy behind it.

And so I am still in transition with all of this, I am still developing this ideology more and more as days, weeks and months go by and everyday there is a new revelation, every day I discover or rediscover something that shifts my focus and evolves the direction in which I and Senshido are going… I understand this maybe and is definitely frustrating to some, but this makes it also quite revealing… and so I thank you for your patience during this transition, I Thank you all for reading and understanding, I offer my apologies to those that disagree or maybe disappointed in this new direction, however, this is much bigger than you and I. ;`)

Most sincerely,
Rich

For Carla - One of Senshido's Fighting Angels.

From Left to right: Trigs & Carla, Les, Adam and Ville 2004

Carla & Trigs, Helen, Rich, Deb and Alain (Spiff) 2004

Adam, Ville, Les, Helen, Alain, Rich, Trigs & Carla

I have been trying to find the time to sit down and write an article or two for our blog and have struggled to get around to it or think of something that maybe of interest or inspiring for others to read. When I do finally decide on a topic I tend to write it and then re-write it about 15 times which usually takes a week or two before I am happy for it to be read by others. Although I have to admit that I am never totally satisfied with the end product and know I could of done better. I suppose it is the perfectionist in me.

It is with great sadness that I have made myself find the time to sit at my desk and write this about a good friend that as I type has been given only days to live. I do not have the luxury of constantly re-writing it as I hope she gets to have it read to her before her time comes to an end on this planet or in the form she now holds.

I suppose life is the same, we get one shot at it and hopefully we make a difference or at least have a life worth remembering and at the very least we hope to be remembered by family and friends once we have gone. Carla please know I, the other Senshido Team members and your family and friends will always remember you and will keep you alive in our minds and hearts. Know that I will always be there for your family Trig and the your beautiful children and when asked about you I will share and remind them of all the fun times and laughs we shared. Obviously a lot of people on the Blog may not have had the opportunity to meet Carla and I’d like to share a few memories……….

I remember the first time I saw Carla, we had just finished teaching a Shredder seminar at the Tokei dojo in London when amongst the 65plus sweaty men faces appeared this gorgeous looking, long legged blonde with a smile on her face. She seemed to be looking for someone and stupidly I thought she had seen the seminar and was so impressed she now wanted to talk to one of the instructors about taking classes. Turns out to my surprise that she already was in training, her partner was Trig one of our UK team members.

As usual after seminars a group of us tend to go out to a restaurant for some food, a good chat and usually some great laughs. On this occasion I happened to sit opposite Trig and next to Carla, her easy going nature made her very approachable and immediately we were chatting as if we had known each other for years. In fact the same can be said for Trig when I met him the year earlier, he managed to attend our seminar last minute but as soon as we met on the day we instantly clicked and I’m glad that I have been able to call Carla and Trig good friends from our first meeting. Their likeable nature was possibly one reason why they were so perfect for each other.

The next time we all met up I got the chance to meet Carla and Trigs two little children. Gorgeous looking little kids, they obviously took after their mother ! I remember Kyle telling jokes as we all stood round laughing and then Rich chasing him round the group of us as kids do, entertaining themselves. That same evening we all went to the London Eye and took a ride on it. As our carriage reached the top there was a flyby and two aeroplanes dropped poppys all over the River Thames and in the process covered our carriage. I still have the photo taken at the end of these rides and it is possibly one of the few I have of us all together. That night I spent the best £8.00 of my life by purchasing a copy, little did I know it then.

The following time was at a tattoo studio in London. Turns out seven of the Senshido team all decided to get inked and we all met at the studio and proceeded to discuss what we wanted to get done only to be told by the artists they couldn’t fit all of us in at the same time! The Canadians won and they got inked while the rest of us tried to entertain ourselves in true Senshido fashion by discussing piercings in the more private area with the shop assistants and wincing at the size of some of them on display.

Something that is so typical of Carla was when she called me to get directions to my house. I started to do the usual, turn left here, turn right there, when you get to there you have gone too far, etc type directions only to get an ear bashing how she can read a bloody map!!!!!!!

Or the time she made me in the middle of a busy cafe do an impression of the first time we brought Rich over to the UK, walked him round the tourist sites all day then put him on an underground train and watched the heat and motion of the carriage make him fall asleep while he fought to stay awake! Lol.

Unfortunately the last time I got to speak to Carla was only last year – August 2008. I was about to board a plane to Las Vegas and I couldn’t get her off the phone as whenever we met up or spoke we always caught up and ended up laughing out loud. This is how I will always remember her, she brought joy and happiness to mine and others lives by just being…… CARLA! My only regret is that we had made plans to meet up again and unfortunately she got ill not long after my return.

When Rich and I stayed in Suffolk and taught seminars with Trig, Carla would be the only woman on the mats training alongside the guys. I had the…..what shall I say, Pleasure? Opportunity? Misfortune!! To drill with Carla and that woman could shred!!! Oh man, forget her old man this woman can take care of herself!!

I know Carla had decided to go into the police force so she could help battered and abused women. I’m not sure if she had managed to start her training, but I know the women of the UK would certainly have been a lot safer with female officers like Carla patrolling and looking out for them.

The new Senshido dvd series will now be dedicated to Carla and her memory and I am privileged and honored to be taking part in the filming of these later in the year.

So anyone that believes in God, know that when Carla stands by his/her side God will be in safe hands as this Angel is one tough women you would want on your side in any battle.

Unfortunately we can’t win every battle and although Carla has put up a terrific fight she was up against it this time and it is one battle she won’t win. She should be happy that she brought two beautiful children into the world and has helped and touched so many people that her memory will live on. There is probably so much more that can be said about Carla, but I think it is at times like this that instead of making lists of what we hope to do in life like learn to fly a helicopter, learn a language, go traveling, gain a black belt in a martial art, learn to salsa, do a parachute jump, get married, start a family and then leaving it on your desk, in your draw or carrying it around in your pocket or wallet until it is creased, torn and faded take Nikes advice and………JUST DO IT!

Live your life and when it is nearing your end, hopefully you can look back and see that you are wealthy by the things you have done and achieved and the people whos lives you have touched rather than the materialistic stuff we all have to leave behind. Just like my friend Carla has done.

Missing you already Carla, but will never forget you, thank you for enriching my life with your charm, wit and sense of humour.

Best Wishes,
Your friend,
Adam

I would like to add to Adam's already touching post, great memories indeed Ad, thanks for posting this... I also remember when Carla pissed herself laughing at that pic of my head on the headless angel with the tiny penis taken in Rome... man did we laugh in your kitchen... I hope Carla and Trig are able to make peace with it... it's important for Carla to know and I am more than positive she does, just how much her life has affected those of us that met her and had the fortune and honor of spending that time with her as it enriched each of our lives.

Carla, Trigs & family; I am grateful, inspired and empowered by you and your family's strength in these darker times to grow & evolve from a place of light and love. my thoughts, prayers, and most positive of energies are with you and your children. Passing on is never easy but it is an inevitability for us all and we must all live as well as we can and enjoy and love and share as much as we can...

From the heart,

Rich

Changing the world through music...

Our bro 'Universible' from the Senshido forum shared this with us.... It doesn't matter how it's done, what vehicle is used, which road one takes as there are countless ways to reach each other... the description on the side of the video is very cool.

Enjoy and please cut and paste...

We need your help....

The first International Senshido Charity Event is coming up quick, September 26th is right around the corner and we would sincerely appreciate anyone and everyone's help in promoting this worldwide event for us. All the proceeds for this event will be given to local charities.

The Montreal, Canada Senshido Fundamentals of Personal Protection seminar on September 26th 2009 from 12 to 6pm income will be given to the Welcome Hall Mission/Mission Bon Accueil located in Montreal, Quebec(the Children's division) & will be held at Leriken Functional Fitness (formerly the Senshido school) at 680 St. Catherine Street west, 1st floor, Montreal, Quebec.

8 Countries/9 Cities participating and contact information for details, info and costs for each:

The Senshido International Team:

Montreal, Canada: Richard Dimitri - rdimitri[at]senshido.com

Tampere, Finland: Ville Kaivonen - Contact vka[at]sci.fi

Mexico City, Mexico: Ian Hodgkinson - vampiro[at]me.com

Sheffield, England: Craig and Debbie Welsh - info[at]kapapsheffield.co.uk & Adam Cooper - adamcooper123[at]hotmail.co.uk

Beirut, Lebanon: Georges Fahmy - info[at]senshido.net

Tucson Arizona, USA: Dominic Alexander - juslearnin1[at]hotmail.com, Tara Burke - patches9[at]gmail.com & Dusty Alexander - dustyalexander[at]gmail.com

Washington DC, USA: Glenn Wilson - goldeneyemartialarts[at]yahoo.com

Liege, Belgium: Rod Fiardi - rodolphe.fiardi[at]yahoo.fr or rodpersonalprotection[at]yahoo.fr

Aukland, New Zealand - Phil & Athena Thompson - admin[at]protectselfdefence.co.nz

We would most sincerely appreciate it if you could share this info on your blogs, facebook pages, forums, websites, etc. without spamming of course... every bit of help counts as we aim to collectively donate over $20,000 to local charities worldwide. If this event is successful, we shall be holding it annually and as our team grows, so will the donations to the charities and so will we be collectively helping thousands worldwide.

All charities have been checked so please don't use the excuse that charities never give the money where it is suppose to go, although this is widely true, it isn't of every charity and the ones specifically chosen by the team were chosen carefully and with good conscience.

Thanking you in advance for your help.

Inspiration to say the least...

Hey guys, this is a video by a good friend of ours, Jeff "The LibMan" Liboiron, a great guy who, despite a physical limitation, was able to survive life or death situations.

Respect Brother :D

Escape from being pinned by arms.

Drew asked for the above clip as he had encountered something like the above and wanted to know an escape when somebody is mounted and has your arms pinned.

Rgds

Craig

2 great articles by officer Darren Laur

Because the information is excellent and well worth sharing, a couple of great articles by Officer Darren Laur:

Unconsciousness & death, survivng an edged weapon attack:

http://senshido.savi.ca/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6546

Combat Survival Preparedeness:

http://senshido.savi.ca/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6592

Thanks Darren, appreciate the contributions!

Paying it forward...

Image from movie 'The Fountain'

Keep paying it forward folks... 3 years, 3 pages worth, over 8150 views just with intention and inspiration alone... join in, share your stories, if you don't have any, go out and make them happen then come back and share them with us... the littlest bit counts beyond what you can imagine.

Please... it takes a few minutes to sign up and in, a few minutes to share your good deeds and inspire others to do the same... help us make a difference. We have received emails from people who were in serious contemplation of suicide whom after reading that thread changed their minds. You have no idea what your words can do once out there... a huge thank you to all who participated and contnue to do so.

The Good Deeds thread: http://senshido.savi.ca/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3129

The Senshido International Team

It's up to all of us...

I’ve been having writers block lately, sitting in front of my computer screen beginning sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph only to delete the entire thing as I drew a blank not knowing which direction to take the piece or what even to continue it with.

As Facebook is now a new means of communication and I also have Senshido related facebook messages (almost as much as I get via email and other methods of communication), I was checking my messages and the universe (if you will) threw me a bone in as I caught one of my facebook buddies, Wayne Chandler, had just put this quote up as his status update:

"In true budo there is no enemy or opponent. True budo is to become one with the universe, not train to become powerful or to throw down some opponent. Rather we train in hopes of being of some use, however small our role may be, in the task of bringing peace to mankind around the world."

Now I’ve been seeing the world differently again, and the more truth I find, the more ‘addicted’ (to be taken as a descriptive and not at face value ;`) I become to it… not perceived truths, but common truths that can only enhance humanity as a collective such as the truth to be found in the quote above, for surely, all of humanity can only benefit from true world peace.

And so we believe that if each do our parts and follow Mother Theresa’s life changing advice as per her words written on the wall of her home in Calcutta, at the hopes of inspiring some to not only quote, but as often as possible until it becomes first nature; to live by these words and share their stories in the hopes of inspiring others here http://senshido.savi.ca/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3129 as positive energy spreads and creates a more powerful ripple effect than most believe.

Even if you’ve read them a thousand times before, even if you read them 10 minutes ago, please, read them again… let them sink in… let them resonate within you for a while, forever…

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centred; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway."

Not an easy task to accomplish, indeed a very difficult one in a world I perceive as sufferring from an epidemic of anger. An anger targeted outwards and at each other due to a truth most do not want to even acknowledge, couldn’t fathom yet it eats away inside us all so much it manifests itself as road rage, bar fights, domestic abuse, any kind of abuse, violence, racism etc. and where does this all come from and why is it increasing world wide? When I was growing up, my parents never feared sending me to school… today, kids are shooting kids and not just in the USA but in Germany & Canada as well.

Today, childen are being checked for weapons before entering schools. Today, we live in a world where professional athletes (people who play sports and happen to be better than others at it) make literally 3 to 50 times more money annually than what others who put their lives on the line for us like cops, firemen and true healers (medical and holistic) make. While there are yet others whom are literally starving to death the world over as some of us live in multi million dollar homes. If I continued this ‘Today’ list, I’d be typing until tomorrow. Why? Why is that???

There is a collective anger, a silent revolte which is tearning us apart instead of uniting us, and that is the lies we have been forced to accept and eventually not only live with as truth but actually believe these lies as facts, as its own manufactured reality by fear and greed and it is everywhere… we all see it, the majority turn a blind eye and when one of us speaks out loud enough, we are quickly extinguished by the scared collective… well, if we’re such a powerful collective, shouldn’t we be working the opposite way around? Shouldn’t we be insuring our futures as a species? It seems some of our species can’t see past their own mortality or wallets.

Although maybe difficult, connecting to our soul and experiencing it as fully as possible by relishing the input from all of our senses, feeling the joys and sorrows, laughter & tears, empathy & compassion to their limitless capacities… make the rewards undeniably gratifying for us all.

And so as John Lennon prophetically stated “IMAGINE” we all did indeed live by Mother Theresa’s words on her wall in Calcutta…. Imagine for 10 minutes, the whole world living for 1 month in truth by these words…. Just Imagine… and to finish this off, I leave you with Gandhi’s words:

“Become the change you want to see in the world.”

And hell, Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Lennon to name but a few couldn't all have been wrong could they've? ;`)

Sincerely,
Rich

Life Changing Seminars & more coming your way...

Hope this message finds you all more than well, happy and peacefully trecking through your chosen paths. Senshido life changing seminars coming up and around....

Montreal Canada Seminar:

The Fundamentals of Personal Protection on Sunday, August 9, 2009 1:00pm - 6:00pm at Leriken Premier Functional Fitness, 680 Saint-Catherine's Street West, 1st floor Montreal.

Seminar Topics include but are not limited too: Fear, stress, anger and confrontation management- Moral, ethical and legal implications - The Human Factor - The Shredder - Body language and communication in relation to violence - Senshido's 5 principles of physical retaliation - Attack scenario simulations- Defense against most common types of attacks

Payment and registration information: contact Sonjali at 514-892-3095 or email info@consultingprofectus.com

Global Seminar on September 26th 2009

The first Annual Senshido International Charity Event. Senshido International will be teaching a Fundamentals of Personal Protection Seminar on September 26th 2009 in 10 countries around the world and all proceeds will be given to local charities. More information coming soon. Please help us spread the word as we are hoping to accumulate over $20,000 for charities and to increase that number yearly.

Sheffield England Senshido Seminar

November 2009, we will be in Sheffield England for a 1 day Walk The Talk Seminar only, for information, dates and costs please contact Senshido International Team member Craig Welsh at info@kapapsheffield.co.uk

Senshido International Team growing

We will soon be joined by 2 more members Ted from California and Norbert from Germany (hey guys, looking forward to the day :`) Two more salt of the earth souls joining our movement of bettering our planet. Their information will soon be up.

The new Senshido International website will be up and running by September 15th. In the meantime, you can still shop for products on the old site http://www.senshido.com/ and check out our forum http://senshido.savi.ca/index.php for more information and updates.

We thank you one and all for your interest in our movement...

Cheers, regards, our best, yours and most sincerely,

The Senshido International Team.

Hiya from all in Sunny Sheffield (UK) home of the 'awsome' Craig Welsh as my fans like to call me!

At last I have fathomed out how to Blog so expect to see some regular contribution, for this first post I have added a video of a drill that we practiced earlier in the year.





Regards

Craig

From Finland...

From Tuipe Suhonen

July 23 at 2:17pm from a Facebook message:

I work at the Niuvanniemi mental hospital in Kuopio Finland. Today we had training in how to protect ourselves against violent patients. Your name was mentioned in the class and Senshido was part of what we covered and learned today. Interesting, simple and very powerful tactics for our own protection. I was like 'Wow, I know this guy. He is my Facebook buddy ' :-). Just wanted to tell you, that you and your work is known and taught in such a far away place like Finland :-).

Have a relaxin' weekend Richard

>>Hugs>>>

Hey guys and gals,

I'll be interviewed next Saturday (August 1st) by a journalist from Time Out Beirut (www.timeoutbeirut.com). Topics covered will be Senshido's methodology and Combat Shooting Essentials.

Be on the lookout for it. I'll upload the scanned article as soon as they become available :D

Take care, stay safe, and God bless.

Georges Z. Fahmy

Senshido International Team
Greater Middle East Area

Community Meeting in MD

Hello all. I just wanted to let everyone know that my new website"www.senshido.us" will be up soon. It's a revamped site that one of my students is getting together for me. So be on the lookout soon for it and I will log in up here and let you know when it's completed.

In the great metropolis that is the DC area there are bound to be some unsavory characters wishing to do citizens harm. It’s in that vein that I have been asked to speak this Wednesday July 22^th on Personal Safety Training at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Hyattsville, MD. This local community neighborhood meeting will focus on how to stay safe and also will provide a forum for the Hyattsville Police Department to update the citizens regard some recent crimes that have taken place in the neighborhood.

If you're in the area, please come out and support the good citizens in Hyattsville.


Glenn Wilson

Senshido International Team
Washington, DC Metro Area

Back in the Saddle Again!

Well, I just started teaching again at the school I train BJJ. We had a nice turn out for the first couple of classes and it was nice to see old faces. What is nice about teaching again is that if forces me to review material that I have not studied intently in awhile. I am enjoying refreshing my memory and learning new things that I missed from before. I will post my class sessions later to get feedback on how to make it better and streamlined.

Class is only an hour long but I may make it 20 min longer so that we can have more time doing drills. It is nice to be back teaching groups I did not realize that I enjoyed it so much. Like I said before I am just getting back into the swing of things and I will keep you updated as I go on.

Dominic Alexander
Senshido International Team
Tucson, AZ