I taught a Mandalorian Martial Arts

When a Mandalorian needs Martial Arts training the teacher appears!

The story that leads up to my arrival in Cape Town, South Africa is one of the most harrowing tales of frustration I ever had with an airline.  I will relay this in another post.

This was my first time ever being out of the country and I was extremely excited.  Not only was I going to be doing makeup effects I also had a major part in the movie.

However during this time I was going though some difficult “relationship” issues and was perpetually angry despite my incredible happiness and having this amazing career opportunity.  I smoked and drank way too much which was never in my personality traits up until I was 25 but emotions getting the best of me has always been a weakness of mine.  Martial Arts has been my conduit for relief so I was elated when I met Tem Morrison.

We discussed martial arts at every opportunity and would find areas to practice.  During this era of my training I was HEAVILY promoting the Jeet Kune Do core training and tried my best to convince him to go that route.  Tem had experience in boxing but insisted on the discipline that Karate instilled.  I agreed since I received my Black Belt in Tang Soo Do Style Karate years ago and I was teaching it since I was 14.

As I mention in the youtube description, he was a natural.  Everything I showed him he did with precision and focus.  It was seeing him progress thanks to my knowledge that my attitude began to change.

When I arrived back in the States after a month on location I did some soul searching and put that anger and frustration that I unknowingly had been carrying with me for years.  It took an incredible amount of effort (and therapy).  I quit smoking.  Although I was never an alcoholic, my drinking became social instead of a tool of quelling emotions.

Martial Arts has always been my saving grace.  No matter what the situation.  Tem helped me rediscover why discipline is important.  When a teacher learns from a student it's one of the most rewarding achievements an instructor wishes for.