Arnie and Me, April 2004
I began my martial arts training studying under Sensei G. Arnie Inouye of Sacramento, California in August 1976.  It was a tight group.  Very non-commercial.  Most of the time, we trained in Sensei Inouye's garage.  Sometimes, we trained at an Ed Parker seminar.  Many years passed then everything happened at once within a few short months in 1985: I graduated high school, I graduated beauty school, I got my driver's license, but most importantly, on February 25, I was promoted to black belt.
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Greg's wedding, July 21, 2001
Even holding a kicking shield for Sensei Smith was a jarring experience.  I've never known anyone who could kick as hard as him.  But trying to get in close and take him to the ground was also hazardous since he was also an excellent grappler.  He has since moved with his wife, Theda, and daughter Danae to New Mexico.
Left to right: Jason, Nick Braun, Steve Braun, Greg Smith, and Bob Burgee.
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Steve Braun stick fighting, June 1999
Studying under Sensei Bueno, we did lots of stick drills: double sinawali, 8-count drill, etc.  With Sensei Braun, we often combined kicking, punching, and stick fighting into full contact sparring.  That was when you really found out what you were made of.
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Dad and Kevin, September 2001
Kevin Brey was just one of several excellent martial artists with whom I had the opportunity to train.  While he is very well rounded, he has truly excelled in grappling and knife fighting.
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Dan Inosanto Seminar, July 2002
On August 16, 1999, I began training with Sensei Soumah, first in Jeet Kune Do, then briefly in Wushu.  In 2002, several of us attended a Guro Dan Inosanto seminar in Virginia.
Left to right: Andy, Jason, Sean, Guro Dan, Sensei Soumah, Morgan, and me
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Master Chai
In 1999, 2000, and 2001, I attended Master Surachai "Chai" Sirisute's workshops.  Master Chai is the founder of the Thai Boxing Association and a very inspirational individual.
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Haymaker
What I love most about Muay Thai is its simplicity. No fancy moves that look flashy but may probably won't work in a real fight. Muay Thai strikes and kicks have been tested countless times in the ring by well seasoned fighters.

When it comes to handwork, many of the same strikes employed by boxers are used such as the jab, cross, hook, and uppercut. Some fighters may occassionally throw a wild power punch called a "haymaker." I always wondered how this punch got its name. Then I heard that of the various types of farm machines, one makes a bale of hay and spits it out. Perhaps this throwing of a 40 pound bale of hay is reminiscent of a power punch. In the photo on the left, Jimmy, Joyce, and I use a real haymaker on a farm. Unfortunately, this one doesn't spit.
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Erik Paulson Seminar 2000
Look up the word "tough" in the dictionary and it'll say "see Erik Paulson." If you've never heard of Mr. Paulson, he is the former light heavyweight Shoot Wrestling champion, shown third from the right. Unlike many pugilists who may only study some form of fighting such as boxing, wrestling, or kicking, Erik has tempered each aspect of fighting to a level mastered by few.
Left to right:

·  Greg Smith

·  Saki (me), the short one

·  Bob Burgee, mister fast twitch

·  Pat Tray, owner and head instructor of the Trident Academy of Martial Arts

·  Erik Paulson

·  Steve Braun

·  Keenan
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Brazilian Jujitsu, August 21, 2004
I hosted a summer cookout and invited the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (BJJ) class at the Baltimore Martial Arts Academy.  It just so happened that BJJ black belt Tita Batista was conducting a seminar at the dojo that day.  After the seminar, Sensei Batista and much of the class came over.  That evening, we watched the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and saw Randy "the Natural" Couture, defend his title against Vitor Belfort.
Left to right:

·  Jason

·  Jesse, the grandson of Jhoon Rhee

·  Sensei Kevin

·  Sensei Tita Batista

·  Sensei Steve

·  Dr. Greg

·  Andy

·  Jimmy, not a BJJ student but still a swell guy
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Favorite Fighter
My favorite fighter is Andrei Arlovski. This 6'4" 240 pound fighter from Minsk, Belarus is the total package. Fit, fierce, hungry, good grappler, and hard puncher. Almost nobody can hit as hard as Arlovski. I don't know how Cabbage was able to remain standing after multiple head shots in his 2004 Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match with Arlovski. I hope that, given the chance, Arlovski will unite the UFC and the Pride heavyweight titles.

Opposing Views
There seems to be an inverse correlation between the flashiness of a martial art and its effectiveness.
Conversely, fighting ability should be judged by the martial art but rather by the martial artist.

June 11, 2006
I am currently taking a leave of absence from training in the arts to pursue other passions. However, I still keep up with my shadow boxing (getting beat by a shadow is humiliating), power training, and stretching; maintaining a fight weight of 152 pounds.
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