For as long as I can remember, the martial arts have always been a part of my life. My father was passionate about martial arts and although I never practiced any, he always encouraged and motivated me to do it so. When I was four years old, I began my martial arts training by studying judo at my local community center. The classes were held several days a week and I loved it. When I was a teenager in the 1980s, Kung-fu and Bruce Lee were all the rage and that's when I started trying out other martial arts. In the 1990s, I found KempoJutsu (Kempo) and its founder, and my teacher, Master Feliciano “Kimo” Ferreira. I loved how Professor Kimo's Kempo seemed to mix the dynamics of Kung-fu with the linear power of Karate and the eclectic philosophy of Hawaiian martial arts. Inspired by him, I began to practice assiduously every day. In 1994, I accidentally met a friend who introduced me to Aikido. Together we trained in Kempo and Aikido. In the late 1990s my father passed away and this made me question what I knew about the martial arts. This led me on a quest to answer the quandary of “What does it mean to be a martial artist?” A little later, I read an article in Cinturon Negro Black Belt magazine about Reverend Kensho Furuya. Reading this article, I realized that I needed to find a true teacher to follow who could not only inspire me but teach me to be a real martial artist. In 1997, on a whim, I flew to Los Angeles and met Furuya Sensei. From the moment I met him, Furuya Sensei exemplified what it meant to be a true “teacher.” Furuya Sensei was very kind and generous but at the same time, he was strict and inspired technical proficiency. Furuya Sensei treated me very well even though he just met me and I could barely speak to him because I knew very little English. From then on, I became his direct student and would come to Los Angeles every summer and spend a month training with him. Furuya Sensei was an inspiration to me and he helped me find my way not only as a martial artist and teacher, but also as a human being. Previously, I thought that studying a martial art meant that I simply had to hit harder than the other person. Studying with Furuya Sensei taught me the deeper meaning of personal development and what it meant to become a true martial artist and an even better person. Furuya Sensei taught me how to push myself mentally and physically and I used those lessons to not only become a better martial artist but also a better firefighter, husband and father. I even used those lessons to become fluent in English so that I could fully understand my conversations with Furuya Sensei. Furuya Sensei’s book Kodo: Ancient Ways was like my bible. His book is a wealth of knowledge and I look to it whenever I need some inspiration. Today, I still read my original signed copy, and something new seems to jump forth from the pages whenever I need a little bit of guidance. Ito Sensei commented that “from the worn pages, Sensei’s book seems to have helped guide you a great deal.” The main thing I learned from my time with Furuya Sensei was patience. Whatever we want, we just have to spend time and success will come, it's that simple. However, like all simple things, these are the hardest to do. When I met Furuya Sensei, I couldn't speak English and I didn't know anything. Now, I can speak English and have a lot to understand but the training is not about knowing everything, it is about knowing that there is more to learn. That is what I learned from Furuya Sensei. Furuya Sensei taught me that a martial art is only an art if it benefits your daily life; everything else is just fighting. Today, my only goal is to be a springboard for my students so that they can reach their best version just like Furuya Sensei did for me more than 26 years ago.