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I'm back again! Sorry it's been so long. I'm in a new home in more ways than one: I recently purchased a new home, I moved my internet service to Earthlink.net([email protected]) and I just finished moving all my files into a shiny new iMac computer. Once again, I find myself a RONIN, destined to walk the land like Kwai Chang Cain in Kung Fu. The Bunjinkan Ninpo school didn't really work out for me. Most of all, the late class hours were killing me the next day at work. Also, I really didn't find a comfortable fit with the club. I liked the style and the instructor, but, the students were kind of a college-town, new-age, hippie type. Nothing against them, just not my type of crowd. I'm taking my time in finding a new school and training on my own. There's a lot of new stuff to be hooked up in the very near future so keep your eyes on The Martial Arts Arena.
I'm opening up the martial arts bookstore now. It works pretty well but, before I spend too much more time on it, I want to see what kind of interest it generates. Please go take a look at Bext's Martial Arts Bookstore .
There are a few new things in the works here at the Arena. The new Martial Arts Bookstore is well into production. Send me your favorite Martial Arts book titles and I'll add them to the "Features" page for others to enjoy. I am not opening up the bookstore until all the pages are done (or nearly done). There have been a couple small additions or updates to the stories as well. I've had several ideas for new essays that I may write in the near future. One of which will be about the experience I've been through in my changing of training styles. I've been thinking alot about my journey from a beginner white belt, through the ranks of Tae Kwon Do, the achivement of black belt ranking, and finally my "re-birth" as a white belt beginner in a totally new style.
It's pretty scary how long I've left this site, rotting in the dust. But I'm back in the saddle,... really, I will start updating again,... honest. I'm back from my honeymoon in Hawiaii and ready to catch up with life. So here's what's new: I recieved the following email from a company selling Bruce Lee statues. I'm not even remotely interested, but some of you may be, so here it is:
We are Planet Earth Productions
Today, we would like to introduce...
We hope you enjoy the view !
Best regards Also, I recieved an email from the "Awards Goddess" Gayla Shue, at Limits Rejected Here informing me that we have won an award:
Congratulations. Your site has been selected as a Limits Rejected Here Attitude Award winner! As each day goes by, the pressure to differentiate a web site becomes more intense. We wanted to recognize some sites that have done an exemplary job in communicating the essence of attitude. You can't over-rate the importance of attitude. With it, you can be technically poor but still win a fight, be it a fist fight or a fight for a promotion. Without it, you're a door mat. These awards are about attitude. A no holds barred, you can't stop me, winning attitude which is displayed on the sites that win this award, and all such sites that will in the future.
Congratulations again! Finally, a humble request. If you are a first time visitor and are headed to the guestbook to sign it, please send me some constructive criticism rather than "this site is horrible" or "no good". This way I will know whether the Arena truly sucks and needs some improvement, or if it's merely unpopular among the Malteese ;)
Whoa! What a long time between updates eh? Fear not, I haven't disappeared into the dusty tomes of digital history. I've been extremely busy and stressed lately, plus new submissions have really slowed down to pretty much nothing. As a result, I haven't been updating as much. I'll probably get a burst of ambition soon and finish hooking up the new page designs to all the pages. Please, if you are visiting and like the concept of this page, mail me a note with a story or something. Help us grow. We have plenty of server space to fill.; ) Also, I forgot to include a link request from Michael Mason, the Driving force behind the founding of the Unified Martial Arts Association. He'd like folks to check out his website, promoting the association.
Great news! Geocities has approved Bext's Martial Arts Arena to be a featured page. What does this mean? It means that our host will be giving us a bunch more server space to house the expanding content. We will be featured from time to time on one of the main community pages which should send more visitors our way. More visitors hopefully will = more submissions! My personal journey continues. After a few stops at Tae Kwon Do schools in my newly adopted city, I have realized that I cannot replace my club, friends, and instructor. I've decided that I don't want to train in another Tae Kwon Do club. While fundimentally similar, they all have such subtle, structural differences. I just won't feel at home; It just won't be the same. If I'm going to have to learn a particular style from the beginning again, why would I go through Tae Kwon Do just to achive what I already have, just in another association or federation this time? I decided to start from the begining, in another style, and something totally different. I have attached myself to a school specializing in the art of Bujinkan Ninpo / Budo, a Japanese style. Once again, I have so much to learn...
I'm back. I have sucsessfully relocated to the Phoenix area. I'm in the process of hooking up the pages I've done with a new look to them. Expect them in a few days. Personally, I've been stopping in at local Martial Arts schools, looking for a new club to begin my training again.
Within a few weeks I'm gonna have a ton of free time to devote to this site. I'm moving cross-country and I'll be alone for about three months, so I'll put it to good use. On a related, personal note, Mr. Phan and the folks at Phan's Academy threw me an extremely nice going-away bash last night. It was really tough to say goodby. For the past five years I've really become attached to my "Martial Arts Family". You couldn't meet a better bunch of warriors. We've sweated, bled, learned, taught, laughed, cried, triumphed and failed so much together, over the years, that it has become so much of who I am,...my identity. I will truly miss them. This kind of pain will take me a lot longer to heal than a bruised shin or jammed finger. Enough of the mushy stuff,... If you are ever in south-east Michigan, stop by Lake Orion and look 'em up, they'll take you in like a long lost family member.
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This Martial Spirit site
is owned by John Melton
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This Martial Arts Webring
site is owned by John Melton.
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