| David Jeremy Reither was born October
3rd, 1969, the only child of MSGT Kevin Reither, and his wife, the
lovely Elizabeth Nelson Reither. Just after his son's
conception, Kevin was forced into another tour overseas, stationed
at a military base in Japan... he had only returned six months prior
from a tour in Vietnam. Rather than leave his family behind,
however, he moved them to Japan with him. As the culture was
currently in the process of an economic reform (had been ever since
the end of WW II), life was quite good there, compared to what Liz
had expected. They raised their child with a mixture of
Japanese and American ideals, and, at the age of five, gave David
the option of attending Martial Arts. He had nothing better to
do, and so he accepted... a choice which would mold his entire life
from then on.
From the age of 5 until the age of 15, David studied the art of
Karate QUITE diligently. Not only the movements, or the
fighting, or the balance, but the philosophies of it as well.
He attained the rank of Brown Belt at 15, and would have made black
belt by 18 (they would have held him back until then, to assure his
maturity in their eyes), but his mother divorced his father, and
moved them back to the United States.
After finishing high school, and continuing his training (which
he considered barely adequate), he then attended college, getting a
degree in Physical Education. At the age of 21, David returned
to Japan, and continued his martial arts studies there. He
received the rank of Black Belt in Karate at 22, and then continued
his training there while simultaneously studying Kempo, Judo, and,
eventually, the secretive art of Bujutsu, the founding art for all
other forms of Japanese martial arts. After receiving the rank
of 3rd Degree Black Belt, he began to study Kempo, the art of
swordsmanship. He became quite an adept student at that, and
finally earned the rank of 4th degree black belt in Karate, 2nd
degree in both Kempo and Judo, and learning up to intermediate level
studies of Bujutso (before his sensei died, and noo ne else would
teach him)... this done by the age of 30.
And, of course, he had to have a job while he did this. He
started out by using his degree to make him an assistant trainer at
a local dojo. However, he soon was asked (not technically
FORCED, though his life would've become significantly more difficult
had he refused) to serve a compulsory two years in the Japanese
Armed Forces. He served his time, learning Infantry tactics
and techniques... and still being allowed to train in his
martial arts. Once his time was up, he returned to being an
assistant trainer, and then, after he learned enough, he became a
full trainer, and then, at the age of 27 (3rd degree black belt), he
was named a sensei at his dojo.
Finally, at the age of 31, David decided to return to the United
States. As much as he loved Japan, the strict racial attitudes
of the people had grown upon his nerves until he could not stand
it. He has returned, moving to another Virginia city...
Brentford.
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