It was another great day for Tristan “Raptor” Ligtvoet, the 64th Black Belt of
the Karate Institute of America, as he ascended to the rank of 4th Dan, an
accomplishment few have achieved in the forty-two year history of the
Kiado-Ryu.
Raptor joins Dan “Basai” Asay (KIA Black Belt #8) and Chris “Growler” Grau
(KIA Black Belt #36) as the only other two KIA 4th Dan Black Belts—a
remarkable feat considering that over thirty-three hundred individuals have
studied at the KIA since its inception in 1979. Raptor, at age 23, is the
youngest person ever in Kiado-Ryu history to rise to such an esteemed rank.
Totally awesome!
Most of us, perhaps all of us, have been in a situation involving a potential
combatant. Perhaps it is an angry driver, pissed off neighbor, unruly guest at
a function—whatever, whenever, wherever, whomever. The thing is, we want to
avoid a physical confrontation if at all possible. We don’t want to hurt
anybody, get hurt ourselves, or be part of a self-defense conflict in which
things can get out of hand, destructive, or worse.
There is only one way to deal with bullies. You back them down or put them
down or you will go down. This is a lamentable truth but truth it is,
nonetheless. Those who stand up for themselves will be free. Those who don’t
will become slaves. It is the story of life.
Bullies are heartless souls with an unquenchable thirst for dominance and
power. They don’t care about anyone’s well-being, rights, goodness or life
except their own. They are cruel, insensitive, unsympathetic creatures
consumed and ruled by their own insatiable lusts and desires. If their
negative behaviors are not nullified, they see a green light and step on the
gas and remain on the gas until a red light stops them.
KIA first dan Brown Belt and Champion fighter Guy McDonald has reignited his
desire to achieve a Kiado-Ryu Black Belt. He was extremely active at the
Karate Institute of America from 1986 to 1990 but he had to stop his martial
arts studies because of back surgery. Three years ago Guy was featured in the
KIA article,
The KIA’s Own Hollywood.
With changing times and circumstances, Guy has reignited his original desires
to become a Kiado-Ryu Black Belt and is back studying again. In doing so, he
brings a new call sign with him, “Skull,” discarding his original nom de
guerre as “Hollywood.”
Kiado-Ryu Gun-Fu™ is the ancient martial art of using firearms in sport,
competitive shooting and one’s God-given right of self-defense.
For anyone who has ever fired a handgun at a target, they soon realize it’s
challenging to hit the target—in contrast from what the movies often portray.
Shooting accurately is not easy. It takes applied knowledge, concerted and
concentrated practice to be successful. Fortunately, learning to shoot
effectively does not take years of study. It just takes a functional
understanding of a few primary fundamentals. This is where the V.E.T.S. system
of shooting accuracy comes into play.
