Bob “Grinder” Shreck is the Sixth Black Belt of the Kiado-Ryu. He received his first dan in 1988 and continued his studies for two more years, attaining a second dan designation.

Grinder is the epitome of undying effort and persistence. Because his work schedule would not allow him to attend group classes, Bob studied privately for eight years before attaining his Black Belt. His determination and ability to press on in the face of difficult life challenges make him a great inspiration for us all.

How strange it is in today’s world that victory at all costs is more important than one’s character. It seems as though the growing consensus of achievement in today’s culture is to cast the moral and ethical quality of one’s very being over the cliff in deference to lying, cheating, stealing, deceiving, misleading. The goal, apparently, is to win the temporal, ephemeral brass ring and forego one’s primal essence.

It is always warming to see how KIA martial artists, who were once youngsters, have grown into adulthood and are now parents with their own children. This week’s Pic of the Week features one such very accomplished Kiado-Ryu Black Belt.

Chris “Growler” Grau is the 36th Black Belt of the KIA, having achieved his 1st Dan on 26 August 1995. Growler is now only one of two 4th Dan Kiado-Ryu Black Belts. The other is Dan “Basai” Asay. In the 2013 archive photo below, Growler is pictured with pre-test buddies Kim “Cultivator” Thomas and Tristan “Raptor” Ligtvoet as they were all moving up in rank. Cultivator continued his studies and now holds a 5th Dan rating and “Master Thomas” title. Raptor is working for his 2nd Dan Black Belt.

Sun Tzu’s quote regarding securing ourselves against defeat doesn’t just apply to war. It also applies to our emotional control, psychological balance, financial solvency, emergency preparation, and spiritual state of being on a daily basis.

So many of our problems in life are a direct result of our own negligence in not taking measures to construct the type of defenses—both internally and externally—that keep us safe … and undefeated.

As is well known to KIA students, our current “Barracuda” is blue belt Zemia Garrett. However, in the early days of the KIA, Ryan Allen also claimed the call sign “Barracuda.”

Ryan studied with the Karate Institute of America from approximately 1989 to 1991. He achieved his Orange belt under the tutelage of KIA Black Belt Greg “Maddog” Bendel, one of the KIA’s chief instructors at the time.

To this day, Ryan “Barracuda” Allen has wonderful memories of the KIA. He says,

We meet many people in our lives, but some remain friends forever. Too, some of our friends are truly inspirational. Sue Lansdon, who was an instrumental force in the early days of the Karate Institute of America, is one such person.

Before her destiny moved her in a different direction, Sue attained the rank of Green belt. She was also an integral part of the KIA Demonstration Team back in the early 80s.