This is a wonderful “Then and Now” photo of Dr. Milt “Super Zedha” Jacobson, the 3rd Black Belt of the Karate Institute of America, receiving his 1st Dan on 20 September 1985, as the collage reveals. Thanks to computer technology, not available to the average person in 1985, Dr. Jacobson poses with his wife, Gloria, in a recent photo taken in September 2013.

“Then,” Dr. J was 60 years old, having begun his Kiado-Ryu martial arts journey at the tender age of 54! “Now,” we see him looking much the same at the age of 89! How does he do it? His answer, he simply takes life as it comes, never worries, and does not stress over what is. In other words, he goes with the flow. Such a philosophy, he notes, has left him “wrinkle free” at his current sage age.

The Black Belt Book of Life: Secrets of a Martial Arts Master shares valuable principles of life to enable people of all ages to live a more substantive life, whether they’re involved in the martial arts or not. The Black Belt Book of Life has been reformatted and is available in both Kindle and paperback (find the link in the sidebar).

THE BLACK BELT BOOK OF LIFE by Richard Andrew King should be called ‘The Book of Life’. Wow! What a book! Everyone, whether in the martial arts or not, should read this and be aware of all the wonderful human values that are worth integrating into daily life.

This Blast from the Past features a group test in 1986. These were wonderful times, times before cell phones, computers, and video games; times in which individuals engaged in the challenging work of improving themselves, of becoming substantive within the martial arts environment. Where is such a scene visible in today’s society? Where are those individuals who invest in themselves, their health and well-being? Indeed, where has all the substance gone?

She was the most driven young student in the history of the Karate Institute of America, and the most competitively accomplished. Juliette Williamson, call sign “J.W.,”, began her KIA journey at the tender young age of eight. Extraordinarily, by age twelve in 1985, she became the fourth adult-ranked Black Belt of the Kiado-Ryu. It is hard to believe that was twenty-eight years ago. Time truly does march on and waits for no man, but even so, it cannot erase wonderful memories and accomplishments of one young lady, accomplishments well-deserved through hard work, drive, determination, courage, talent, and ambition.

Posing with one of his trophies in 1991 is David “Nails” Mooney, the 19th Black Belt of the Karate Institute of America. David was given his call sign “Nails” because he was as tough as nails. A relentless individual in his studies, David gave one of the best black belt testing performances in Kiado-Ryu history. He had prepared himself so well that even today, twenty-years later, his work ethic lives on and sets a standard for others to follow.

Kiado-Ryu Black Belt (#36) Chris “Growler” Grau demonstrates on 1st degree Brown belt Tristan “Raptor” Ligtvoet how to check and counter a low body blow. Chris has developed excellent hand skills worthy of mention, hand skills that are quick, clean, and powerful.