The weekend of training was great and I added some new things to my bag. If you're a serious martial artist and you don't glean at least something from cross training, you need to seriously look at what you're doing. Mike and Margaret were wonderful hosts and I hope I returned in kind by showing those weapons guys a little Shen Chuan to put in their bags.

There is a great group of guys up there, and they work hard.

Mike has since moved to Arizona so I guess Triple Impact will be a little hotter in the years to come. Literally.

Guru Casto films everything and this seminar was no exception. Although I personally haven't seen my copy yet... I know that they exist. Just kidding Mike. I know you've been as busy as the rest of us with the move and all.

After some problems with his DVD vendor, I believe he now has them available on his website. The previous years are also available and I believe all of the Professor's have attended.

Which reminds me. While we were there we visited my wife Mendy's niece and her husband who was stationed at Fort Knox. I got to see "where the money is kept". But they wouldn't let me go see it for some reason. Not sure why.

Watching the program about Knox on the History Channel was nothing like seeing it in person. Especially at night, with all of those lights illuminating it.

Just don't do what I did.

Following the nephew through the gate, I assumed that he told the guards (as in multiple) that we were with him and I would just follow him on through the checkpoint. So I didn't stop as I neared Guard number one.

Mistake number one.

His friendly wave turned out to be a motion to stop. This began to dawn on me, and my highly trained martial skills of perception, as guards one through six slowly moved towards weapon retention in a nonchalant way. As my wife said "Uh... honey?", I immediately hit the brakes and lowered my window while placing my hands in full view.

My "sorry, I thought I was just following my nephew through" was met with a terse "I was motioning you to stop son!". Now I know I look young for 42. But son? I could have literally conceived this young man on many a wild Saturday night. So it struck me funny. I giggled. Mistake number two.

As I now had to brandish all known forms of I.D. for everyone in the vehicle, I tried to explain to the astute young man that I had just assumed I was cleared to follow my nephew and that I really meant no harm. At this point he had thoroughly assessed that the Suburban was filled with only a 42 year old dufuss and a lovely lady looking very perturbed at the 42 year old dufuss. He grinned slightly and wryly asserted that he understood, but that "even the Pope and the POTIS would be stopped at this checkpoint for I.D."

I thanked him for his understanding and took off. Me being me however, I told my wife to watch that guy behind the guard shack with the RPG, and to let me know if he raised it in our direction. The perturbed look didn't leave for some time.

 All kidding aside he was very professional and informed me how everything changed after 09/11. Just a warning in case you ever visit Knox.

Back to Impact '08... Saturday night we had supper at a local place with Guru Ken and his wife, Guru Mike and his wife Margaret and a few of Mike’s top students. While there we got to know each other a little better and enjoy each others company. My wife also got to be around Mikey in public for an extended time, and that's all I'm gonna say on that subject.

The cool thing for me was listening to their stories of the trip they had just returned from. Ken, Steve Hacht (another Sikal guru) & Mike went to Cebu in the Philippines to be inducted into the Doce Pares Hall of Fame for "Exemplary Dedication to Doce Pares." Man... talk about a cool trip. And congratulations guys!!

Be on the lookout for information on his Triple Impact '09. We'll put information up as soon as Guru gets it to us!

Below are a few of the pictures from the Banquet held during Camp Lansdale #12. Many more pictures of the banquet and the Camp itself were taken, as well as pictures from Rank Camp 2008 and all are available on CD at the following LINK.