Journey of a thousand steps...

We are set on a journey. Where we are going is never determined by where we start, but by how we walked the path.

I am a martial artist and have trained as such since I was 10 years old. Having been training now for over 30 years in traditional martial arts I would be called a "Youxia" in Chinese a "knight" in word and deed.
 
I want certain things in life. I want to eventually get my doctorate in Acupuncture. Why? Because I know, not think, but KNOW I can help others with that ancient form of medicine. I want to eventually get my doctorate in psychology for much the same reason.

I want to learn more about the martial arts because part of warrior spirit in me wants to teach others to defend themselves. Not just from physical threats, and there is no limit to the enemies in that court, but also from the stress and arrows that affect the mind.

I am soon going to do something I have not done, ever. I am heading to China and leaving so much behind, my home, my dog, my family, and most especially my ladies, all to work specifically on my personal goals. I am not taking this sacrifice of them and I lightly and am determined to make the value of every moment count.

I would love one day to set up clinics(plural, as in more than one :) ) and to do more research on mind body therapies. All dedicated to TCM and mind / body training.  My goal is to help all I can using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), but on a more personal level I want to directly help soldiers affected by PTSD.

I am going over there with very limited resources and my first year is going to be hard, working on developing the language skills I will need to make the rest of my plan work.

Once phase one is complete and language skill is at least conversational level, I will progress to doing some more research and training with masters of Kung Fu and Qigong. All while trying to set up the conditions to enter a University there and complete the training I have already started.

I have shamelessly put a donate button on this site. If you want to help this poor soldier reach the noble goals he has tasked himself with there is a simple way to do it. Every bit of the money will be going to me for the purpose of living over there, and traveling to the different masters that I need to, in order to reach further mastery of these skills and the learn the histories, and philosophies of the warrior and medicinal arts. I will be living that first year on what amounts to less than $1200 a month.

Furthermore I will be chronicling my adventures, and be offering articles on Chinese Medicine, Taoist Philosophy, Martial Arts Practices and probably the local foods. :) I will be trying my hand at more journalistic inspirations as well for the martial arts community. This blog is my first step heading that direction. 

My goal here on this blog is to entertain, inform my friends and loved ones, offer interesting articles on travel, culture, medicine, and martial arts, and seek to be a part of a much larger community.

I am firmly setting down my feet on a new path. Join me on this adventure... as this old knight moves to Shanghai. :)