INSPIRATION OF A MARTIAL ARTIST.

keith Rogers Sr.

Sep 16, 2024

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HOW LEARNING MARTIAL ARTS AND BOXING INSPIRED MY LIFE.

HOW LEARNING THE MARTIAL ARTS AND BOXING INSPIRED ME TO BE A STUDENT FOR LIFE.

AT THE AGE OF THIRTEEN IN THE MID. 1970’S GROWING UP IN THE BRONX NEW YORK SELF-DEFENSIVE SKILLS WITH YOUR HANDS, FEET OR BOTH WAS A DAILY SIGHT TO SEE.

ONE DAY I WAS OUT AND ABOUT WITH SOME FRIENDS, AND OUT OF NOWHERE, HUGE POSTERS OF KARATE TOURNAMENTS STARTED TO APPEAR MORE AND MORE IN MY AT THE TIME NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE WORD ON THE STREET WAS THERE WAS A WELL-KNOWN KARATE CHAMPION WHO WAS TEACHING IN A CHURCH BASEMENT AROUND OUR WAY.

IT WAS AN AFTER-SCHOOL EVENT AT THAT OLD CHURCH SO I ATTENDED THIS KARATE EVENT.

I WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO WITNESS THESE VERY SKILLFUL BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THOSE TIMES PERFORM CLOSE CONTACT SPARING WITH TRUE ENGAGEMENT.

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS ONE FULL-CONTACT MATCH WHEN THESE TWO GUYS WERE MIXING IT UP WITH THE HANDS THE WAY WE STREET-BOXED.

NEXT, A FRONT KICK AND PUNCH WERE SPECIALLY DELIVERED TO THE OTHER GUY'S HIGH GUARD AND HE DISAPPEARED FROM MY EYESIGHT FOR THAT MOMENT.

NO DRAMA LIKE IN THESE TIMES, THE MAN OF VICTORY STILL RAN TO ASSIST HIS OPPONENT TO RAISE HIM ON BACK UP, RIGHT THEN I WITNESSED TRUE HONOR WITH MUTUAL RESPECT.

I GAINED SOME KARATE BASICS ATTENDING THAT SCHOOL FOR A SHORT TIME BECAUSE MY FAMILY AND I MOVED AWAY.

NOW, IN MY NEW BOOGIE DOWN BRONX RESIDENCE IN 1979 I WAS BLESSED TO BE INTRODUCED TO TWO MARTIAL ARTISTS WHO SOON BECAME HONORABLE FRIENDS.

WE SPARED DAILY WHICH ENCOURAGED ME TO LEARN MORE AND MORE AS I GREW UP.

IN MY TWENTY’S WHILE WORKING I DISCOVERED THE BEST SCHOOL FOR ME.

THE NORTHERN PRAYING MANTIS INSTITUTE BECAME MY MARTIAL ARTS COLLEGE AND I AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR EVERY MOMENT I SHARED WITH MY SIFU, ALL THE SI-HINGS, AND FELLOW CLASSMATES OF THAT TIME FRAME.

NOW AT THE AGE OF FIFTY-NINE I STILL MAKE TIME TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CHOSEN LIFESTYLE OF WALKING WITH A SENSE OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT ENGAGED IN MY CHARACTER AS A MAN WHO STANDS ON ONLY REPRESENTING THE TRUTH.

LEARNING MARTIAL ARTS AND BOXING INSPIRED MY LIFE TO JOURNEY FORWARD WITH THE PURPOSE TO IMPROVE DAILY.

IN TAKING MOMENTS IN TIME TO WORK OUT AND MEDITATE FOR SELF-REFLECTION DAILY I HAVE DISCOVERED A GREAT ENERGY SOURCE FOR MENTAL CLARITY THAT REFLECTS IN MY DAILY ATTITUDE, FULL BODY HEALTH, AND INNER SPIRITUAL REVITALIZATION.

TO ALL MY TEACHERS AND MENTORS: THANK YOU.

COPYRIGHT: KEITH N. ROGERS SR. / KRSR: OUT THE BOX POET. SEPTEMBER 14,2024.