PeaceWalker Blog

  One day after a high tide thousands of starfish were washed up on the shore. They started drying up in the sun. A boy, walking down the shore started throwing them back into the ocean, so they would live.  A person came up to him and asked,  "Why are you doing this? Look around! There are thousands of starfish; the shore is covered with them. Your attempts won’t change anything, it doesn't matter!" The boy picked up the starfish at his feet, thought for a moment, threw it into the sea and said, "It matters to THIS one!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stay grounded, we can only do so much. There is a lot that we cannot do, but when you have the opportunity to help, do so, no matter how insignificant it may seem. It matters a lot more than some may think. A wave begins as a ripple. Keep going, ~Craig

  Once there was a team of very educated men who were doing aid work in Africa. They were helping an impoverished village develop agriculture for sustenance and financial development. They were sure that they had an answer that the native people must have never thought of. The team of PhD's were so pleased with themselves that they were eager to get started. Immediately they mobilized volunteers to began tilling new fields and planting crops. They tended to the crops and within weeks their hard labor was rewarded with lush fruits and vegetables. "Look how easy agriculture is!" The team beamed as they gloated to the local African natives. Overnight, when the crops were ripe and ready to be picked hundreds of hippos came from the nearby river eating everything and trampling what was not eaten. "My God, the hippos!" The team exclaimed! The natives laughed and said, "Yes, that's why we have no agriculture here!" "Why didn't y...

  I spent this past weekend out in New Jersey training, teaching and learning at the annual Buyu Camp East.  It's always a wonderful time filled with outstanding people from all over the world and of course great training. Among the many people who attended, this tale involves a gentleman by the name of Murray Taylor. Murray is a long time practitioner of Budo Taijutsu, former British Army Officer and Israeli Defense Force Soldier. He is a pleasure to know, so I enjoy the times that I get the chance to share his company. Murray is the handsome gent w/the hat We were having a brilliant discussion on that first evening after training, when the conversation inevitably came around to martial arts. Murray went on to describe how his teaching started and continues to evolve. One of the analogies that I really liked that he used involves a palette rather than toolbox.   For decades I have used the toolbox analogy. I thought it rather clearly described what ...

The New Jersey beach was silent as I warmed up with the the Camden County police officers in preparation for Lt. Col. (Ret) Joe “Marine’s” infamous partner combat conditioning course. The day was September, 11 th   2015, the anniversary of a dark day. A day that most professional protectors are especially respectful of. A day that we hope is never repeated.  I can think of many good ways to commemorate 9/11: Showing respect for those fallen; extending condolences to loved ones of the victims; giving thanks to the protectors who are now on duty and of course, training to be a better protector. And that is exactly what we were doing this past Friday, September 11 th 2015, in the morning beach sand of a small New Jersey town not too far from where the Towers stood in New York City.   When we think of what happened and what we can do to prevent something like that from happening again, I am reminded of our diversity, our strength and our resilience. ...