The Gosikido Brotherhood

Since the Creation of Gosikido, many students have come and gone, and very few have stood the test of time. There are many reason for that, some are easily explained, yet others still bewilder me. The formula is simple, I only ask for two things; 1) Absolute respect, and 2) Absolute dedication. What simple things I ask for, but how difficult they are to give. However, once given there is a rewarding benefit that becomes its natural outcome - that is, the Gosikido Brotherhood. First, let me reiterate that I never ask anything of my students that I have not ALREADY given to my teachers. Hence, I've already reaped the rewards of my relationships with my teachers - even after their deaths, they keep teaching me and blessing me with their wisdom. So, what is this brotherhood? It is something you can't touch, or see, or smell, or hear. Rather, it is something that you feel when you are among your brothers in the art. Adhering to my two conditions stated above only gives you the right to be eligible for this preticious honor, but the only way to earn it is through blood, sweat, and tears - you MUST pay your dues. How do you know when your there? You don't, the journey never ends, the challenges and tests never stop - but some day, when you need your brothers to come to your rescue . . .They will be there. It is an unspoken truth, whispered in the shadows of your consciousness that give you a sense of belonging to a cause greater than yourself. An understanding of a purpose who's goal is not defined, yet reachable in each of you. The thresholds we must cross to gain each other's confidence is undefined and only revealed once trust is established. Martial Arts is not just about punching and kicking, it is a way of life. It transcends all aspects of your being, in multiple dimensions to fulfill the ultimate balance of mind, body, and spirit. Wisdom is the application of knowledge, that only comes with time. In order for the formula to work correctly a student must surrender himself to his teacher, but at the same time asking him for his knowledge. In this symbiotic relationship, a teacher must also comply by disseminated his knowledge to his pupils. This relationship is a two-way street, both giving and receiving. Your fellow students then become the support mechanism by which each of you can grow and develop your skills. The relationship then becomes multi-dimensional, both vertically (teacher-student), as well as horizontally among your fellow Gosikido Brothers (a brotherhood I can't joint). In today's society, specially in the US, where etiquette and protocol are absent, where authority has been stripped from parents, teachers, and religious leaders, where can we turn to for a since of structure, order, and authority? At the end of the day, when you strip down all of our barriers, platforms, and material gains, all we have is our WORD and our HONOR.

George & Cristina Briseno's Wedding

Last Sunday, Cecilia and I were privileged to witness the matrimonial ceremony of one of my oldest students, George, with his beautiful wife Cristina. It was about five years ago that they shocked all of us by going to Las Vegas at a moment's notice to get married. Julio called me and told me he was on his way there to be with them, not even he knew. We didn't know what to make of it, was this a spur of the moment thing, or was it for real? Well, the last five years have answered that question - with two beautiful little girls, and one more on the way, they have endured the hardest part of a marriage. George understands who the real boss of the house is, so everything is just fine - he knows better than to mess with Cristina's Cuban side of her blood. I know that they did a lot of planning to pull off such a beautiful event. It's not always about the money, it's more about the taste of your choices, and the balance of things that make the final harmony look so natural. From the selection of the flowers, the menu, and even the color scheme of the couples - everything was balanced just right. But I must say, that the majestic location, nestled between the mountains of the Pala Mesa Resort in Fallbrook, was the touch that made this magical moment most memorable. As you can see in this picture, the stone (Asian style) gazebo in from of a running waterfall backdrop gave a sense of ancient spirits witnessing a modern union of love. As I saw George fight back the tears, one escaped . . .Finally, the real George emerges, if only for a brief moment. But don't fear, the rest of the night George was his typical self. I know Cristina and George had a real good time. There was lots of family there from both sides, as well as lots of colleagues from the real estate business, celebrating yet another success in the life's of George and Cristina. It was an interesting night full of great music and memorable experiences. Many things passed away, and many things became new. George flew in Nick from New Mexico to walk in the wedding party - we were all wondering if I looked that good when I was his age (please don't answer that). Even I got a little emotional when Julio and his lovely wife Melissa showed up to the reception - sometimes a simple gesture of love can concur mountains. The delicate balance of life's journey may very well be symbolized by the butterflies they released during the wedding ceremony. Who knows in these fragile times if love can endure, or if the pressures of an undisciplined society stress relationships to the point of no return. All that I know is that unless a higher source of power is not placed in the middle of a union of two people, the challenges and tribulations of day-to-day life can be overwhelming. I believe that God's plan is revealed in the sanctitude of marriage and family, but it is us humans who take it upon ourselves to change the rules. Cecilia and I wish both of them the very best, and hope they stay happily together forever.