Combat Sports Historian and Martial Artist
Post about family events that cross into other areas on the website.
My oldest son Kenneth will turn 18 this week. It is hard for me to believe he is a grown man already. It seems like five years ago he was a little guy running around and climbing on everything. When he was less than a year old, he could hang out of his exersaucer and pick up his toys off
This week my youngest son Caleb turns 16. I can’t believe it has been 16 years since I saw and held him for the first time. Caleb was the baby and waited until he had a good meal at Red Lobster before making his appearance in the world. When he was ready though, he didn’t wait around. He was born 40 minutes
Today would have been my maternal grandfather Gilbert P. Ellis’ 100th birthday. Grandpa Ellis only lived to 85 but he imparted 100 years worth of wisdom into the 32 years I knew him. I could write books about him but am going to focus today’s post on how he inspired me by refusing to grow old. Grandpa Ellis maintained his physical
On April 27, 2015, I had the honor of promoting my sons to Black Ranks in our system of self-defense. I promoted my oldest son Kenneth to 2nd Degree Black Rank. Kenneth was the first student I promoted to Black Rank on April 27, 2013. Over the past year and a half, Kenneth and I have been working on a
My daughter Caity is 21 years old this week. It is a bittersweet birthday because my baby girl isn’t my baby girl anymore. I am so proud of the young woman she has become but as she grew up I regretted not being able to pick her up, wipe her tears and make the “small hurts” go away. Caity came
Michael Hyatt recently wrote an article about retirement being a modern invention and dirty word. I agree with his views with one caveat. At different seasons in our life, it is time to let somethings go to make space for new things. To do new things well, we sometimes have to let go of the old. When I was in
I met my wife at my sister’s wedding in September 1995. I had known Tam as my little sister’s best friend for 10 years but I did not really see her as the woman she had become until this day in late September. I actually got to know her better because I was on wolf duty this day although it
My stepdad Ernest C. Diaz married my mother on June 8, 1981. Dad and Mom worked to make sure we had a normal family life. In 1981 or 1982, they decided to take my sisters and me to a professional wrestling show at the Checkerdome (also known as the Arena). Our favorite wrestlers were the Von Erichs. David Von Erich
After my mother married my stepfather, Ernest Diaz, in 1981, he was looking for a way for us to spend time together. I was camping with the Boy Scouts, so Dad decided that camping would be an effective way for us to get to know each other. A friend of Dad’s owned property and a cabin in Greenville, MO. We
On April 27, 2013, on what would have been his grandfather and namesake’s 71st birthday, Ken “Trey” Zimmerman III became the first black belt in the Zimmerman Self-Defense System under his father Ken Zimmerman Jr. “Trey” began studying martial arts shortly before his fifth birthday. “Trey” has trained in Taekwondo, Judo, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Gojo Shroei Weapons System. His goals