Dobra Family Blog

TOMS and Teaching

So last night we sit down and watch several of the TOMS videos (like the one below) with Luke and Emily and explain why we are buying these shoes. Just when I'm wondering if they are paying attention and understanding, there is a part of a video with kids playing soccer with a balled up hunk of plastic and Jessica says, "see they don't even have a ball." And Luke, with out hesitation says, "I don't really play with my soccer ball any more, we can put it in a shoe box [samaritan's ministries operation christmas child] and send it to them." Yeah, they get it. Praise God!

The lessons:

• buy a pair of shoes for $20 at walmart and support a slave wage... or... buy a pair of shoes for $40-$70, support a living wage and provide a pair of shoes to someone that has none. . . DUH!
• always involve your children in your lives and seek the teachable moments. they listen, see, and learn.

“Impress ...[God's commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, Matthew 22:36-40)

TOMS shoes for tomorrow youtube video

The Right, Duty, and Responsibility of Self Defense

* note: 6/20/2010 This is an in-progress and incomplete document. The thoughts and conclusions may not be fully formed as of this reading.

My first interest in martial arts was to build skill and confidence to be able to defend myself, my family, and my neighborhood from the criminal and lawless elements that seem to thrive.

As I studied the origins of the two styles I was interested in, Kung Fu and Krav Maga, I found that they, and many other styles of martial arts, had their roots in families and communities preparing to defend themselves from criminal gangs, invading armies, and evil dictators. And they weren't just born out of the need, but where there was a tradition of martial arts, there was also found a responsibility and duty to use it to protect and defend the common good and peace.

For instance, it was "during a time of banditry, violence and a weak imperial military - that we first see evidence that Shaolin monks [now famous for their Kung Fu] actually engaged in a unique form of combat training. . . It was also around this time . . . when the monks were called on to support the military in its campaigns against pirates." (Sharif)

Also, as an example, "In the year 961, martial art head master Fu Ju called together various masters from various areas in China for meetings with a special purpose. This was a very warlike period in China's history and people everywhere were in danger from brigands and armies. Fu Ju invited the best martial artists to come and share their knowledge while training at the Shaolin temple." (Canzonien)

Here is another great story of the Hung Gar Kung Fu Master Lam Sai Wing and Li Shi-gui, a low-ranking military commander, coming together to create a community security force:

All came to the common conclusion that robbers should be decisively repulsed. Furthermore, it was necessary to re-arrange various provisions and rules for the settlement of disputes and to make them a law with the aim to stop squabbling and paying off of personal scores. Also, our aim is not to permit the use of fighting arts for oppression of laobaisin (ordinary people) in order not to have a bad reputation among later generations. The young and the vigorous, who are just entering the social life, must take an example of great people and be generous-hearted and virtuous. If somebody with an undeserved honor to hear do not listen to these words, then, let him blame himself. All disasters are caused by one's foolishness! (Yuzhai)

I've already touched on the history of Krav Maga born out of the persecution of the Jewish people. "Since its existence, Israel has had to fight daily to maintain its survival. Surrounded and outnumbered by its enemies, Israelis developed systems of combat that focused on practicality, versatility and mental toughness. Out of necessity, Israeli martial arts valued rapid, instinctive learning methodologies and abandoned the formality of traditional self-defense systems. By adapting these philosophies, Israel has learned to survive through war and terrorism while developing one of the most formidable and well-respected armies in the world." (Kou)

In these cases, we can clearly see the duty and responsibility to use our Kung Fu to protect the defenseless.

Further more, martial arts in general and Kung Fu in particular are truly organic and therefore protect the most vulnerable. By organic I mean not institutionalized. The art and philosophy is passed on from family to family, and it is the family, neighborhood, community that directly benefits.

References:

Canzonien, Salvatore. "The Origin of Shaolin Taizu Changquan: Grand Ancestor of all Shaolin Boxing" Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine, June 2010 page 42

Kou, Henry , with Moni Aizik. "Commando Krav Maga" Inside Kung-Fu Magazine, www.insidekung-fu.com/content/view/61/36/1/0/

Sharif, Sulaiman. "Matial Arts Myths: Shaolin: The Birth of Kung Fu?" Inside Kung Fu magazine, July 2010, insidekung-fu.com

Yuzhai, Zhu. Disciple of Lam Sai Wing. "Short Historical Essay on Master Lam Sai Wing" As related by Zhang Shibiao from Pangyu. hung-gar-kung-fu.netfirms.com/LamSaiWing7.htm visited 9/2/2010

Hung Gar Kung Fu

Luke and Mick, Trinity Training Center demo at the Rave, Summer 2010

"Kung Fu rewards those who can eat bitter."
Coach Peter Fu, U.S.A. O-Mei Kung Fu Academy, says "Mostly, Shaolin [Kung Fu] taught him how to eat bitter, which is a fundamental requirement to follow the warrior's way." (Ching)

References:

Ching, Gene. "Embroidering Shaolin with Flowers: Modern Wushu versus Shaolin Theater" Kung Fu Tai Chi magazine, June 2010

Dobra Family Kung Fu Style of Martial Arts

Luke and Mick, Trinity Training Center demo at the Rave, Summer 2010

In my research of martial arts I found a sense of family legacy, which is one of my King's greatest desires. Fathers pass along the faith, impressing God's revelation upon them. Fathers can also model and pass along healthy living, fitness, and fighting style (self defense).

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 quoted by Jesus in Matthew 22:36-40

I practice Kung Fu under Sifu Dexter Parker (peoriakungfu.com) and I have studied the history of Krav Maga and believe the principles of self defense and survival to be worthy of passing on to my posterity. (A.1)

The Dobra Family martial arts is a philosophy built on the solid foundation of the Hung Gar (Hung family, Southern Chinese style) Kung Fu as taught by Sifu Dexter Parker (1) and the historical reality of self defense as taught through Krav Maga.

I would define our family martial arts like Bruce Lee defined his, as a "style without style". "Unlike more traditional martial arts, [Bruce Lee's] Jeet Kune Do is not fixed or patterned, and is a philosophy with guiding thoughts." (2)

ParentalRights.org
ParentalRights.org envisions a nation where the vital child-parent relationship is protected and preserved.

Parental Rights and Duty

Our primary duty to our Savior God is to love Him with all of our heart,mind, and strength; to keep his commands in our hearts, and to pass them on to our children!

When asked which of the commandments was greatest, Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy (6:5-7) "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

The command continues , “Impress ...[God's commandments] on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7, Matthew 22:36-40)

Cry Out America! Peoria County Illinois - Sept. 11

Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
Joel 1:14

'Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure' - D.L. Moody

Everywhere I look lately, God has been revealing His mighty power at work! From people overcoming religious barriers to find Jesus' grace (having a baptism this weekend, praise God!), to men overcoming the devil's trap of isolation and getting connected to other men to share in each others burdens and grow closer to Jesus, to local churches dealing with growth issues, and to God's people walking out in faith to leave everything that is comfortable and safe and start a new church! Praise God!

Please join me in prayer. Pray specifically for your church members, your small group, your ministry, and generally for the body of Christ to continue to wake up and become His shepherd servants where they are. No program this year, just sincere prayer from the heart and in the Spirit. Please join me.

Sept. 11, 2010

Last year was awesome! It was amazing that the Gospel was boldly proclaimed in the public square!

But this year I am taking a different approach. A very humble solemn assembly. Just God's people hand-in-hand in prayer crying out for a Christ Awakening.

When: September 11, 2010, Noon to 1pm
Where: The Peoria County Courthouse Plaza, corner of Adams and Hamilton.
Contact: Mick Dobra C: 309-231-4542
Or on the web: Cry Out America at ChaplainMick.com

On September 11 our nation will pause to remember the greatest "wake-up" call in our generation, the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01. As part of the Awakening America Alliance, a call is being issued for Christians across the nation to mark this significant day in our history with powerful prayer for America and the lost individuals of this country. In every one of the 3141 counties in the United States, during the noon lunch hour on September 11, Christians will unite around their county courthouse to cry out to God with focused prayer for their community, their lost friends and family, and for the spiritual condition of our nation.

Can you please help with the expenses of the event and outreach? If you feel moved to do so, please make checks payable to Richwoods Christian Church and make a note that it is for Cry Out America c/o Mick Dobra (mail to address below). We will need approximately $400 to offset 2009 and prepare for 2010 expenses, the largest of which are printing, sound system, and outreach materials. Any donations above and beyond our expenses will be donated to VOM (The Voice of the Martyrs www.persecution.com) to aid our brothers and sisters living for Christ in nations without religious freedom.

Mail checks to:
Mick Dobra, Cry Out America
Richwoods Christian Church
8115 N Knoxville Ave
Peoria IL 61615

Awakening America Alliance

Acts 2 Church Model, Small Groups or Home to Home Groups

Acts 2:42-47 (New International Version)

The Fellowship of the Believers

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Rooting Skill

Rooting, the ability to ground oneself, is on of the most important skills that a well-rounded martial artist should possess... and was considered necessary kung fu for warriors, generals and skilled masters. . .