It was a singular honor to attend and participate in the Tracy International Gathering of the Eagles this year!  First of all, I felt privileged to contribute to the event by teaching two seminars.  I shared our Wu Shen Pai cane set and taught some cane techniques in one seminar and taught fundamental principles of technique in another. My class literally tore apart Five Swords and Shielding Hammer for the principles that they taught.  I also had the privilege of attending a seminar on the broadsword taught by Tim Critner.  This seminar introduced a broadsword set taught to Tim by his teacher which was interesting and unusual.  Simo (my wife Kris) attended a number of seminars herself.  She was most impressed with both John DeLuca and Both Simo and I attended another seminar by Bart Vale.  He covered the much overlooked topic of going to the ground from standing.  His class was interesting, informative, and very physical.  The highlight of the event for me was attending Ted Sumner’s seminars.  He is a very knowledgable healing arts practitioner and his seminars truly broadened my horizons in that field.  Grandmaster Sumner is also deeply involved in teaching special needs students.  This tough veteran of years of martial arts training and law enforcement has a heart for these students which has truly made a difference in the lives of many!  His seminar highlighting his approach to these students was also very well received.  Master Sumner is also extremely well versed in pressure points as used in fighting. Since this is an approach which I also advocate and am knowledgable in, it was interesting to see how another martial artist applies these principles to the fight. 

    The most exciting part of this event was the opportunity to watch history in the martial arts world being made.  First, the Tracy Organization promoted a number of senior martial artists to 10th Degree Black Belt.  Now, if you are familiar with the martial arts world, this is usually not done.  The sitting grandmaster seldom promoted anyone to the position of 10th Degree Black Belt while he still lives.  Usually this is because the sitting grandmaster fears the possibility of losing the affection and standing they hold with their students.  Not so for Al Tracy.  This sitting grandmaster promoted 10 new 10th Degree Black Belts in the Tracy Organization.  These men were Ted Sumner, Tim Golby, Roger Green, Bart Vale,  Greg Mattson,  John Patrick Nieto, Ernie McPeek,  Rudy Prikken, Ralph Chinnick, and Bob Leonard.  Among these men are the members of the senior Yudanshakai who will govern the Tracy organization in the future!  They are all clearly worthy...all of them having spent 50 plus years in training. 

    For me at least, a special part of the experience in attending the 2013 Gathering of the Eagles was my promotion to 9th Degree Black Belt in the Tracy International Organization.  It is certainly difficult to imagine that I would be here today.  I have studied Kenpo, and other martial disciplines for well over 43 years.  It was, for me, both a humbling and moving experience.  Grandmaster Tracy has been a mentor, and a teacher, since I started in Kenpo under his auspices over 30 years ago.  During this time, I have continued to train and teach Kenpo in my schools and privately.  After the death of Ed Parker, Al Tracy is the senior Kenpo Grandmaster.  

    I will strive to prove worthy of the honor as both a role model and a leader as I continue to seek more knowledge and broaden my horizons in the art.  I want to thank Al Tracy publicly for his leadership, his mentoring, and his knowledge which he and his students have freely shared over the years! 

Sigung Jones and Professor Jefferson Davis, both recipients of Ku Dan or 9th Degree Black Belt from Grandmaster Al Tracy.  (Saturday, June 29th, 2013)