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A Black Belt in Commitment

November 10, 2009 | Author: Matthew | Filed under: Martial Arts, Okinawa Kenpo, Recent Events, karate

Just this past weekend Branden Strickland, a friend and fellow karateka, tied the big knot. Branden and Laura had an outdoor service that went off with great success. The weather cooperated unusually well, the scenery was excellent, and even their corgi Yoda behaved like a little gentleman.

Over this past summer Branden had to balance his work life, his ensuing wedding, and his black belt test all at the same time. Needless to say every day was smooth sailing with little to no stress. Despite how easy all of that must have been, Branden successfully got his black belt in Okinawa Kenpo Karate/Kobudo…and now in commitment as well.

Here are two additional photos, one of a group of Branden’s dojo mates and one of me and the big man himself.

Big congrats again to Branden and Laura. I dispense small thoughts about karate and the martial way here on this blog, but I am certainly not capable of giving advice in the marriage realm. Perhaps some of the more experienced readers out there can step in for me and give Branden a few cents worth of wisdom!

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 and is filed under Martial Arts, Okinawa Kenpo, Recent Events, karate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Branden

Awww Matthew you're a big sweety! Thanks!

And thank you everyone for your advice and thoughts!!!

"Needless to say every day was smooth sailing with little to no stress."
HAH!

Atleast now things can go back to the "normal" grind..... Never thought I'd say that out loud.

I'll just act like the house and future kids don't exist for a year or so.... :P

I have too much Ikigai reading to catch up on! ugh!

Stan

Training teaches you that you can only control yourself...marriage teaches you that control is only an illusion!
Good luck in both worlds!

RickMatz

What has served me well for my over 26 years of marriage is to great my wife every morning with: "I'm sorry, I was wrong, and it will never happen again."

Neal Martin

HaHa Rick! Been there more than once.
Also: "You have been away training all night and then you have to sit and talk about it for an hour afterwards with your friends...What about our time?"

dougis

After 16 years of marriage (and knowing each other for over 20) my best advice is to make each other laugh.
If you can do that then all is right with the world.

Matt__A

sounds like very good advice, thanks for sharing that!

bobpatteson

He can try some of my lines:

"Yes, dear."

"I'm sorry."

"I have no idea how the plunger got stuck in the garbage disposal."

At least two of those usually work.

Neal Martin

Let's just say your friend will be glad of that black belt when the arguments start! No, I'm kidding...sort of.

Remo1366

Only one rule to remember,man rules outside the house but once you cross that threshold your in her territory.

Matt__A

hahaha

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