August 12, 2025 • 42 mins
Sean Green's life story reads like an action film script, but with a depth Hollywood rarely captures. From the sun-drenched shores of Trinidad to becoming the oldest person ever to make the U.S. National Karate Team at age 51, Sean's journey exemplifies what happens when faith, discipline, and purpose align.
When Sean moved to America at age 10, he brought with him the military-like discipline instilled by his Caribbean Catholic school education. This foundation, combined with natural athletic ability that led to Division I track competition at Arizona State University, set the stage for his remarkable martial arts career. But what makes Sean truly uncommon isn't just his physical prowess – it's how he integrates his Christian faith with his passion for developing strong, biblically-minded men.
Drawing on his experience as both an educator and martial artist, Sean offers a refreshing perspective on what's missing in today's approach to raising boys. He pulls no punches when discussing the problems plaguing modern education: "We're still in this 'everyone gets a trophy' era" and "socially promoting kids who aren't academically ready because we're afraid to hurt their feelings." His solution? Create environments that challenge young men, require excellence, and provide strong male mentorship.
Sean's martial arts philosophy goes far beyond physical technique. He teaches that "meekness is strength under control" and emphasizes how training develops focus, coordination, memory, and discipline. For Christians who question whether martial arts aligns with their faith, Sean points to biblical warriors like David and Samson, reminding us that men are called to be "providers, protectors, priests, and prophets" in their homes.
Perhaps most inspiring is how Sean made the U.S. National Karate Team two decades after most competitors retire. Unable to match the speed of 20-year-olds, he studied the physics of fighting, mastering timing, distance, and momentum to overcome younger opponents. This same analytical approach and unwavering discipline characterizes his approach to faith, family, and developing the next generation of uncommon men.
Ready to challenge yourself physically and spiritually? Connect with Sean through his website https://gilbertmaf.com/ or social media (@greenesma4fitness on Instagram) to learn how martial arts can transform not just your body, but your character.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Uncommon Freedom
Show.
Today, you're in for a treat.
I am joined by a good friend ofmine, sean Green, who has over
30 years of experience in themartial arts arena and utilizes
his background in education toaid in the cognitive and
physiological development of hisstudents.
Sean holds a master's degreefrom both Arizona State
(00:23):
University and Dartmouth College.
Sean is a Christian husband andfather.
He is a former Division I trackathlete at Arizona State
University and a former memberof the US National Karate Team
under the International OlympicCommittee.
To date, sean is the oldestindividual to have made the US
National Karate Team.
Thus, he places emphasis onmaintaining mobility with age.
(00:46):
His passion is to helpindividuals improve and take
them as far as they desire byworking on disciplines such as
focus, coordination, memory,motor skills, flexibility,
discipline, cardio, balance andmore.
Sean has had the privilege oftraining with UFC Hall of Fame
athletes like Mark Coleman, markKerr and Dan Severn, olympic
(01:06):
gold medal wrestler KevinJackson, former UFC professional
Anthony Smith and current UFCprofessional Waldo Cortez Acosta
, who is ranked number nineoverall in the UFC currently and
rounds out the list of topathletes that Sean has coached
in recent years.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Sean, that's quite the bio of top athletes that
Sean has coached in recent years.
Sean, that's quite the bio.
Yeah, I don't know how thathappened, but God just put me in
that place, so it's justappreciative of all he's given.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, and so I met Sean while walking into church.
It was about five years ago, Ithink it was during the summer
of the infamous now infamousCOVID era, when many churches
had shut their doors, and I justremember you greeting me with a
big, big smile and also beingjust struck by your military
(01:56):
bearing and your level ofphysical fitness, which is one
of the things that makes youuncommon.
You were not in the military,is that correct?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I was not.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
But you have that military bearing about you.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, I grew up in the Caribbean.
I grew up in a Catholic schooland back in those days you were
allowed to discipline studentsand they were very much about
the discipline.
So when we would line up forclass in the morning we had to
line up in a straight line,uniform had to be pressed,
everything clean, cut together.
So I grew up with that kind ofbackground.
It just took it with me throughlife.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, so you kind of touched on that.
You grew up in the Caribbean.
Tell us a little bit aboutexactly where you grew up, what
your family life was like, andthen how you emigrated to the US
.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So I grew up in Trinidad, beautiful country,
very much a dangerous countryright now.
They listed as one of the top12 places not to go.
It's on the US list right now.
I was back down there inSeptember of 2024 and the street
that I grew up on I couldn'teven go there anymore because
(02:59):
the cartels have such a hugeinfluence.
Came to America because in theCaribbean we always saw America
as the land of opportunity.
My mom was a nurse, so therewas high demands for nurses, of
course, and with that her and mydad came in.
They settled and by the timethey settled in they sent for my
(03:19):
brother and I.
So I came to America when I wasin fifth grade, so basically 10
years old.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Okay, and roughly.
What year was that?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
brother and I, so I came to America when I was in
fifth grade, so basically 10years old, okay.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
And roughly what year was that?
That is a great question 1978.
1978.
Okay, and so your parents camehere and that you and your
brother were still living inTrinidad with family before.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Correct, my mom is the oldest of 11.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
So you had plenty of aunts and uncles to help out.
Yes for sure Got it Okay.
Um, how long were you separatedfrom your parents before you
came to the U?
S?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
uh, from pretty young , from, uh, you know, first
grade on, but we would comeduring the summertime, so we
would go to school in theCaribbean and then the summer we
would spend the summers inAmerica and go back to go to
school and then, when the summer, we would spend the summers in
America and go back to go toschool and then, when you were
10 years old, that's when youcame to the U?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
S and stayed pretty much Okay, permanently.
Yes, got it, and you grew up inNew.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
York.
Is that correct?
Yes, long Island, new York.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Got it Very good, very good.
Um, what are some of the other,either people or life events?
I assume, like moving fromTrinidad to US was probably a
very formational experience inyour life.
What are either some of theother experiences that you had
or influences in your life thathad a significant impact on the
(04:37):
Sean that we know today?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
You know, America was the land of opportunity.
Trinidad is known as aquote-unquote third world nation
.
We never saw it like thatgrowing up, but we knew that
there were a lot more things inAmerica.
If you were in Trinidad youwanted to come to the American
schools and universities.
So I have a couple of cousinsthat have gone through the
(05:01):
universities all up and down theEast Coast, from Howard
University to Cornell, the IvyLeagues, so on and so forth.
So we just saw it as that and wewanted to take advantage of
that opportunity to, in the end,make it a better place to be a
better society.
I can remember coming here andmy very first teacher, ms
(05:21):
Graziano, just greeting me withsuch comfort.
You know, being a stranger in anew land and just, of course,
terrified at 10 years old.
And then even my first friend,a young man named Vaughn
Smallwood, who just befriendedme and just took me in under his
wing, so it was quite theexperience.
And then I was around a lot ofpeople that were highly
motivated, so that was my thingthere as well.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Got it.
Did you experience any bias orracism coming to the US from
Trinidad?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I knew there was racism, but I did not experience
it personally.
I was always the type to seepeople as people and I think
people reciprocated that?
Have I ran into racist people?
yes, but to me that was theirown issue yeah um, it didn't
take away to my love for people,my love for diversity, that
sort of stuff.
So, um, yeah, it was there, butit was never prominent or
(06:19):
prevalent, and that tends to bethe case with most foreigners
that come in, um, from placeslike the Caribbean or Africa or
those type places.
It's nothing, we don't look atthat.
We look at what is the goalthat we're trying to accomplish
and how we're going to makesociety a better place.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Yeah, based on your experience being born and
spending the first 10 years orso of your life in Trinidad and
then moving to the U?
S, what makes the United Statesspecial or different to you?
Oh, wow Cause I mean you loveAmerica, right, right, I know
that about you You're a patriot.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, no doubt I mean what doesn't make America
special?
Like you have freedom of speech, right, but you also have um
such benefits.
I often tell people, man, I'vebecome soft coming to America
because you get into suchluxuries that it's just really
laid back from.
I grew up in a country where wedid not have hot and cold water
(07:17):
.
So like you're getting ready totake a shower and you're like
racing yourself to just jumpinto that cold water.
We had one TV channel, right,that was it.
The whole country watched thesame station.
Now, of course, they're moreadvanced with cable and
everything like.
America but you.
There was so many perks that itwasn't even funny.
Just beautiful neighborhoodswith trees and stuff to grow up.
Of course I grew up withbeautiful beaches, but just
(07:39):
everything and just amazingopportunity as far as education
jobs and just amazingopportunity as far as education
jobs, the opportunity to excelin sports, so a lot of better
venues, so to speak.
And I grew up with a bit of anathletic background because my
father used to body build and heused to compete in that.
I found at an early age that,hey, I could play soccer well in
(08:00):
America, but I was also fastand at the time I realized that
soccer was still new to Americawhen I was growing up, so it
wasn't as easy to get anathletic scholarship in soccer.
So, I ended up choosing track.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Got it.
Got it.
All right, let's move on.
I know we're going to talkabout martial arts because
that's probably your number onepassion outside of your faith
and your family, but you've alsospent many years in education,
and specifically Christianeducation.
Can you share how you got intothat field and some of your most
satisfying accomplishments ineducation?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Oh man.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Because we've had a lot of conversations about the
state of education in thiscountry.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yes, so I was in public education and just really
was kind of tired of themediocrity.
And the opportunity poseditself to get into Christian
education so I took it.
And what a great opportunity towitness the students.
So I was able to just reach outand just bring in solid pastors
, all that sort of stuff,formulating a great commission.
(09:02):
So, many times people think like, hey, you're going to a
Christian school, so it's veryChrist-like.
But that's not always the case.
They think maybe all the kidsare very Christ-like, but really
it goes against what Scripturesays.
Scripture talks about the roadbeing narrow, right and not many
will enter.
So in that capacity we know.
(09:23):
Romans 10, 17 says faith comesby hearing, hearing the word of
God.
So I would just look forpastors.
We've had gentlemen like VotieBachman and things of that
nature where we're just bringinga solid word and bringing truth
.
So that for me, was a great wayof just helping to formulate our
future and helping in theChristian walk, and especially
(09:44):
when you look at the young menand we look at biblical manhood
and how society tries to makeyoung men more effeminate.
So my thing was yep, how do wedo that?
How do we mold that?
Obviously, there's a lot ofdiscipleship that takes place
and things of that nature.
So setting up disciplingprograms within the school with
(10:05):
men teachers and young men, andthe same thing with female
teachers for young females.
But that was one of the mainthings and the driving forces
for me.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Yeah, I know we've had many conversations about the
importance of discipling andmentoring young men and from my
perspective and I know I'm goingto step on some toes with this,
but that's just what I do Ithink that there's a massive
shortfall of men in education.
(10:36):
Yes, because the reality is andmy wife has even noticed this
that when our boys you knowwe've got three boys are all 14
and up at this point, when theyturn 13, 14 years old and I
think this is just part of thegrowing up process that God
innately put in them they startto push back at the authority
(10:57):
that my wife has over them andthere's times where she's like
Kevin, I just need you to stepin here and take care of this.
You know it might beconversations she's having with
the kids and they just they donot take it Once they turn 13,
14 and that testosterone startsflowing.
They don't take it the samefrom their mom as they do their
dad.
And I think the same thinghappens in school, and I love
(11:21):
the female teachers.
I know it's an incrediblydifficult job.
Becca was a teacher.
Becca was a teacher.
My dad was a teacher.
Both my in-laws are teachers,so I know it's a very difficult
job.
They're underpaid.
How do we get more men ineducation, whether it's at
public schools or privateschools?
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yeah, that is a very interesting thing.
I think you look at the facetof what's out there and there's
some ideas that we toy with.
Is there a need for an all-boysChristian school?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Right, the Catholics have it.
They have all-boys Catholicschools and Jesuit schools and
all-girls schools.
But for some reason in theChristian ranks we don't have it
, not for the most part yeah,not for the most part, yeah.
Not for the most part.
Right, and that's what we'recalled to do.
Right, we're called because themen are the cornerstone.
We are the ones that are goingto be held accountable for our
(12:14):
families.
Yep, and I have a daughterwho's in her early 20s and when
young men approach, I'm like,well, we said, we have this
conversation and these young mendon't sound any different from
the world.
So how do you give your mostprecious item that your family
can give over to someone?
And it's like that is not godlyleadership, right?
(12:37):
So there's the challenge there.
So it becomes hey, if they'renot there, can you create a
system and I'm not talking aboutgetting into programs, but a
discipleship system to groomyoung men up right?
And could one of those answersbe an all-male Christian school?
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Yeah, I think one of the realities that we, as you
know, especially Christianparents, are going to have to
face is that if we want more menin education since typically,
you know, the man is the primarybreadwinner One of the
challenges is that they justdon't get paid a lot, you know,
as public school teachers andtypically they make less as
(13:15):
private school teachers.
So it's kind of like you getwhat you pay for.
Um, and I'm not saying likethere are, my kids have been
influenced by some great maleand female teachers, but the
reality is, if we want morestrong, biblically minded men to
be teachers and mentors in theeducation system, we're just
going to have to pony up moremoney.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
I totally agree and you see that in schools like
Brophy here in Phoenix, rightBrophy typically those teachers
don't even leave till.
They pretty much pass away orthey're going to retire right
Because they pay so well.
So I agree, you totally have topony up.
And I think in education a lotof times there's a lot of
misplacement of money andmismanagement of money where
(13:57):
instead of paying teachers,you're putting it in something
else, like a fancy building.
Well, how fancy can a buildingbe?
Right?
It's not saying, don't havesomething, that's nice.
But sometimes I think it'soverdone where that money can be
placed, where it's morebeneficial.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Because, at the end of the day is you're looking to
save souls, those buildings andstuff are going to burn down
eventually, yeah, yeah.
And I think the reality,especially when you talk about
you know, you know we're reallyfocused on raising uncommon men
with this series, and when youcreate a sense of challenge and
difficulty, like boys and menthrive on that Right.
And you know, I rememberhearing the story a long time
(14:36):
ago.
I don't remember where I heardit, but it was the story of, you
know, a high school assembly.
You had the Army, navy, airForce and Marine Corps
recruiters come in and army,navy and air force uh, you know,
they all gave their spiel andthen the marine corps sergeant
or gunny came out you know,paced across the stage with a
pissed off look in his face and,you know, kind of scowled at
(14:58):
the crowd.
he's like not a single one ofyou is good enough to join the
marine corps, yeah, and theassembly's over and everyone
went to the marine because itwas like you can't do it and men
want to.
You know, when you tell mostboys can't be done, they're like
oh, let me show it to you.
So I'm with you.
Like our kids, they don't needto be in a perfectly temperature
controlled environment, evenhere in Phoenix.
(15:19):
It's okay If they're a littleuncomfortable, uh, and we just
we just have to microdoseadversity, especially in our
boys.
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly.
All right, I'm putting you onthe spot here.
What are three of the biggestshortfalls in education today?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I think you have leaders that can't lead.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Right, they're very inexperienced.
I think we are still in thisEveryone gets a trophy, everyone
gets a medal type era.
And then I think we are alsosocially promoting kids, kids
that are not academically ready.
We're just moving them alongbecause, quote unquote some
(16:01):
research out there says that,hey, it's going to hurt their
feelings or their confidence ifthey don't move along, even
though they may not be able toread, multiply or anything of
that nature.
There was a recently, within thelast few years here there was a
lawsuit both in Massachusettsand Tennessee where a young lady
got to college and found outshe really couldn't read, but
(16:24):
she had gotten all these awardsfor academia and stuff like that
, so she filed a lawsuit.
Yeah, I remember hearing aboutthat, right, yeah, but she had
gotten all these awards foracademia and stuff like that,
and so she filed a lawsuit, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
I remember hearing about that, right yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So, but it's going on all over the country.
So I think those top three.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
There are huge.
Going back to the everyone getsa trophy.
What is it, since?
You've spent a lot of years inChristian education and you know
high school education?
What are your thoughts on?
Everyone gets playing time inthe academic and you know high
school education.
What are your thoughts on?
Everyone gets playing time inthe academic world or in the
sorry, in the athletic world.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I don't, I don't believe in it.
Okay, Because then you look atthings like hey, when you have
to go to war, you think aboutWorld War II.
You had 16 year olds that'ssigning up to go to war.
They was so patriotic.
Yeah, I don't think you wouldsee that today Not many, that's
for sure.
Right, and you take away thatcompetitive edge.
(17:14):
And then I even think of evenduring COVID times and you've
seen commercials I rememberwatching what Russia would put
out as commercials and whatChina would put out as
commercials and then whatAmerica would put out as
commercials.
Our commercials were so muchmore feminine and everything
else and they're just showingmassive power.
And I'm not saying that malesare better than females, but
(17:35):
when it comes to masculinity andyoung men, our young men need
to be young men.
Back to the school situation.
I've been in schools wheresomething's wrong and a mom
comes in to defend her son.
And I'm like oh my goodness,when I was in high school, I
would die if my mother everwalked through that front door
to defend.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
That is one of the biggest mistakes a mom can make.
Right, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
So so those become the things there.
So, yeah, I don't believeeveryone should get playing time
.
Right?
If you cannot get playing time,maybe there's another sport for
you.
Yes, it may not be the sportfor you, right?
But yeah, I don't believe inthat at all.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Because it hurts them overall in life as well, like
how do you compete on the jobmarket?
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Yeah, right, yeah, okay.
What are three things you'dlike to see implemented in
education that you think wouldpositively impact our society?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Three things you'd like to see implemented or
changed or changed you know, Isee something going on at um,
the national level with, uh uh,the nea national education
association.
Right, they're the largestunion in america, um, but I
don't see where they'vebenefited america, um, and
because of certain things thatthey've done, it allows bad
(18:46):
educators to stay in the field,which then turns around and
causes good teachers to leavethe field, because good teachers
don't want to deal withmediocrity.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yep Right.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
So, and then just overall leadership, you have a
lot of times these boards, wherethey have a personal agenda and
that may not be the best agendaof the kid or the student or
overall society when.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
So you're talking about basically sanctioned
incompetence, kind of the um, uh, what is the tenure is is the
philosophy.
I know that tenure exists inthe college world.
I don't know if it does in, uh,elementary or not, but the
bottom line is basically you getenough seniority, you can be a
crappy teacher and you're notgoing to get fired.
And when you're a good teacherand you're surrounded and you
(19:31):
see that sanctioned incompetence, you know, regardless of the
company or the career people aregoing to leave.
The flip side is, as an educator, it can be very frustrating
when you're passionate aboutwhat you're doing and you don't
get the support at home.
You know, because the realityis a lot of parents they're
abdicating their responsibilityto educate their child to the
school.
And as a teacher, it can bevery frustrating when you know
(19:56):
you're doing your part but youcan only do so much as a teacher
, how do we reward and how doyou reward the good teachers and
also figure out when astudent's struggling?
Is it the teacher's response,you know, is because the
teacher's not good enough, or isit because the parents aren't
doing their job?
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, I mean, it could be a combination of things
, right, it could be one of both.
So, um, also the parenting asfar as parenting, a lot of times
parents may come to educatorsand say, hey, like I don't know
what to do.
Well, it's not our job to raisea child, it's our job to
educate the child.
But, first and foremost, it'sthe parent's job to educate the
child right.
And so they just abdicate thatto the teacher.
(20:36):
But they have to have somesupport in there.
I think, going back to schoolsand school systems, that don't
respond.
You see certain things likeVirginia, where there's high
parental involvement Teacherscan't get away with the lack of
the A school type atmospherebecause, there's involvement in
there.
When there's lack of parentalinvolvement schools tend to go
(20:59):
very wayward with what they do.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Got it.
So basically, if parents areinvolved, the parents are going
to see through the BS of a goodteacher or a bad teacher.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
They are.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
And if they see the bad teacher they file enough
complaints, then the problemwill probably take care of
itself.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Yeah, in certain societies, and then in other
societies, the parents aren'tresponding and they need to
respond.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Like you said earlier .
Speaker 2 (21:22):
The teacher cannot raise their child.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
So they want to abdicate that to the teacher.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
All right, so let's move on to martial arts and
karate, which is definitely oneof your biggest passions.
Um, how did you?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
get into martial arts .
Oh, wow, I got into martialarts because, again, growing up
in Trinidad, we only had onesystem, so our movie theaters
would only show uh, theCaribbean has a huge Chinese
influence, so on Saturdays, kungfu movies were the only things
that played in my head, right.
So you grow up as a kid andyou're like, oh man, martial
arts is pretty cool, yeah.
(21:55):
So fast forward, I come toAmerica, I come out to Arizona
State, I compete for ArizonaState.
Well, my strength andconditioning coach at Arizona
State has coached four USOlympic wrestling teams in their
strength and conditioning coachat Arizona State has coached
four US Olympic wrestling teamsin their strength and
conditioning, so he got me intomartial arts.
So, through that, that's how,um, and that back then it was
(22:17):
the early 90s, so a lot of thewrestlers were starting to enter
into the UFC okay beingsuccessful at it.
Um, but my instructor, he alsodid um, my instructor, he also
did my strength coach, he alsodid karate, he did judo, he did
so, he did it all.
So and I just rolled with himalong in the.
I rolled with him in all worlds, but I just specialized more in
(22:40):
the karate realm.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Got it.
Why are martial arts soimportant in your opinion?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
I love it because of the fact that you know they talk
about things like resistancetraining.
So you have coordinationcombinations.
Combination is a great for, um,you know, memory and
Alzheimer's, especially as weage, things of that nature
balance a lot of times.
You know, when we get older westart falling all the
calcification of bones becauseyou're hitting pads.
Uh, so I love every aspect ofit and it gets the mind Uh, if
(23:09):
you're hitting pads, so I loveevery aspect of it and it gets
to mind.
If you're someone that hasattention challenges, it helps
with the focus in and dial in,because there's certain training
that we have to know to say,hey, look, that person's
right-handed, that person'sleft-handed, what are they right
?
And you have to be able to readthings, what are their habits?
So you really have to dial infocus-wise.
So we do a lot of drills,whether it's light drills or
(23:31):
certain types of footwork drillsor certain types of reaction
drills, to help with that.
So it just covers so manyaspects and at the national
level and international levelit's very different than 90% of
your local dojos.
So we believe in the tradition,but also we believe in
(23:53):
usability, and so karate hastaken a bit of a bad hit.
I wouldn't say a bit of a badhit.
It has taken a bad hit becausewithin karate, you will have
like 20 different organizationswith 20 different styles.
So when it came to the Olympics, they were like no, you need to
have one set of rules, one setof styles.
So when it came to the Olympics, they were like no, you need to
have one set of rules, one setof styles.
That's why there's only onetrue USA team.
Now everyone will claim to haveUSA be a USA team member, but
(24:15):
the one true USA team is backedby the Olympic training center
and the U S Olympic committee.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Yeah and um, let's go on to that.
So you are the oldest AmericanU S karate team member.
Yeah, how old were you when yougot?
Speaker 2 (24:28):
on the team I was 51.
So in a typical age for the USteam is 18 to 34.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Unreal.
So you were almost 20 yearsolder than the old end of that
range.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah, that year there was a 36-year-old, so I was 15
years older than the-.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
How did that happen?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
For me again.
I never think of myself astalented, so I like to study.
So, I got into more of thesports, science and the physics
of it all, I realized I couldn'tstand toe to toe with a 20 year
old and move as fast as them,so I would just build momentum
by bouncing in and out right anddeveloping my momentum as I go
in.
So as I'm attacking, I'm alreadyfull of momentum and just
(25:10):
studying and then knowing whatyou can do physically, um, you
know the formulas for forfighting, no matter what the
fight is, whether it's judo,wrestling, jujitsu uh, karate,
is timing and distance right.
So how do you maximize yourtiming and distance with what
weapons you may have?
Speaker 1 (25:30):
So the life lessons there are, study your enemy.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Exploit their weaknesses, yes, and leverage
your strengths.
Correct, okay, very good.
What was it like being on the US team?
I mean, that's gotta be, youknow, for for many athletes
that's kind of like the the, thedream, and kind of the pinnacle
.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, you know it was , um, it's kind of like the
dream and kind of the pinnacle.
Yeah, you know it was.
It's kind of interestingbecause I was studying, because
I studied so much, I wasstudying the best coaches, right
, and the best coaches they say,never talk about wins, they
talk about execution.
So my thing was more executionand if you execute and you're
(26:06):
talented enough, you'll getthere.
That was that would become thefinal goal.
The season didn't start offwith like, hey, I'm going to
make the USA team or the USAteam.
The season started with hey, ifI'm good enough, let's see how
good I can be, and if that takesme to the USA team, it takes me
to the USA team.
So that was more of my strategy.
And you know, I was just livingmy scripture, so I would look
(26:29):
at the fight game.
Hey, first, corinthians 1031,whatever you eat, whatever you
drink, you do it unto the gloryof God.
Okay, I'm called to excellence.
So I would go to work, comehome, hang out with my family 9
o'clock.
I'm in the garage, you know,with the bag, whatever the case
may be, you go down real quickin a match and it's, you know,
(26:51):
like romans 12, right, went intorenewing your mind.
Right, gotta get back.
It's like a quarterback gettinga sack.
They got to come back to thatline.
Yep.
So there was a lot of scripturethat I used all throughout in
my journey and stuff like that.
That just was that sweetreminder.
And and then, even then, um,saying like man, lord, like, why
am I even here right now?
(27:11):
51?
Like, cause I'm competing at 50.
And then, you know, we make afinal selection at 51 and it's
like, why am I here?
But along that journey heshowed me certain things where I
just got to share with a lot ofguys on a team, you know, uh,
giving them like little books ofJohn and stuff like that.
Guys were allowing me into thatcamp and I was just so gracious
for that.
It's like words can't expressbut the word of God can't Right.
(27:34):
That's true love for forsomeone else.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Now some Christians might think it's impossible to
reconcile a sport of fightingand being a Christian.
Uh what?
What would your rebuttal be tothem?
Speaker 2 (27:49):
I would say look at David, look at David's mighty
men, look at Samson right, thegreatest gladiators on the
planet have been Christians.
I've come from Christiandescent.
Very good, so, and again too,like who stands up right,
because part of being a believerand a man is not only you have
to be providers, protectors,priests, and a man is not only
have to be providers, protectors, priests, prophets right In our
own home.
(28:09):
But how do you protect?
Right, how do you protect?
And it's definitely, it's justlike we read the word right.
If you want to get closer toGod, you keep reading the word
right.
If you want to be able toprotect your family, right, you
train in that sense, and noteveryone's a gladiator, but
there's certain people that Godhas picked out and designed for
that, and so you have to takewhat he gives you and be
(28:30):
accountable with it.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Yeah, amen to that, love it.
How does martial arts help ourkids, and especially our boys
and young men, develop thestrong character of uncommon men
.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Oh man, it helps with their focus.
It helps with respect, rightand the way I run.
in our dojo we do um little typeuh, and the way I run in our
dojo, we do little typesermonettes and stuff like that.
So it's just what does a godlyman look like, right?
What is meekness?
It is strength under control,right?
So that's what we gear up youngmen with and that's what we
(29:01):
teach them.
So, and how do you deal withadversity and how do you live in
a world that you're not a partof?
Right, not of this world.
Uh, I, I've definitely seenthat, yes.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
What are the things that, uh and we'll talk about
your dojo here in GilbertArizona, but obviously some of
my audience doesn't live aroundhere what are the things that
you would encourage parents tolook for when exploring a
(29:37):
possible facility for theirchild?
Speaker 2 (29:39):
You know I would say, look for proof, um, for their
child.
You know I would say, look forproof, um, some you know a lot
of dojos.
You'll see guys talk and theydon't understand what they're
talking about.
Like, what is your background,what are your credentials?
Just like we would go foranything else, right?
Whether we're looking for anattorney or we're looking for a
house, we look for the best zipcodes, all that sort of stuff.
Uh, I'll give a classic example.
(29:59):
I've seen in the area where itwas advertised at a local rec
center that this guy wasoffering martial arts and he
said you'll be able to beatanyone, any size, any speed and
anything of that nature.
And I'm like no self-defense isfight or flight.
Sometimes you're just not.
There's a reason why we haveweight classes in fighting, all
(30:21):
the fighting.
So, how can you fight anyone,any size, any speed that's?
And then I actually went out ofcuriosity to see the guy's
class and I'm like, uh, yeah,that's not a guy I would want in
my corner if I were in a fightsituation.
So, um, and then I saw anotherone on our local news a couple
years back where a gentlemansaid well, if you're getting
(30:42):
choked, you, you scream.
And he was teaching aself-defense on TV.
They were given a littlesnippet and I'm like, well, when
someone gets tapped out, whenthey, there's a reason we tap
out right.
Because you can't talk, you haveno knuckles.
So I would say research whatyou're doing and what are you
looking for, right?
What are you like?
You can't, hey.
If, what are you looking for,right?
(31:02):
What are you like?
You can't hey.
If I'm going to go learn tofight, I'm going to go with the
top UFC guys.
Or if they have a gym that'sopen, that's where I'm going to
go, right?
Or hey, like a Navy seal or youknow that, right, you know you
have these guys like JockoWillick, right, joe Rogan, all
that sort of stuff, so you cansee and watch, because a lot of
people don't understand thefight game.
(31:22):
It looks very sloppy at times.
They don't understand what'sgoing on and things of that
nature.
But I would say, definitely,look at the person's experience.
I don't want to know what youknow, you're telling me you're
going to do.
I want to know what you've done.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Because if you have no practical experience, if
you've never been to war, so tospeak, right, why would I take
your advice?
Yeah, right.
So if you've never, you know,shot a gun, why would I take
your advice?
Right, like you're not anexpert marksman, right?
So, um, those are the kinds ofthings there that I see.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Okay, that's, that's good.
Um, and I know, uh, you know,one of our boys has worked out
and trained with you and, uh,our daughter will be at some
point.
We did not do it this summerbecause we valued our dinner
hour.
It was a very peaceful summer,but as things pick up here in
the school year, we're lookingforward to EV training with you.
I just love your philosophy.
(32:15):
Why do you think it's importantfor all of us, and especially
Christians and, even moreimportantly, christian young men
and men, to be healthy and fit?
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Man.
That's good, because not onlybeing fit physically helps you
physically, but it helps youhealth-wise longevity.
You're called to go out thereand make disciples right.
You got to take care of thetemple.
We're called to take care ofthe temple right.
There's a reason why we'retaking care of the temple.
Right, we're here to do, to dothe lord's work yeah it's good
to look fit and be healthy, butthen there's also that time when
(32:46):
you're like you never know whenyou're going to be called on.
I had a situation where, um, mydaughter, uh, my wife asked us
to uh stop by a walmart and pickup some uh foil.
And it was just a neighborhoodWalmart.
My daughter, she was coming ofage.
So she's like, hey, dad, I'llrun in and get it.
(33:08):
So I'm like, okay, so I'mtrying to give her independence,
but at the same time I'mwatching the door.
It's Walmart after all, so soshe calls me on the phone and
she's like dad you know, stay onthe phone with me and I'm like
what?
I didn't get what she was saying.
And then she said it the secondtime.
She was like dad, just stay onthe phone with me.
And for some reason it clickedbecause the Holy Spirit Right.
(33:29):
And I said, is someonefollowing you?
And she was like, yeah, right.
So of course I jump out thetruck and and right away because
, like I said, the things thatmartial arts teaches you, you
see, certain things right, whatis a person's framework, like
when are they walking?
I could just remember vividlyhe's on her right shoulder
because I thought she was stillin the store.
(33:50):
So, as I'm beating it to thestore, she comes out the door,
because what he did it was hechecked out at the same time
with her, after following heraround, and then waited up front
by the ice machines, and then,when she walked by by, he
continued to follow her.
when I saw her I hung up thephone and he peeled off and so
(34:10):
she was so shooken up you know Ihad to address her.
Yeah, um, there's other timestoo where you know we're called
to defend the weak.
So there was another time wewere walking through one of our
local malls and, um, the youngman at the kiosk would be in,
harassed by like five highschool kids, and my wife is like
hitting me, like hey, checkthat out, check out what's going
on over there.
So anytime my wife does thatlike I got to pay attention to
(34:34):
that.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Good man.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
So I'm just standing there, so I go over, I act like
I'm looking at something in thekiosk.
The kids move to another kiosk,they start harassing that
person, but by that time we'relike hey call mall security.
And I just stood there and justwaited till mall security got
there and stuff like that.
So there's times, as believers,we are called period to defend
the weak and if God has put thatin you, then you owe that,
(35:00):
because that's a resource thathe gave you and you can't bury
it right absolutely.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Yeah, I wish, uh, I wish everyone understood that
there's really nothing that wedo on earth that isn't enhanced
by us being our best self,physically, right, uh and uh,
that's great, that's great, allright.
So now it's time to get to knowyou a little bit better.
I'm going to ask you somepreferences in four manly areas
cars, cigars, guns and guitars.
(35:26):
And this may or may not applyto you, but your favorite guitar
or favorite car, it's eitherthe one you have have had or
your dream car.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Okay, so I think a couple of them.
I miss my Toyota Tundra thatwas so cool.
Okay, and I think my dream carmay be like a Bugatti.
Okay, I love the Bugattis.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Gotcha.
Yeah, my boys would agree withyou on that Cigar.
You a cigar guy.
I think you're more of a pipeguy, right.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
More of a pipe guy, but I love cigars as well.
Okay I have not had and wouldlove to check out some cuban
cigars okay how can you notright, if you're new to the
cigar game, that's like themarquee cigar all right.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Well, I will keep that in mind.
I will say, having had some, Ithink they're overrated, are
they uh, in my opinion, um, butuh, I'll, I'll let you be the
judge at some point when I getmy hands on one favorite gun.
So this one is either you'rejust your all time favorite gun,
or if you could only have onegun in your arsenal, what?
Speaker 2 (36:29):
would that be Boy?
That's a good one.
That's a good one, I think myfavorite one in my collection
right now is the SIG MPX.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Cause you could single shot or you could rattle
off 30 shots.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
Is that a pistol, or what is that?
Speaker 2 (36:47):
I'm not familiar with that one.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
It's a nine millimeter it uses nine
millimeter bullets okay, but itcan shoot off automatic or
semi-automatic.
It's a carbine.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Yes, a rifle, uh it's , I don't know because when we
were under the lastadministration we were going
through some stuff where, if youhad, right shoulder stock yep,
they were starting to listthings as rifles, and so I don't
know technicalities.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Right, yeah, but it's more than a pistol.
Yes, okay, got it, got it.
Uh, and either favorite guitar,if you play, or guitarist, if
you don't, or okay, man, that'sa.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
That's a rough subject.
That's, uh, something that goesback to my high school days.
Love the guitar, always wantedto learn the guitar, took it up
in high school but I was aslower learner at it and my
teacher used to like just quizus like every other day and I'm
like man, I'm just learning thisstuff.
So I ended up dropping guitarin high school, big regret.
(37:38):
Um bought a guitar, neverplayed it.
My daughter took it, taughtherself guitar right, so we have
Mitchells at the house Taughtherself guitar.
So then I bought my own guitaragain.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
And so that's probably a bucket list item that
I got to learn to play theguitar.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Are you more of an acoustic or an electric guy?
Speaker 2 (38:00):
I'm starting off at the basics acoustic Okay.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
Yeah, all right, very good, very good.
I love that.
I love that.
Okay, so one of the things thatI love to ask people is their
three favorite books, so threebooks that have had the biggest
impact on you, or maybe threebooks that you would recommend
that everyone read.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
You know what Three favorite books?
I could go with one all daylong the Bible All right, right.
So I know we're in a groupcurrently reading a book on
prayer, so I would say, any goodbook on prayer by a good author
(38:39):
, right, it is.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
That book is is in my top three.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
Um, yeah, so yeah, so and um, I always say books,
that I like to read a book, soI'm like physiology of it all,
like sports and movement, um,love those kinds of books, but
typically overall, uh, christianbooks are my top.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Okay, any third specific book that you would
recommend um, there is.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I mean, there's so many books the gospel, primer,
pilgrims, progress, um, so thoseare definitely up in there.
Uh, so yeah, those would berunning off my top three up
there.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Okay, awesome, love it, love it.
All right.
How can people learn more aboutyou If they're in the Gilbert
Chandler area, how can theylearn more about training with
you and how can they follow you?
Speaker 2 (39:34):
You could go to my website.
It says Gilbert M, a, f, m asin Mary, a as in apple, f as in
Frank.
So it stands for Gilbertmartial arts and fitnesscom.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
So on my website you can contact me.
My cell phone is there.
So, uh, I love to respond backas as fast as possible.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
Excellent and on social media social media.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
I am on Instagram and Facebook.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
Very good, very good, all right.
Social media I am on Instagramand Facebook.
Very good, very good, all right.
Sean, it's been great chattingwith you.
You are one of the uncommon menin my life.
My life is enriched becauseyou're in it.
I just have a tremendous amountof respect for you and just
your passion really to pour intoour youth through education,
(40:21):
through martial arts and fitness, and you're a strong soldier
for Christ and I respect you forthat and appreciate you for
that.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Well, kevin, likewise I feel the same way about you
From the first time we met.
I know you didn't end upstaying there, but it's like man
.
Who would have thought thatyears later we would be together
like that?
And you hold a very specialplace in my heart too.
I love you.
You're a man of your word,you're a man of integrity and
stuff, and it gets back to whywe're even having this
conversation.
(40:50):
Right, that's very far and fewin between in today's society.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Amen.
So, friends, I hope you enjoyedand keep listening.
Remember to share and subscribeto this podcast and we'll catch
you next time.
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Uncommon Freedom
Show.
Today, you're in for a treat.
I am joined by a good friend ofmine, sean Green, who has over
30 years of experience in themartial arts arena and utilizes
his background in education toaid in the cognitive and
physiological development of hisstudents.
Sean holds a master's degreefrom both Arizona State
(00:23):
University and Dartmouth College.
Sean is a Christian husband andfather.
He is a former Division I trackathlete at Arizona State
University and a former memberof the US National Karate Team
under the International OlympicCommittee.
To date, sean is the oldestindividual to have made the US
National Karate Team.
Thus, he places emphasis onmaintaining mobility with age.
(00:46):
His passion is to helpindividuals improve and take
them as far as they desire byworking on disciplines such as
focus, coordination, memory,motor skills, flexibility,
discipline, cardio, balance andmore.
Sean has had the privilege oftraining with UFC Hall of Fame
athletes like Mark Coleman, markKerr and Dan Severn, olympic
(01:06):
gold medal wrestler KevinJackson, former UFC professional
Anthony Smith and current UFCprofessional Waldo Cortez Acosta
, who is ranked number nineoverall in the UFC currently and
rounds out the list of topathletes that Sean has coached
in recent years.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Sean, that's quite the bio of top athletes that
Sean has coached in recent years.
Sean, that's quite the bio.
Yeah, I don't know how thathappened, but God just put me in
that place, so it's justappreciative of all he's given.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Yeah, and so I met Sean while walking into church.
It was about five years ago, Ithink it was during the summer
of the infamous now infamousCOVID era, when many churches
had shut their doors, and I justremember you greeting me with a
big, big smile and also beingjust struck by your military
(01:56):
bearing and your level ofphysical fitness, which is one
of the things that makes youuncommon.
You were not in the military,is that correct?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
I was not.
Speaker 1 (02:06):
But you have that military bearing about you.
Speaker 2 (02:08):
Yeah, I grew up in the Caribbean.
I grew up in a Catholic schooland back in those days you were
allowed to discipline studentsand they were very much about
the discipline.
So when we would line up forclass in the morning we had to
line up in a straight line,uniform had to be pressed,
everything clean, cut together.
So I grew up with that kind ofbackground.
It just took it with me throughlife.
Speaker 1 (02:31):
Yeah, so you kind of touched on that.
You grew up in the Caribbean.
Tell us a little bit aboutexactly where you grew up, what
your family life was like, andthen how you emigrated to the US
.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
So I grew up in Trinidad, beautiful country,
very much a dangerous countryright now.
They listed as one of the top12 places not to go.
It's on the US list right now.
I was back down there inSeptember of 2024 and the street
that I grew up on I couldn'teven go there anymore because
(02:59):
the cartels have such a hugeinfluence.
Came to America because in theCaribbean we always saw America
as the land of opportunity.
My mom was a nurse, so therewas high demands for nurses, of
course, and with that her and mydad came in.
They settled and by the timethey settled in they sent for my
(03:19):
brother and I.
So I came to America when I wasin fifth grade, so basically 10
years old.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Okay, and roughly.
What year was that?
Speaker 2 (03:27):
brother and I, so I came to America when I was in
fifth grade, so basically 10years old, okay.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
And roughly what year was that?
That is a great question 1978.
1978.
Okay, and so your parents camehere and that you and your
brother were still living inTrinidad with family before.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Correct, my mom is the oldest of 11.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
So you had plenty of aunts and uncles to help out.
Yes for sure Got it Okay.
Um, how long were you separatedfrom your parents before you
came to the U?
S?
Speaker 2 (03:52):
uh, from pretty young , from, uh, you know, first
grade on, but we would comeduring the summertime, so we
would go to school in theCaribbean and then the summer we
would spend the summers inAmerica and go back to go to
school and then, when the summer, we would spend the summers in
America and go back to go toschool and then, when you were
10 years old, that's when youcame to the U?
Speaker 1 (04:12):
S and stayed pretty much Okay, permanently.
Yes, got it, and you grew up inNew.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
York.
Is that correct?
Yes, long Island, new York.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Got it Very good, very good.
Um, what are some of the other,either people or life events?
I assume, like moving fromTrinidad to US was probably a
very formational experience inyour life.
What are either some of theother experiences that you had
or influences in your life thathad a significant impact on the
(04:37):
Sean that we know today?
Speaker 2 (04:39):
You know, America was the land of opportunity.
Trinidad is known as aquote-unquote third world nation
.
We never saw it like thatgrowing up, but we knew that
there were a lot more things inAmerica.
If you were in Trinidad youwanted to come to the American
schools and universities.
So I have a couple of cousinsthat have gone through the
(05:01):
universities all up and down theEast Coast, from Howard
University to Cornell, the IvyLeagues, so on and so forth.
So we just saw it as that and wewanted to take advantage of
that opportunity to, in the end,make it a better place to be a
better society.
I can remember coming here andmy very first teacher, ms
(05:21):
Graziano, just greeting me withsuch comfort.
You know, being a stranger in anew land and just, of course,
terrified at 10 years old.
And then even my first friend,a young man named Vaughn
Smallwood, who just befriendedme and just took me in under his
wing, so it was quite theexperience.
And then I was around a lot ofpeople that were highly
motivated, so that was my thingthere as well.
Speaker 1 (05:44):
Got it.
Did you experience any bias orracism coming to the US from
Trinidad?
Speaker 2 (05:57):
I knew there was racism, but I did not experience
it personally.
I was always the type to seepeople as people and I think
people reciprocated that?
Have I ran into racist people?
yes, but to me that was theirown issue yeah um, it didn't
take away to my love for people,my love for diversity, that
sort of stuff.
So, um, yeah, it was there, butit was never prominent or
(06:19):
prevalent, and that tends to bethe case with most foreigners
that come in, um, from placeslike the Caribbean or Africa or
those type places.
It's nothing, we don't look atthat.
We look at what is the goalthat we're trying to accomplish
and how we're going to makesociety a better place.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Yeah, based on your experience being born and
spending the first 10 years orso of your life in Trinidad and
then moving to the U?
S, what makes the United Statesspecial or different to you?
Oh, wow Cause I mean you loveAmerica, right, right, I know
that about you You're a patriot.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
Yeah, no doubt I mean what doesn't make America
special?
Like you have freedom of speech, right, but you also have um
such benefits.
I often tell people, man, I'vebecome soft coming to America
because you get into suchluxuries that it's just really
laid back from.
I grew up in a country where wedid not have hot and cold water
(07:17):
.
So like you're getting ready totake a shower and you're like
racing yourself to just jumpinto that cold water.
We had one TV channel, right,that was it.
The whole country watched thesame station.
Now, of course, they're moreadvanced with cable and
everything like.
America but you.
There was so many perks that itwasn't even funny.
Just beautiful neighborhoodswith trees and stuff to grow up.
Of course I grew up withbeautiful beaches, but just
(07:39):
everything and just amazingopportunity as far as education
jobs and just amazingopportunity as far as education
jobs, the opportunity to excelin sports, so a lot of better
venues, so to speak.
And I grew up with a bit of anathletic background because my
father used to body build and heused to compete in that.
I found at an early age that,hey, I could play soccer well in
(08:00):
America, but I was also fastand at the time I realized that
soccer was still new to Americawhen I was growing up, so it
wasn't as easy to get anathletic scholarship in soccer.
So, I ended up choosing track.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
Got it.
Got it.
All right, let's move on.
I know we're going to talkabout martial arts because
that's probably your number onepassion outside of your faith
and your family, but you've alsospent many years in education,
and specifically Christianeducation.
Can you share how you got intothat field and some of your most
satisfying accomplishments ineducation?
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Oh man.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Because we've had a lot of conversations about the
state of education in thiscountry.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Yes, so I was in public education and just really
was kind of tired of themediocrity.
And the opportunity poseditself to get into Christian
education so I took it.
And what a great opportunity towitness the students.
So I was able to just reach outand just bring in solid pastors
, all that sort of stuff,formulating a great commission.
(09:02):
So, many times people think like, hey, you're going to a
Christian school, so it's veryChrist-like.
But that's not always the case.
They think maybe all the kidsare very Christ-like, but really
it goes against what Scripturesays.
Scripture talks about the roadbeing narrow, right and not many
will enter.
So in that capacity we know.
(09:23):
Romans 10, 17 says faith comesby hearing, hearing the word of
God.
So I would just look forpastors.
We've had gentlemen like VotieBachman and things of that
nature where we're just bringinga solid word and bringing truth
.
So that for me, was a great wayof just helping to formulate our
future and helping in theChristian walk, and especially
(09:44):
when you look at the young menand we look at biblical manhood
and how society tries to makeyoung men more effeminate.
So my thing was yep, how do wedo that?
How do we mold that?
Obviously, there's a lot ofdiscipleship that takes place
and things of that nature.
So setting up disciplingprograms within the school with
(10:05):
men teachers and young men, andthe same thing with female
teachers for young females.
But that was one of the mainthings and the driving forces
for me.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Yeah, I know we've had many conversations about the
importance of discipling andmentoring young men and from my
perspective and I know I'm goingto step on some toes with this,
but that's just what I do Ithink that there's a massive
shortfall of men in education.
(10:36):
Yes, because the reality is andmy wife has even noticed this
that when our boys you knowwe've got three boys are all 14
and up at this point, when theyturn 13, 14 years old and I
think this is just part of thegrowing up process that God
innately put in them they startto push back at the authority
(10:57):
that my wife has over them andthere's times where she's like
Kevin, I just need you to stepin here and take care of this.
You know it might beconversations she's having with
the kids and they just they donot take it Once they turn 13,
14 and that testosterone startsflowing.
They don't take it the samefrom their mom as they do their
dad.
And I think the same thinghappens in school, and I love
(11:21):
the female teachers.
I know it's an incrediblydifficult job.
Becca was a teacher.
Becca was a teacher.
My dad was a teacher.
Both my in-laws are teachers,so I know it's a very difficult
job.
They're underpaid.
How do we get more men ineducation, whether it's at
public schools or privateschools?
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Yeah, that is a very interesting thing.
I think you look at the facetof what's out there and there's
some ideas that we toy with.
Is there a need for an all-boysChristian school?
Speaker 1 (11:53):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Right, the Catholics have it.
They have all-boys Catholicschools and Jesuit schools and
all-girls schools.
But for some reason in theChristian ranks we don't have it
, not for the most part yeah,not for the most part, yeah.
Not for the most part.
Right, and that's what we'recalled to do.
Right, we're called because themen are the cornerstone.
We are the ones that are goingto be held accountable for our
(12:14):
families.
Yep, and I have a daughterwho's in her early 20s and when
young men approach, I'm like,well, we said, we have this
conversation and these young mendon't sound any different from
the world.
So how do you give your mostprecious item that your family
can give over to someone?
And it's like that is not godlyleadership, right?
(12:37):
So there's the challenge there.
So it becomes hey, if they'renot there, can you create a
system and I'm not talking aboutgetting into programs, but a
discipleship system to groomyoung men up right?
And could one of those answersbe an all-male Christian school?
Speaker 1 (12:55):
Yeah, I think one of the realities that we, as you
know, especially Christianparents, are going to have to
face is that if we want more menin education since typically,
you know, the man is the primarybreadwinner One of the
challenges is that they justdon't get paid a lot, you know,
as public school teachers andtypically they make less as
(13:15):
private school teachers.
So it's kind of like you getwhat you pay for.
Um, and I'm not saying likethere are, my kids have been
influenced by some great maleand female teachers, but the
reality is, if we want morestrong, biblically minded men to
be teachers and mentors in theeducation system, we're just
going to have to pony up moremoney.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
I totally agree and you see that in schools like
Brophy here in Phoenix, rightBrophy typically those teachers
don't even leave till.
They pretty much pass away orthey're going to retire right
Because they pay so well.
So I agree, you totally have topony up.
And I think in education a lotof times there's a lot of
misplacement of money andmismanagement of money where
(13:57):
instead of paying teachers,you're putting it in something
else, like a fancy building.
Well, how fancy can a buildingbe?
Right?
It's not saying, don't havesomething, that's nice.
But sometimes I think it'soverdone where that money can be
placed, where it's morebeneficial.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
Because, at the end of the day is you're looking to
save souls, those buildings andstuff are going to burn down
eventually, yeah, yeah.
And I think the reality,especially when you talk about
you know, you know we're reallyfocused on raising uncommon men
with this series, and when youcreate a sense of challenge and
difficulty, like boys and menthrive on that Right.
And you know, I rememberhearing the story a long time
(14:36):
ago.
I don't remember where I heardit, but it was the story of, you
know, a high school assembly.
You had the Army, navy, airForce and Marine Corps
recruiters come in and army,navy and air force uh, you know,
they all gave their spiel andthen the marine corps sergeant
or gunny came out you know,paced across the stage with a
pissed off look in his face and,you know, kind of scowled at
(14:58):
the crowd.
he's like not a single one ofyou is good enough to join the
marine corps, yeah, and theassembly's over and everyone
went to the marine because itwas like you can't do it and men
want to.
You know, when you tell mostboys can't be done, they're like
oh, let me show it to you.
So I'm with you.
Like our kids, they don't needto be in a perfectly temperature
controlled environment, evenhere in Phoenix.
(15:19):
It's okay If they're a littleuncomfortable, uh, and we just
we just have to microdoseadversity, especially in our
boys.
Yes, I agree wholeheartedly.
All right, I'm putting you onthe spot here.
What are three of the biggestshortfalls in education today?
Speaker 2 (15:38):
I think you have leaders that can't lead.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
Right, they're very inexperienced.
I think we are still in thisEveryone gets a trophy, everyone
gets a medal type era.
And then I think we are alsosocially promoting kids, kids
that are not academically ready.
We're just moving them alongbecause, quote unquote some
(16:01):
research out there says that,hey, it's going to hurt their
feelings or their confidence ifthey don't move along, even
though they may not be able toread, multiply or anything of
that nature.
There was a recently, within thelast few years here there was a
lawsuit both in Massachusettsand Tennessee where a young lady
got to college and found outshe really couldn't read, but
(16:24):
she had gotten all these awardsfor academia and stuff like that
, so she filed a lawsuit.
Yeah, I remember hearing aboutthat, right, yeah, but she had
gotten all these awards foracademia and stuff like that,
and so she filed a lawsuit, yeah.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
I remember hearing about that, right yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
So, but it's going on all over the country.
So I think those top three.
Speaker 1 (16:37):
There are huge.
Going back to the everyone getsa trophy.
What is it, since?
You've spent a lot of years inChristian education and you know
high school education?
What are your thoughts on?
Everyone gets playing time inthe academic and you know high
school education.
What are your thoughts on?
Everyone gets playing time inthe academic world or in the
sorry, in the athletic world.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I don't, I don't believe in it.
Okay, Because then you look atthings like hey, when you have
to go to war, you think aboutWorld War II.
You had 16 year olds that'ssigning up to go to war.
They was so patriotic.
Yeah, I don't think you wouldsee that today Not many, that's
for sure.
Right, and you take away thatcompetitive edge.
(17:14):
And then I even think of evenduring COVID times and you've
seen commercials I rememberwatching what Russia would put
out as commercials and whatChina would put out as
commercials and then whatAmerica would put out as
commercials.
Our commercials were so muchmore feminine and everything
else and they're just showingmassive power.
And I'm not saying that malesare better than females, but
(17:35):
when it comes to masculinity andyoung men, our young men need
to be young men.
Back to the school situation.
I've been in schools wheresomething's wrong and a mom
comes in to defend her son.
And I'm like oh my goodness,when I was in high school, I
would die if my mother everwalked through that front door
to defend.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
That is one of the biggest mistakes a mom can make.
Right, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
So so those become the things there.
So, yeah, I don't believeeveryone should get playing time
.
Right?
If you cannot get playing time,maybe there's another sport for
you.
Yes, it may not be the sportfor you, right?
But yeah, I don't believe inthat at all.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Because it hurts them overall in life as well, like
how do you compete on the jobmarket?
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Yeah, right, yeah, okay.
What are three things you'dlike to see implemented in
education that you think wouldpositively impact our society?
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Three things you'd like to see implemented or
changed or changed you know, Isee something going on at um,
the national level with, uh uh,the nea national education
association.
Right, they're the largestunion in america, um, but I
don't see where they'vebenefited america, um, and
because of certain things thatthey've done, it allows bad
(18:46):
educators to stay in the field,which then turns around and
causes good teachers to leavethe field, because good teachers
don't want to deal withmediocrity.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yep Right.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
So, and then just overall leadership, you have a
lot of times these boards, wherethey have a personal agenda and
that may not be the best agendaof the kid or the student or
overall society when.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
So you're talking about basically sanctioned
incompetence, kind of the um, uh, what is the tenure is is the
philosophy.
I know that tenure exists inthe college world.
I don't know if it does in, uh,elementary or not, but the
bottom line is basically you getenough seniority, you can be a
crappy teacher and you're notgoing to get fired.
And when you're a good teacherand you're surrounded and you
(19:31):
see that sanctioned incompetence, you know, regardless of the
company or the career people aregoing to leave.
The flip side is, as an educator, it can be very frustrating
when you're passionate aboutwhat you're doing and you don't
get the support at home.
You know, because the realityis a lot of parents they're
abdicating their responsibilityto educate their child to the
school.
And as a teacher, it can bevery frustrating when you know
(19:56):
you're doing your part but youcan only do so much as a teacher
, how do we reward and how doyou reward the good teachers and
also figure out when astudent's struggling?
Is it the teacher's response,you know, is because the
teacher's not good enough, or isit because the parents aren't
doing their job?
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Yeah, I mean, it could be a combination of things
, right, it could be one of both.
So, um, also the parenting asfar as parenting, a lot of times
parents may come to educatorsand say, hey, like I don't know
what to do.
Well, it's not our job to raisea child, it's our job to
educate the child.
But, first and foremost, it'sthe parent's job to educate the
child right.
And so they just abdicate thatto the teacher.
(20:36):
But they have to have somesupport in there.
I think, going back to schoolsand school systems, that don't
respond.
You see certain things likeVirginia, where there's high
parental involvement Teacherscan't get away with the lack of
the A school type atmospherebecause, there's involvement in
there.
When there's lack of parentalinvolvement schools tend to go
(20:59):
very wayward with what they do.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
Got it.
So basically, if parents areinvolved, the parents are going
to see through the BS of a goodteacher or a bad teacher.
Speaker 2 (21:09):
They are.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
And if they see the bad teacher they file enough
complaints, then the problemwill probably take care of
itself.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Yeah, in certain societies, and then in other
societies, the parents aren'tresponding and they need to
respond.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Like you said earlier .
Speaker 2 (21:22):
The teacher cannot raise their child.
Speaker 1 (21:24):
Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
So they want to abdicate that to the teacher.
Speaker 1 (21:27):
All right, so let's move on to martial arts and
karate, which is definitely oneof your biggest passions.
Um, how did you?
Speaker 2 (21:35):
get into martial arts .
Oh, wow, I got into martialarts because, again, growing up
in Trinidad, we only had onesystem, so our movie theaters
would only show uh, theCaribbean has a huge Chinese
influence, so on Saturdays, kungfu movies were the only things
that played in my head, right.
So you grow up as a kid andyou're like, oh man, martial
arts is pretty cool, yeah.
(21:55):
So fast forward, I come toAmerica, I come out to Arizona
State, I compete for ArizonaState.
Well, my strength andconditioning coach at Arizona
State has coached four USOlympic wrestling teams in their
strength and conditioning coachat Arizona State has coached
four US Olympic wrestling teamsin their strength and
conditioning, so he got me intomartial arts.
So, through that, that's how,um, and that back then it was
(22:17):
the early 90s, so a lot of thewrestlers were starting to enter
into the UFC okay beingsuccessful at it.
Um, but my instructor, he alsodid um, my instructor, he also
did my strength coach, he alsodid karate, he did judo, he did
so, he did it all.
So and I just rolled with himalong in the.
I rolled with him in all worlds, but I just specialized more in
(22:40):
the karate realm.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
Got it.
Why are martial arts soimportant in your opinion?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
I love it because of the fact that you know they talk
about things like resistancetraining.
So you have coordinationcombinations.
Combination is a great for, um,you know, memory and
Alzheimer's, especially as weage, things of that nature
balance a lot of times.
You know, when we get older westart falling all the
calcification of bones becauseyou're hitting pads.
Uh, so I love every aspect ofit and it gets the mind Uh, if
(23:09):
you're hitting pads, so I loveevery aspect of it and it gets
to mind.
If you're someone that hasattention challenges, it helps
with the focus in and dial in,because there's certain training
that we have to know to say,hey, look, that person's
right-handed, that person'sleft-handed, what are they right
?
And you have to be able to readthings, what are their habits?
So you really have to dial infocus-wise.
So we do a lot of drills,whether it's light drills or
(23:31):
certain types of footwork drillsor certain types of reaction
drills, to help with that.
So it just covers so manyaspects and at the national
level and international levelit's very different than 90% of
your local dojos.
So we believe in the tradition,but also we believe in
(23:53):
usability, and so karate hastaken a bit of a bad hit.
I wouldn't say a bit of a badhit.
It has taken a bad hit becausewithin karate, you will have
like 20 different organizationswith 20 different styles.
So when it came to the Olympics, they were like no, you need to
have one set of rules, one setof styles.
So when it came to the Olympics, they were like no, you need to
have one set of rules, one setof styles.
That's why there's only onetrue USA team.
Now everyone will claim to haveUSA be a USA team member, but
(24:15):
the one true USA team is backedby the Olympic training center
and the U S Olympic committee.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
Yeah and um, let's go on to that.
So you are the oldest AmericanU S karate team member.
Yeah, how old were you when yougot?
Speaker 2 (24:28):
on the team I was 51.
So in a typical age for the USteam is 18 to 34.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Unreal.
So you were almost 20 yearsolder than the old end of that
range.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Yeah, that year there was a 36-year-old, so I was 15
years older than the-.
Speaker 1 (24:46):
How did that happen?
Speaker 2 (24:48):
For me again.
I never think of myself astalented, so I like to study.
So, I got into more of thesports, science and the physics
of it all, I realized I couldn'tstand toe to toe with a 20 year
old and move as fast as them,so I would just build momentum
by bouncing in and out right anddeveloping my momentum as I go
in.
So as I'm attacking, I'm alreadyfull of momentum and just
(25:10):
studying and then knowing whatyou can do physically, um, you
know the formulas for forfighting, no matter what the
fight is, whether it's judo,wrestling, jujitsu uh, karate,
is timing and distance right.
So how do you maximize yourtiming and distance with what
weapons you may have?
Speaker 1 (25:30):
So the life lessons there are, study your enemy.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (25:33):
Exploit their weaknesses, yes, and leverage
your strengths.
Correct, okay, very good.
What was it like being on the US team?
I mean, that's gotta be, youknow, for for many athletes
that's kind of like the the, thedream, and kind of the pinnacle
.
Speaker 2 (25:46):
Yeah, you know it was , um, it's kind of like the
dream and kind of the pinnacle.
Yeah, you know it was.
It's kind of interestingbecause I was studying, because
I studied so much, I wasstudying the best coaches, right
, and the best coaches they say,never talk about wins, they
talk about execution.
So my thing was more executionand if you execute and you're
(26:06):
talented enough, you'll getthere.
That was that would become thefinal goal.
The season didn't start offwith like, hey, I'm going to
make the USA team or the USAteam.
The season started with hey, ifI'm good enough, let's see how
good I can be, and if that takesme to the USA team, it takes me
to the USA team.
So that was more of my strategy.
And you know, I was just livingmy scripture, so I would look
(26:29):
at the fight game.
Hey, first, corinthians 1031,whatever you eat, whatever you
drink, you do it unto the gloryof God.
Okay, I'm called to excellence.
So I would go to work, comehome, hang out with my family 9
o'clock.
I'm in the garage, you know,with the bag, whatever the case
may be, you go down real quickin a match and it's, you know,
(26:51):
like romans 12, right, went intorenewing your mind.
Right, gotta get back.
It's like a quarterback gettinga sack.
They got to come back to thatline.
Yep.
So there was a lot of scripturethat I used all throughout in
my journey and stuff like that.
That just was that sweetreminder.
And and then, even then, um,saying like man, lord, like, why
am I even here right now?
(27:11):
51?
Like, cause I'm competing at 50.
And then, you know, we make afinal selection at 51 and it's
like, why am I here?
But along that journey heshowed me certain things where I
just got to share with a lot ofguys on a team, you know, uh,
giving them like little books ofJohn and stuff like that.
Guys were allowing me into thatcamp and I was just so gracious
for that.
It's like words can't expressbut the word of God can't Right.
(27:34):
That's true love for forsomeone else.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Now some Christians might think it's impossible to
reconcile a sport of fightingand being a Christian.
Uh what?
What would your rebuttal be tothem?
Speaker 2 (27:49):
I would say look at David, look at David's mighty
men, look at Samson right, thegreatest gladiators on the
planet have been Christians.
I've come from Christiandescent.
Very good, so, and again too,like who stands up right,
because part of being a believerand a man is not only you have
to be providers, protectors,priests, and a man is not only
have to be providers, protectors, priests, prophets right In our
own home.
(28:09):
But how do you protect?
Right, how do you protect?
And it's definitely, it's justlike we read the word right.
If you want to get closer toGod, you keep reading the word
right.
If you want to be able toprotect your family, right, you
train in that sense, and noteveryone's a gladiator, but
there's certain people that Godhas picked out and designed for
that, and so you have to takewhat he gives you and be
(28:30):
accountable with it.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
Yeah, amen to that, love it.
How does martial arts help ourkids, and especially our boys
and young men, develop thestrong character of uncommon men
.
Speaker 2 (28:39):
Oh man, it helps with their focus.
It helps with respect, rightand the way I run.
in our dojo we do um little typeuh, and the way I run in our
dojo, we do little typesermonettes and stuff like that.
So it's just what does a godlyman look like, right?
What is meekness?
It is strength under control,right?
So that's what we gear up youngmen with and that's what we
(29:01):
teach them.
So, and how do you deal withadversity and how do you live in
a world that you're not a partof?
Right, not of this world.
Uh, I, I've definitely seenthat, yes.
Speaker 1 (29:14):
What are the things that, uh and we'll talk about
your dojo here in GilbertArizona, but obviously some of
my audience doesn't live aroundhere what are the things that
you would encourage parents tolook for when exploring a
(29:37):
possible facility for theirchild?
Speaker 2 (29:39):
You know I would say, look for proof, um, for their
child.
You know I would say, look forproof, um, some you know a lot
of dojos.
You'll see guys talk and theydon't understand what they're
talking about.
Like, what is your background,what are your credentials?
Just like we would go foranything else, right?
Whether we're looking for anattorney or we're looking for a
house, we look for the best zipcodes, all that sort of stuff.
Uh, I'll give a classic example.
(29:59):
I've seen in the area where itwas advertised at a local rec
center that this guy wasoffering martial arts and he
said you'll be able to beatanyone, any size, any speed and
anything of that nature.
And I'm like no self-defense isfight or flight.
Sometimes you're just not.
There's a reason why we haveweight classes in fighting, all
(30:21):
the fighting.
So, how can you fight anyone,any size, any speed that's?
And then I actually went out ofcuriosity to see the guy's
class and I'm like, uh, yeah,that's not a guy I would want in
my corner if I were in a fightsituation.
So, um, and then I saw anotherone on our local news a couple
years back where a gentlemansaid well, if you're getting
(30:42):
choked, you, you scream.
And he was teaching aself-defense on TV.
They were given a littlesnippet and I'm like, well, when
someone gets tapped out, whenthey, there's a reason we tap
out right.
Because you can't talk, you haveno knuckles.
So I would say research whatyou're doing and what are you
looking for, right?
What are you like?
You can't, hey.
If, what are you looking for,right?
(31:02):
What are you like?
You can't hey.
If I'm going to go learn tofight, I'm going to go with the
top UFC guys.
Or if they have a gym that'sopen, that's where I'm going to
go, right?
Or hey, like a Navy seal or youknow that, right, you know you
have these guys like JockoWillick, right, joe Rogan, all
that sort of stuff, so you cansee and watch, because a lot of
people don't understand thefight game.
(31:22):
It looks very sloppy at times.
They don't understand what'sgoing on and things of that
nature.
But I would say, definitely,look at the person's experience.
I don't want to know what youknow, you're telling me you're
going to do.
I want to know what you've done.
Speaker 1 (31:35):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Because if you have no practical experience, if
you've never been to war, so tospeak, right, why would I take
your advice?
Yeah, right.
So if you've never, you know,shot a gun, why would I take
your advice?
Right, like you're not anexpert marksman, right?
So, um, those are the kinds ofthings there that I see.
Speaker 1 (31:52):
Okay, that's, that's good.
Um, and I know, uh, you know,one of our boys has worked out
and trained with you and, uh,our daughter will be at some
point.
We did not do it this summerbecause we valued our dinner
hour.
It was a very peaceful summer,but as things pick up here in
the school year, we're lookingforward to EV training with you.
I just love your philosophy.
(32:15):
Why do you think it's importantfor all of us, and especially
Christians and, even moreimportantly, christian young men
and men, to be healthy and fit?
Speaker 2 (32:25):
Man.
That's good, because not onlybeing fit physically helps you
physically, but it helps youhealth-wise longevity.
You're called to go out thereand make disciples right.
You got to take care of thetemple.
We're called to take care ofthe temple right.
There's a reason why we'retaking care of the temple.
Right, we're here to do, to dothe lord's work yeah it's good
to look fit and be healthy, butthen there's also that time when
(32:46):
you're like you never know whenyou're going to be called on.
I had a situation where, um, mydaughter, uh, my wife asked us
to uh stop by a walmart and pickup some uh foil.
And it was just a neighborhoodWalmart.
My daughter, she was coming ofage.
So she's like, hey, dad, I'llrun in and get it.
(33:08):
So I'm like, okay, so I'mtrying to give her independence,
but at the same time I'mwatching the door.
It's Walmart after all, so soshe calls me on the phone and
she's like dad you know, stay onthe phone with me and I'm like
what?
I didn't get what she was saying.
And then she said it the secondtime.
She was like dad, just stay onthe phone with me.
And for some reason it clickedbecause the Holy Spirit Right.
(33:29):
And I said, is someonefollowing you?
And she was like, yeah, right.
So of course I jump out thetruck and and right away because
, like I said, the things thatmartial arts teaches you, you
see, certain things right, whatis a person's framework, like
when are they walking?
I could just remember vividlyhe's on her right shoulder
because I thought she was stillin the store.
(33:50):
So, as I'm beating it to thestore, she comes out the door,
because what he did it was hechecked out at the same time
with her, after following heraround, and then waited up front
by the ice machines, and then,when she walked by by, he
continued to follow her.
when I saw her I hung up thephone and he peeled off and so
(34:10):
she was so shooken up you know Ihad to address her.
Yeah, um, there's other timestoo where you know we're called
to defend the weak.
So there was another time wewere walking through one of our
local malls and, um, the youngman at the kiosk would be in,
harassed by like five highschool kids, and my wife is like
hitting me, like hey, checkthat out, check out what's going
on over there.
So anytime my wife does thatlike I got to pay attention to
(34:34):
that.
Speaker 1 (34:34):
Good man.
Speaker 2 (34:36):
So I'm just standing there, so I go over, I act like
I'm looking at something in thekiosk.
The kids move to another kiosk,they start harassing that
person, but by that time we'relike hey call mall security.
And I just stood there and justwaited till mall security got
there and stuff like that.
So there's times, as believers,we are called period to defend
the weak and if God has put thatin you, then you owe that,
(35:00):
because that's a resource thathe gave you and you can't bury
it right absolutely.
Speaker 1 (35:05):
Yeah, I wish, uh, I wish everyone understood that
there's really nothing that wedo on earth that isn't enhanced
by us being our best self,physically, right, uh and uh,
that's great, that's great, allright.
So now it's time to get to knowyou a little bit better.
I'm going to ask you somepreferences in four manly areas
cars, cigars, guns and guitars.
(35:26):
And this may or may not applyto you, but your favorite guitar
or favorite car, it's eitherthe one you have have had or
your dream car.
Speaker 2 (35:36):
Okay, so I think a couple of them.
I miss my Toyota Tundra thatwas so cool.
Okay, and I think my dream carmay be like a Bugatti.
Okay, I love the Bugattis.
Speaker 1 (35:48):
Gotcha.
Yeah, my boys would agree withyou on that Cigar.
You a cigar guy.
I think you're more of a pipeguy, right.
Speaker 2 (35:56):
More of a pipe guy, but I love cigars as well.
Okay I have not had and wouldlove to check out some cuban
cigars okay how can you notright, if you're new to the
cigar game, that's like themarquee cigar all right.
Speaker 1 (36:08):
Well, I will keep that in mind.
I will say, having had some, Ithink they're overrated, are
they uh, in my opinion, um, butuh, I'll, I'll let you be the
judge at some point when I getmy hands on one favorite gun.
So this one is either you'rejust your all time favorite gun,
or if you could only have onegun in your arsenal, what?
Speaker 2 (36:29):
would that be Boy?
That's a good one.
That's a good one, I think myfavorite one in my collection
right now is the SIG MPX.
Speaker 1 (36:37):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Cause you could single shot or you could rattle
off 30 shots.
Speaker 1 (36:40):
Is that a pistol, or what is that?
Speaker 2 (36:47):
I'm not familiar with that one.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
It's a nine millimeter it uses nine
millimeter bullets okay, but itcan shoot off automatic or
semi-automatic.
It's a carbine.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
Yes, a rifle, uh it's , I don't know because when we
were under the lastadministration we were going
through some stuff where, if youhad, right shoulder stock yep,
they were starting to listthings as rifles, and so I don't
know technicalities.
Speaker 1 (37:05):
Right, yeah, but it's more than a pistol.
Yes, okay, got it, got it.
Uh, and either favorite guitar,if you play, or guitarist, if
you don't, or okay, man, that'sa.
Speaker 2 (37:17):
That's a rough subject.
That's, uh, something that goesback to my high school days.
Love the guitar, always wantedto learn the guitar, took it up
in high school but I was aslower learner at it and my
teacher used to like just quizus like every other day and I'm
like man, I'm just learning thisstuff.
So I ended up dropping guitarin high school, big regret.
(37:38):
Um bought a guitar, neverplayed it.
My daughter took it, taughtherself guitar right, so we have
Mitchells at the house Taughtherself guitar.
So then I bought my own guitaragain.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
And so that's probably a bucket list item that
I got to learn to play theguitar.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
Are you more of an acoustic or an electric guy?
Speaker 2 (38:00):
I'm starting off at the basics acoustic Okay.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
Yeah, all right, very good, very good.
I love that.
I love that.
Okay, so one of the things thatI love to ask people is their
three favorite books, so threebooks that have had the biggest
impact on you, or maybe threebooks that you would recommend
that everyone read.
Speaker 2 (38:18):
You know what Three favorite books?
I could go with one all daylong the Bible All right, right.
So I know we're in a groupcurrently reading a book on
prayer, so I would say, any goodbook on prayer by a good author
(38:39):
, right, it is.
Speaker 1 (38:41):
That book is is in my top three.
Speaker 2 (38:43):
Um, yeah, so yeah, so and um, I always say books,
that I like to read a book, soI'm like physiology of it all,
like sports and movement, um,love those kinds of books, but
typically overall, uh, christianbooks are my top.
Speaker 1 (39:01):
Okay, any third specific book that you would
recommend um, there is.
Speaker 2 (39:08):
I mean, there's so many books the gospel, primer,
pilgrims, progress, um, so thoseare definitely up in there.
Uh, so yeah, those would berunning off my top three up
there.
Speaker 1 (39:20):
Okay, awesome, love it, love it.
All right.
How can people learn more aboutyou If they're in the Gilbert
Chandler area, how can theylearn more about training with
you and how can they follow you?
Speaker 2 (39:34):
You could go to my website.
It says Gilbert M, a, f, m asin Mary, a as in apple, f as in
Frank.
So it stands for Gilbertmartial arts and fitnesscom.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (39:48):
So on my website you can contact me.
My cell phone is there.
So, uh, I love to respond backas as fast as possible.
Speaker 1 (39:56):
Excellent and on social media social media.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
I am on Instagram and Facebook.
Speaker 1 (40:00):
Very good, very good, all right.
Social media I am on Instagramand Facebook.
Very good, very good, all right.
Sean, it's been great chattingwith you.
You are one of the uncommon menin my life.
My life is enriched becauseyou're in it.
I just have a tremendous amountof respect for you and just
your passion really to pour intoour youth through education,
(40:21):
through martial arts and fitness, and you're a strong soldier
for Christ and I respect you forthat and appreciate you for
that.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Well, kevin, likewise I feel the same way about you
From the first time we met.
I know you didn't end upstaying there, but it's like man
.
Who would have thought thatyears later we would be together
like that?
And you hold a very specialplace in my heart too.
I love you.
You're a man of your word,you're a man of integrity and
stuff, and it gets back to whywe're even having this
conversation.
(40:50):
Right, that's very far and fewin between in today's society.
Speaker 1 (40:53):
Amen.
So, friends, I hope you enjoyedand keep listening.
Remember to share and subscribeto this podcast and we'll catch
you next time.
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