Happy Thanksgiving (and some important news and a few "fun facts")...

The White Belt Warrior and family wish you and yours the happiest of Thanksgiving Days.

While you are enjoying all of those calories that you will have to work off (after that nap that you can't avoid), ponder some of the important names that were born on (!) or around Thanksgiving Day:

* Bruce Lee (born on Nov. 27th!!, 1940)

* Rickson Gracie (son of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu founder Helio Gracie; born on Nov. 20th, 1958)

* Gichin Funakoshi (founder of Shotokan Karate, and author of famous tomes on Karate-Do; born Nov. 10th, 1868)

Other important martial arts dudes? Like Jigaro Kano (founder of Judo)? He was born closer to All Hallows Eve (October 28th, 1860), while Gene Lebell, an early proponent of Judo in the U.S., and arguably the first MMA fighter ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9mER2BmNRA ), entered the world with his first break-fall on October 9th, 1932. Chuck Norris? He wasn't born until March 10th, 1940, but I did find some interesting facts regarding Chuck and Thanksgiving-- I have it on good authority (either that, or a lame Chuck-Norris-Joke website) that Chuck "Eats a pilgrim every year for Thanksgiving," but when it comes to his birthday, "Chuck Norris doesn't blow out candles on his birthday cake, he smothers the flames with the weight of his stare..." What about martial arts dudes that aren't (dudes)? Like Rhonda Rousey, Meisha Tate, Michelle Waterson, or Gina Carano? Their birthdays are all over the map, but not in November, and I couldn't find anything else to tie them to Thanksgiving (Which is a dang SHAME btw; enough said).

So in any event, Happy Thanksgiving.

Some news that you may be interested in if you're in the Buffalo/WNY region (a couple of plugs for some cool stuff happening in the area):


*Buffalo Systema is presenting a knife defense seminar. Learn how Russian martial artists and the infamous Systema Spetsnaz operatives of the old USSR handled attack and defense with edged weapons, with skills that are just as relevant today. The seminar will be held at K.C.’s Fitness in Buffalo NY (near Kleinhan’s Music Hall), on Saturday, December 6th from 1pm-3pm. The cost is $35. Please bring your own rigid (no rubber) training knife, and comfortable clothes to work out in. For more information, contact Casey or Brian at Buffalo Systema (buffalosystema@gmail.com).

*Have you ever wanted to learn how to fence with a saber, in the tradition of Captain Jack Sparrow, the Dread Pirate Roberts, and today’s modern Olympic champions? Join us at the Forge Saber Academy, currently meeting every Saturday at 11:30 am at the Defensive Arts Dojo in Hamburg, NY. The first lesson is free, and the Academy’s rates are very student-friendly. Coach Rob is an experienced fencer and teacher. What are you waiting for? There are several openings for new club members for the coming year. Contact Coach Rob through the Forge Saber Academy FaceBook page (www.facebook.com/Forgesabreacademy) or Gregg at psalmdrummerg@yahoo.com today to get started.

That's all for now, White Belt Out...