"The cave reveals what is inside us,
What we bring into it.
We also take shelter in it for the challenge,
If there is something to uncover."

- Ivan Laucik (1944-2004)

Chapter 3

Martial Artists Profiles

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It remains to be seen which of the martial artists who participated in this study show awareness of any of the concepts introduced in the two preceding chapters. Nevertheless, it is expected that each martial artist presents a unique constellation of pursuits and psyche‟s processes that play a lesser or greater role in their journeys of self-discovery. To illustrate those seven martial artists will be profiled based on interviews conducted. In this final chapter, I relate the fieldwork I undertook and present the findings. 

NOTE: The martial artists who kindly participated in the study have been presented in alphabetical order. In the book, their responses to my interview questions follow after their short bio.

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Martial Artist 1: Michael Clarke

Kyoshi, 7 Dan Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do 

Bio:  Clarke Sensei has been training in Karate-do since January 1974. He is in his 37th consecutive year of Karate-do training that follows the tradition established by Chojun Miyagi Sensei. ...

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Martial Artist 2: Petra Elliott

2 Dan Aikido

Bio: ... Elliot Sensei has no interest in practicing a different martial art. She states that in fact she has “branched out into the body therapy field of Shiatsu, the philosophy of which seems similar to Aikido.”

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Martial Artist 3: Terry W. Ezra

Shihan, 7 Dan Aikido

Bio: Ezra Sensei first became interested in MAs at the age of 18 and has been practicing and following traditional Aikido for 47 years. ... he answered, “It‟s an essential part of my life. For me is like a fish needing some water, quite simply… and if you ask the fish why it swims it‟s because it‟s what it does. It‟s like I breathe and live and eat the way of life I‟ve chosen.”
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Martial Artist 4: Florence Hands

3 Dan Shotokan Karate-do 

Bio:  Hands Sensei started Karate-do in 1990 and she has practiced MAs for 21 years. ...

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Martial Artist 5: Garry Lever

3 Dan Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do 

Bio: Lever Sensei started MAs when he was 10 years old and for the past 19 years he has been practicing Karate-do. He started in Kyokushin and has been doing Goju-Ryu for 11 years, following the same school and training in the same dojo. ...
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Martial Artist 6: Linda Marchant

6 Dan Okinawan Goju-Ryu Karate-do 

Bio:  Sensei Marchant started Judo at the age of 10 and for the past 27 years she has been practicing Okinawan Goju-Ryu following the lineage led by Morio Higaonna Shihan. In total she trained consistently in the MAs for 36 years. ...
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Martial Artist 7: Angelo Sanna

5 Dan Shotokan Karate-do 

Bio: Sanna Sensei became interested in MAs when he was a teenager and has been involved with Shotokan Karate-do since 1972. He says, “My life is Shotokan Karate-do. ...
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