United States Guntai-Shù Martial arts Honoring our US Military Veterans

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1 United States Guntai-Shù Martial arts Honoring our US Military Veterans Created by Jackson T. Shatraw and Jonathan French

2 Guntai Shù (軍隊 術) is a combination of Japanese and Chinese words that means military skills. Many military members have put a lot of time and practice in training for combat. These combat skills relate to the martial arts training that many traditional students have practiced in training halls for years. The training military members receive are often times put to the test. Many skills are learned in the service and often go unnoticed and unappreciated. Through AMAWW s Guntai Shù developed by Jackson Shatraw and authorized by Founder Master Jonathan A. French, we not only honor the skills you learned through the many hours of meticulous training regiment, and sacrifice you endured, we want to award you for them. Your training in the U.S. Military can earn you a Certificate of appreciation, Certificate of Honor, an honorary black belt or Master Black belt. This is not a program that issues black belts to every military personnel, like every holder of a black belt, it has to be earned. The black belt is more than just a symbol of being simply a tough guy; it is a symbol of a warrior, and a symbol of accomplishments in these key areas: 1. Combatives (Self-Defense, tactical combat techniques designed for many situations). 2. Fitness and Health 3. Leadership 4. Character building As an example of how we believe military training equates to martial arts training, see what the USMC says about these topics in their training: Combatives: Martial Arts training builds core strength, providing the technique Marines rely on in close combat (USMC, 2013). When I was in the USMC it was called close quarter combat and line training. Martial arts have impacted so many facets of warriors that it is included in many training routines. Also in recruit training, the Marine learns other techniques: Pugil sticks training the first time recruits face an opponent in close combat during recruit training. They learn to act despite fear. It is a crucial step in their transformation from civilian to warrior. Fitness and health: Three- to nine-mile conditioning marches with fully loaded packs develop endurance to lead from the front (USMC, 2013). Physical fitness is a part of their daily lives, as it is for many martial artists! United States Guntai-Shù Martial arts Honoring our US Military Veterans Leadership: Every Marine must lead in one avenue or another; they do this by a systematic learning of valuable leadership lessons. Recruits must learn the 11 Leadership Principles and 14 Leadership Traits (USMC, 2013). Character building: Marines live by their core values: honor, courage, and commitment in all they do. Each service trains and instills each of these into their members. The longer one stays in the better they become, much like a student of traditional martial arts. Every branch is honored! Below is why we honor such men and women who have served. We have all served for our own reasons, but we have all served our country. The reason we honor our military is briefly stated in their own words below.

3 Marine Corp The Marine Corps is America s Expeditionary Force in Readiness a balanced air-ground-logistics team. We are forward deployed and forward engaged: shaping, training, deterring, and responding to all manner of crises and contingencies. We create options and decision space for our Nation s leaders. Alert and ready, we respond to today s crisis with today s force..today. Responsive and scalable, we team with other Services, interagency partners, and allies. We enable and participate in joint and combined operations of any magnitude. A middleweight force, we are light enough to get there quickly, but heavy enough to carry the day upon arrival, and capable of operating independent of local infrastructure. We operate throughout the spectrum of threats irregular, hybrid, conventional or the gray areas where they overlap. Marines are always ready to respond whenever the Nation calls wherever the President may direct. (Amos, 2013, p. 2) -General James F. Amos, USMC Commandant of the Marine Corps Marines don t stop training after boot camp; they go on to learn more specific field and survival training along with their service career training. They serve in many areas to include, combat, security, and humanitarian efforts. United States Guntai-Shù Martial arts Honoring our US Military Veterans

4 Army The Army is a key component of the U.S. Armed Forces, providing expeditionary land forces wherever and whenever they are required. Working in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense, the Army trains and equips Soldiers and creates leaders among them to rapidly respond when they are called upon to serve our Nation (Army, 2013). Like the other services and good martial arts training, the Army is strong on leadership, it has to be. Leadership is crucial. Leadership is crucial to the success of the U.S. Army. The most effective leaders are those who "lead from the front" this means they lead by example in thought, word and deed. Soldiers who choose Leadership Training are making it clear that they wish to take on more responsibility and thus rise in rank. The Army provides many opportunities for Soldiers to learn how to improve their leadership and teamwork skills (Go Army, 2013). All soldiers learn some from of combative training to take on the toughest of enemies. They must be fit and healthy. Fitness is another corner stone of their life: Because a Soldier's level of physical fitness has a direct impact on his or her combat readiness, a Soldier in the U.S. Army must be mentally and physically fit (Go Army, 2013).

5 Air Force The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win in air, space and cyberspace. To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision of Global Vigilance, Reach and Power. That vision orbits around three core competencies: developing Airmen, technology to war fighting and integrating operations. These core competencies make our six distinctive capabilities possible Air and Space Superiority, Rapid Global Mobility, Precision Engagement, Information Superiority, Agile Combat Support And Core Values The Air Force bases these core competencies and distinctive capabilities on a shared commitment to three values: Integrity first, Service before self, and Excellence in all we do (Air Force, 2013). From a Pilot to a member in Services, each Airmen has their duty to make the mission accomplishable. Each and every member has to be physically fit, mentally ready, and fit to fight! United States Guntai-Shù Martial arts Honoring our US Military Veterans

6 Navy The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas (Navy, 2013). The life of those who serve in the Navy can be tough. They serve in a way that other military members don t. They spend their time on a ship for months at time with little room to themselves. Leadership and Character building must be crucial in order for these men and women to be productive in their duties. From the berthing area to the mess hall, when on the rolling seas, life can be rocky. Many hours of work keeping the mission going makes for long days. Fitness is highly important, as mentioned: Beyond improving job performance, requiring Navy service members to uphold certain levels of fitness and stamina encourages better physical and mental health which is rewarding personally as well as professionally (Navy, 2013).

7 Coast Guard For over two centuries the U.S. Coast Guard has safeguarded our Nation s maritime interests in the heartland, in the ports, at sea, and around the globe. We protect the maritime economy and the environment, we defend our maritime borders, and we save those in peril. This history has forged our character and purpose as America s Maritime Guardian Always Ready for all hazards and all threats. Today s U.S. Coast Guard, with nearly 42,000 men and women on active duty, is a unique force that carries out an array of civil and military responsibilities touching almost every facet of the U.S. maritime environment. The Coast Guard's motto is Semper Paratus, meaning "Always Ready." (Coast Guard, 2013). Every branch has focus in one of the four key areas, some more than others, but all combine the needed skills to form young and old, men and women, into today s warriors. United States Guntai-Shù Martial arts Honoring our US Military Veterans

8 U.S. Military Veteran Benefits: All Veterans Salute to U.S. Veterans $20.00 one time only fee for each member We would like to honor you by placing a photo of you in your uniform on our website. As long as we are an association your picture will remain on our website to proudly display your service. Your picture will be listed under the service you served in. If you have served in more than one service, submit pictures of you in all your uniforms, and with no additional cost, we will put you under the services you have served in. Guntai Shù / AMAWW Lifetime Membership Life time Hoorah Membership: With this membership, veterans interested in martial arts and joining a world class martial arts association, the AMAWW extends to veterans a one-time offer to receive a lifetime membership for both Guntai Shù and the AMAWW. You will submit a DD214; two passport types pictures (License, passport, ID card, etc) and fill out the membership application to determine your points. Please feel free to black out any personal information such as your SSN. This information will be reviewed by the AMAWW board and will help us determine your Service award. See Addendum A for point criteria. Converting Military Training Martial arts practice take years to develop great skill in speed, strength, agility, flexibility, focus, power, and the techniques unique to each style. Some military members have training in martial arts, some are black belts, and many at one time have done one form or another of martial arts. Much like the point system used to calculate retirement this system helps the service men and women calculate their rank of honor. It must be noted that the honorary black belt bestowed upon the individual does not allow the military individual access to any martial arts class worldwide at that level. Some select AMAWW schools will allow a military member that has been given this honor to enter their school at that rank, but this honorary black belt is a symbol of your dedication, commitment, and sacrifice for this country. As a martial arts association we believe this is the highest honor we can give you, to share in the unique honor of this accomplishment. Our pathway of getting there was different, but the goal of excellence is the same. United States Guntai-Shù Martial arts Honoring our US Military Veterans. To qualify for this honor a candidate must have an honorable discharge, a medical discharge under honorable conditions, or a general under honorable conditions to be considered. We understand that situations arise that are hard to explain, but any candidate with a dishonorable discharge will not qualify. The Association does not want to become judges in matter of decisions made by the U.S. Military. To qualify for this honor a candidate must have an honorable discharge, a medical discharge under honorable conditions, or a general under honorable conditions to be considered. We understand that situations arise that are hard to explain, but any candidate with a dishonorable discharge will not qualify. The Association does not want to become judges in matter of decisions made by the U.S. Military. The AMAWW has a good group of military veterans. We understand the sacrifice and training you have endured. Our only intention in this association and program is to honor our veterans. Our fees are kept as low as possible. We are not attempting to make automatic black belts, but are taking the esteemed honor of martial arts and presenting it to those who have served our country. It can be hard to fathom the life style of a military veteran if you have never served. There are a lot of responsibilities such as: Early mornings, close quarters, physical training, weapons training, technical training, customs and courtesies, questionable chow, field training and conditions, and the responsibility of upholding the constitution of the US of America! We at AMAWW salute you, whether or not you join Guntai Shù or the AMAWW, we are thankful that because of your sacrifice and service we are able to have this association and freedoms of our daily life.

9 points: Black Belt Level points: Master Black Belt Level

10 Addendum B: Award: Master Black Belt Award: Certificate of Appreciation References: Air Force. (2013, September 19). Air Force Learn about Mission. Retrieved from Air Force: Amos, G. J. (2013, September 18). Marines. Retrieved from Marine Corp 101: Army. (2013, Sept 19). Army. Retrieved from Joining the Army: Coast Guard. (2013, September 19). Coast Guard Mission. Retrieved from Coast Guard: Go Army. (2013, September 21). Soldiers Life - Leadership. Retrieved from Go Army: Navy. (2013, September 18). Navy about. Retrieved from Navy: USMC. (2013, September 18). Marines. Retrieved from Recruit Training: United States Guntai-Shù Martial arts Honoring our US Military Veterans