Mr. Miyagi and Me - Couverture souple

"If you come to my dojo you will never be promoted to any rank. You will always remain a white belt. But, I expect that you will be like all other Americans who came to my class and quit. I am too strict, much too tough for Americans. But, if you want to learn and learn the right way, come back and I will teach you." Mr. Takeshi Miyagi directed those words to me on a rainy, November night in 1963. The following evening fellow Marine, Len Neidert and I returned to begin classes and were immediately served our very first dose of humble pie. Lessons in humility began when we were told that our first duty every night would be sweeping the pebbles from the hardened dirt floor of our outdoor classroom. Our second task required the lowering of a bucket into a well, filling a pot with drinking water and putting out glasses for our fellow students. We followed Mr. Miyagi's instructions without question and waited for the other students to arrive. We greeted each arriving student with a smile and a "hello" or "good evening." They glared at us and said nothing. When classes began, it was very obvious that we were not welcome and Len and I were certain that Miyagi's students believed we would be like every American who came before us and dishonor their teacher by quitting. Our first night marked the beginning of a battle to gain the trust and confidence of Mr. Miyagi and his students. And, it was evident from the outset, that we faced a very long long journey and the road was paved with aches and pains, and countless bumps and bruises.

James H. Lilley, retired from the Howard County, Maryland Police Department, following a distinguished 25 year career. Among his many honors, he is the recipient of the Police Department's Medal of Valor, four Bronze Stars and four Unit Citations. in 2008, he was named the National Author of the Year by Police-Writers.com. His work "Fatal Destiny, The Carjacking Murder of Dr. Pam Basu" was chosen as the 2013 Police-Writer's.Com Book of the Year. A former member of the United States Marine Corps, he received national and international recognition in August 2011 when Sensei Takeshi Miyagi promoted him to the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt. Mr. Lilley taught defensive tactics in the police academy for newly hired recruits and in-service training sessions for experienced officers. He wrote and implemented a Handgun Retention training program for law enforcement officers, which was published by the International Association of Chiefs of Police in their Training Key Series. The program was later produced in a video and dvd format in English and Spanish. He has taught karate and self-defense classes for over 50 years, and presented Personal Safety seminars for business organizations, schools, churches and community groups. In addition, Mr. Lilley is a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University, in the Police Executive Leadership and Intelligence Analysis Programs.