2011 DONNA MATHEWS SENSEI

      Phillip Browning

I began my martial arts career studying Gi Shin E No Michi Karate under Sensei Steven Morris in Columbia. I practiced that system for a little over a year and attained the rank of green belt (rokkyu). I began to study Jujitsu at Maru Martial Arts in the fall semester of 2000 and attained the rank of shodan in October 2003. Other achievements include attaining the rank of Eagle Scout and graduating from Loyola College in Maryland in 2006 with a Master’s Degree in Psychology. I am currently employed as therapist and psychiatrist’s assistant at Main Street Mobile Treatment Associates, Inc.

http://www.mainstreetmentalhealthinc.org

    Michael Geib

""When you state your intentions on an important matter, you should declare them proudly and then let out a howling laugh. Fate can be influenced in the most unexpected ways... through laughter and perhaps a whistle.” – Anonymous/Unknown

Mine is a common history. Born in Philadelphia, PA, I grew up in Malvern/West Chester and attended the local Catholic K-8 and high schools (St. Patrick and Bishop Shanahan, respectively). I was active in sports and music, solely to music in my adolescent years. I still sing and  play the piano and guitar, but I recall fondly my days as a brass player. In grade school I was teased and picked on mercilessly; as the years went by, it died down until high school where I made new friends and switched from the timid nerd persona to one of the school’s well-known fine arts junkies. I was, as a side note, ferociously interested in martial arts but never had time to study or train due to my overwhelming number of commitments.

When I arrived at Loyola (then College) University, I noticed that they had a Ju-jitsu Club. I also noted that I had absolutely zero experience in the martial arts. When they told the new students that year that this was okay, I was thrilled and started regularly attending. The current president, my senpai-now-sensei Mark Mangano was to graduate come May, and when Renshi asked me to succeed him I happily accepted. Before I knew it I was coming early to set up the mats and eagerly awaiting the next class when the current one ended.

Since that time Ju-jitsu has come to completely redefine myself and how I see the world. My family supported me 100% and was thrilled that I was doing something like this; their reactions after seeing my black belt test are memories I will hold on to forever. Spending seven hours every week devoted to the study of Ju-jitsu made my time here at Loyola truly unforgettable and irreplaceable. I have no doubt in my mind that I will speak of it fondly to the end of time.

From the time I put my status of club president on my resume, employers have continually asked me about it. Having to explain over and over again how Ju-jitsu affects my daily life and how I apply it to everyday situations has given me a greater appreciation about the benefits of the art in life. Each and every one who asks the question came away satisfied, since it is inherent in our philosophy that Ju-jitsu be not an activity restricted to the dojo but a way of thought that permeates our entire lives. Avoidance of violence as anything other than a last resort, emphasis on self-defense, controlled thought and physical action, and mind over technique over power have all become tenets of my life that I seek to apply to all that I do.

I am currently employed with the investment management company, Vanguard, in their IT sector working in Network Operations and am a proud part of their 12,500-fold crew. My home may be in PA, but whenever I can I will be returning to the dojo as it is my greatest wish to continue to teach new students Ju-jitsu and hopefully be a part of instilling a great and deep love for the art.