#teamloya

Andrea and I spent about 2 hours today training with our favorite German born sensei. Martial arts, especially for those of us without the benefit of eyesight, is about connection. The 3 of us trained in the park connecting through the techniques and drills, as well as connecting as friends and fellow human beings. So often we try to do a thing or lots of things. Maybe take a page from the book of my favorite little green dude. “Do or do not. There is no try.” Simplicity is where peace is found. Andrea took this picture of the park where we trained today. In it you can see the fountain, and the red tiles surrounding it. There are palm trees and a green grassy area visible in the background. #BlindSurfer #TeamLoya #TekioJutsu #JediWisdom #connection #karate #budo #martialarts #jiujitsu #BJJ #BlindAdventurer #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind (at Solana Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cax5bUIP9k-/?utm_medium=tumblr

Please meet the new woman in my life. Megan is now fully trained, and we are a complete guide dog team. Thanks to her raisers, to my trainer Lucy, and to everyone at Guide Dogs for the Blind for their investment in our success. Mad thanks to Andrea, my lovely and deadly bride, for giving me the space to focus on training with Megan and Lucy since May 12, especially for her taking a leadership role in working with our small group of Guardian Quest and Blind Community Martial Arts students. If you meet Megan, please resist the temptation to feed, pet, or talk to her, especially for this first month or so. You’ll probably get an opportunity to say hi eventually, but it’s really important that she has time to bond with me. If you are curious about how this whole process works, I’m happy to talk with you on an individual basis. Photo is of me and Megan together at my local YMCA on a bench just outside. I’m wearing black Chuck Taylors, black 501 jeans, and a plain black hoody with a USA Surfing pin on the right side of my jacket. Megan is a 64-66 pound female black lab. She is roughly 22 inches tall. She is seated to my left (the camera’s right). @gdb_official @aloya319 @gqdojo #GuardianStrong #TeamLoya #dogfather #Megatron #Megamillions #GuideDogs #GDB #LabLover #ThankYou #JoshuaTheJedi https://www.instagram.com/p/CPKNgskJMjb/?utm_medium=tumblr

I was honored to talk to my friend and long-time instructor, Grandmaster Scot Conway, on the most recent episode of my podcast. It was August 17, 2005 that I first walked into Grandmaster Scot’s dojo. I have trained with several masters, coaches, and instructors, but none of their instruction, mentorship, and friendship has been as meaningful or impactful to me as much as that of this man. I am most certainly imperfect.. In the areas where I do well, I owe much of my accomplishment and character to the investment of Grandmaster Scot. Of course, my most significant appreciation of his help is the application of his teaching in repairing the core of what was broken in mine and Andrea’s marriage. Early into our marriage we separated for about a year and a half. We reunited in December of 2009 with tools to continually make our relationship stronger and more meaningful for each of us. I hope you enjoy the conversation Grandmaster Scot and I had as much as I did. Oh, and in case you want to check out some of what he is doing now, check out www.scotwith1t.com or search his name, Scot Conway, on Amazon. @gqdojo @aloya319 #GuardianKempo #GKKD #GuardianQuest #GuardianStrong #TeamLoya #JoshuaTheJedi #Adventuremind https://www.instagram.com/p/CFVnV6uJXqb/?igshid=14fz5s2vcurge

My lovely and deadly bride got sneaky. She took this pick of me doing a seated twist during my cool down after my Prime the Pump Phase 2 from my Body Weight 6 workout program. Apparently my usual sweatiness during a workout made me all kinds of shiny. This #onnit6challenge has been super helpful in lifting my spirits through some personal struggles. It’s almost as if humans were designed for movement... 🤔 🤙🤙💪😎 @aloya319 @onnit @expeditiontrufit @surfightjj @gqdojo @usasurfing @isasurfing #TeamLoya #getonnit #BlindSurfer #Surfight #GuardianStrong #TeamUSA #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/CD-6lDqpHlk/?igshid=1oq0kahpqrdde

Team Loya (Sensei Andrea and Sensei Joshua) celebrates 15 years of marriage today! WE love each and every one of our students. To us, you are family. If you would like to celebrate with us, say a kind word or do a kind deed, in order to make the world a little brighter. It is because of our love for our GQ Dojo ohana that the two of us have made the difficult decision to extend our temporary closure. Classes are scheduled to resume on Monday, March 30. The two of us are practicing social distancing and other precautionary measures, in order to do our part to flatten the curve. It is our desire that each member of our dojo family be Guardian Strong (Strong on the inside! Strong on the outside!) This is why we are asking all of you to exercise discretion in this challenging time. If any of you is in need because of current events, please get in touch with us, and we will do our best to help you. The GQ phone number is 619-582-8770. Best dojo email is [email protected]. All currently active students at Guardian Quest are eligible for an additional private lesson at no extra cost, when the dojo reopens. The specifics of the private lessons are yet to be determined. Every lesson will be tailored to EACH individual student. #ohana #TeamLoya #GuardianStrong (at Guardian Quest Martial Arts Dojo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B97rDzIJAkn/?igshid=119vlwjr5hk9l

In light of current events, and because we want our students to be healthy and strong on the inside and outside, all Guardian Quest Martial Arts Dojo classes will be suspended until Monday, March 23. We will reassess throughout the week to determine if extending our temporary close will be necessary. Hopefully it won’t be. It is our hope that exercising a bit of precaution will help curb the spread of Coved 19/the Corona virus. Both of us (Sensei Andrea and Sensei Joshua) are safe and healthy. We want you to be as well. If you have any needs, or you know someone who does, please message, email, or call. Just because we are not holding classes, it doesn’t mean we aren’t still family. We can still do good for those in need. We are discussing ways of providing additional value to members that stay with us through this unfortunate necessary decision. Thank you for your understanding. We’ll get through this together. This plaque was a gift from our student Cheri. She and her children are loved by everyone at Guardian Quest. The image description which follows is written by our own Sensei Andrea. A Light colored Wooden sign with the words OHANA etched in black on top of a surf board floating on a light blue stylized wave with a spiral on one side. Underneath the wave are the words “means family”, etched in black. #GuardianStrong #GKD #TeamLoya #ohana #OhanaMeansFamily (at Guardian Quest Martial Arts Dojo) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9zdJwhJ_Wh/?igshid=x8q6dzig5xhx

On August 17, 2005, @aloya319 and I stepped into the dojo of Soke-Shihan Scot Conway’s dojo for the very first time. Words cannot adequately express the treasure that I have in my life because of his investment. I never thought I’d ever have the honor of being an ambassador of his martial arts system in San Diego alongside my lovely wife. Grandmaster Scot was also my pastor for many years (2007-2019). The life principles in what is now called Guardian Kempo Kajuko Do (GKD) saved a marriage that I thought was lost forever. Andrea and I were separated from June of 2008 to December of 2009. In 2010, he performed the ceremony when we renewed our vows. In June of 2010, I received my first black belt ranks from him, alongside Andrea. In 2016, I took about a year and a half break to pursue judo training and competition. Grandmaster Scot was never possessive or demanding or punitive for me seeking outside training. He even guest taught at our adaptive martial arts program that is heavily based on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and tang soo do. He was supportive of my exploration of jeet kune do (JKD) with @sifusingh and @lagunajkd Now, Andrea and I run a dojo that teaches his martial arts system and principles. I have a path to earn an income and a vehicle for helping others. I am blessed in so many ways because of him. He is still a treasured friend. Tonight I say goodbye to him for who knows how long. This is his last night as a resident of San Diego. He leaves town tomorrow. I am sad he is leaving. I am still deeply honored that he trusts me to teach something so beautiful as GKD. Thank you, Soke. I am forever grateful for your instruction and your friendship. @gqdojo #GuardianKempo #GKD #GuardianStrong #karate #TeamLoya #gratitude #Ohana https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Vf7cQpp-i/?igshid=1n6258rvmi8q8

Merry Christmas from Team Loya and Guardian Quest Martial Arts Dojo! We had our last class of the year yesterday. Classes resume on Friday, January 3, 2020. (This picture of a beautiful Christmas tree was taken on a recent walk through my neighborhood with the help of @aira.io ~Sensei Joshua #GuardianQuest #GuardianStrong #TeamLoya #JoshuaTheJedi #MerryChristmas #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/B6evbolJhyB/?igshid=17j8susm8duhs