Drops Against the Stone: Rants and Ravings of a Martial Arts Eccentric

by Brandon Sieg

Overview

After fifteen years of teaching martial arts in both the collegiate and commercial setting, author Brandon Sieg has seen just about everything and has an opinion on most. Drops Against the Stone is a compilation of essays written to educate his students beyond a one minute “mat chat” at the end of a class. It goes deeper, to the heart of things. Some discussions might be held over dinner after training—anecdotes and somewhat cathartic tales about students who do or don’t “get it,” or musings of the benefits of the martial arts with real world examples. These are often mingled with martial arts history, culture, and tradition as it is relates through the eyes of an academic. It is martial arts and the world at large viewed from the lens of a martial arts eccentric—a martial arts education through rants, ravings, musings and memoirs. While written to guide his students, chances are much of it relates to your own martial arts journey as well. From training to trends in the martial arts and society at large, you won’t always agree with his opinions, but “Drops” challenges you and encourages you to sincerely pursue the martial way.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940045424622
Publisher:	Brandon Sieg
Publication date:	11/07/2013
Sold by:	Smashwords
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	777,589
File size:	375 KB

About the Author

Brandon Sieg’s martial arts career began in 1984 in Taekwondo. He has a 6th degree black belt recognized by the Chung Do Kwan and the Traditional Taekwondo Chungdokwan Association and a 4th dan recognized by the Kukkiwon. He has two 5th degree black belts in Hapkido (United States Hapkido Federation and Korea Hapkido Federation), a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (Team Atos affiliate Small Axe BJJ), is a certified instructor in Tai Chi Ch’uan (under Grandmaster William CC Chen), FAST Defense (several modules), an apprentice elite instructor in Martial Concepts (hybrid system including Kali and JKD) and was formerly a personal trainer.

A professional martial artists and trainer, he co-owns and teachers at Gentry Martial Arts in Martinsville, IN. He also is the martial arts instructor at DePauw University in Greencastle, IN and is one of the instructors in the Indiana University Martial Arts Program. Collegiate courses taught include physical skill classes on TKD, Hapkido, BJJ, Kali, Tai Chi, and self-defense, as well as lectures on the history and culture of the martial arts and also the martial arts industry. He also serves at the VP of the United States Hapkido Federation.

He enjoys writing about the martial arts and has had articles published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, Faith and Fitness Magazine, and Martial Arts Success. Other books to his credit include the TTCA Student Manual and its Black Belt Companion.

Mr. Sieg’s formal education includes a Masters in Kinesiology (Sport Management emphasis), a BS in Biology, and a minor in East Asian Language and Culture, all from Indiana University. He declined his acceptance to medical school after deciding that he could do more good in the world by teaching the martial arts and promoting the same level of professionalism within the martial arts that can be found in other fitness and health related occupations.