SHIHAN N W LEWIS MARTIALFORCE.COM INTERVIEW

My name is Eddie Morales and welcome to Martialforce.com Online Martial Arts Magazine. I want to introduce our readers to Shidoshi N.W.Lewis. Lewis is an east coast based Martial Artist that has been involved in its dedicated practice for many years. He has realistic views on technique and application and an open mind to learning and adapting to new methods. While doing research for this interview, I spoke to many of his peers and all had similar descriptions, which included, Dedicated, Knowledgeable, Innovative and Determined. Shidoshi Lewis is community minded and is known for going the extra mile to lend a helping hand. There are many instructors in the Martial Arts world but only a few good teachers. Lewis is one of those honored and respected Teachers. He is one of those individuals that believes you must take action to get ahead in life. We here at Martialforce.com are proud to bring you this interview and hope you enjoy it.

N.W.LEWIS: I was born in Brooklyn New York, Bedford Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, and Flatbush are the neighborhoods that I grew up in.

N.W.LEWIS: I currently work in the Investigations and Security Profession; some of my assignments have included a number of international dignitaries, A Notable New York Local Union President, Black Entertainment Television.

N.W.LEWIS: In the mid 1970’s while in high school I trained with the wrestling and fencing teams, I could not join because my mother would not allow it but the coaches let me train anyway. At the age of 16, I started my training in boxing and playing senior division Basketball for Brooklyn USA at the St Johns Recreation Center, if I remember Dr. Moses Powell was teaching there at the time. Also had the opportunity back then to train with Tommy Lewis aka SABU to the martial arts community in Kingston Park on Kingston and Atlantic Aves. I served in the US Air Force in the early 80’s on a combat team and started in Vee Arnis Jujitsu in 1988 after informally training with a few martial artist that I knew until I found a style that fit my particular attributes, which happened to turn out to be Vee Arnis Jitsu.

Martialforce.com: Do you think that Martial Arts training has had a positive affect on you when you were growing up?

N.W.LEWIS: I have always had a love affair with the martial arts, and growing up I didn’t have the resources to go to a school to train, so I trained with everybody I knew who did Judo, karate, tae kwon do. As it was I what I realized later was, the good fortune of having a couple of friends who were training at George Coffield’s or John Dinkins dojos.

I was living with my uncle then and I think he thought I was crazy because of the things that I did to hone my fighting skills. Martial Arts training kept me focused on a goal as oppose to hanging out on the streets and getting into trouble, although I have to admit I wound up getting into my fair little share.

Martialforce.com: Who has been your greatest influence in Martial Arts and throughout your life?

N.W.LEWIS: In the martial arts, there are so many people that I can say are been of great influences starting with, I grew up in the Bruce Lee era, the Chinese kung fu movies; * Five Deadly Venoms, *The Kid with the Golden Arms,* Drunken Master, * Pole Fighters….they were the best I would pay extra attention to the training scenes. The conditioning and technique the Master taught the lead player who suffered some great loss. I remember spending all day in the theatre, then going home and practicing I made a makiwara board from the wood framed back of a chair, which I nailed to the wall in the basement, and my grandmother had an old dress mannequin that was my punching bag, It was on wheels and that helped with footwork. Stick weapons have always been my thing, table leg, tree limb and always available. Master Sabu, Professor Vee, Grand Master Danny Paulo, Prof David James, Prof Lou Ferrer, Shihan Timmy, Master Sai, Prof Mo, Sensei Ron Dyson, Prof Moses Powell, O’Sensei Ronald Duncan and family, Soke’s Lil John Davis and Haisan Kaleak, Shinan Periera, Soke Depasquale Sr, Mestranda Edna Lima, Mestre Camiso, Gary Wilson…Gosh, so many have contributed to the martial artist that has become me. In terms of life’s’ greatest influence; that would have to be my Grandfather the Reverend William A. Linton and my Great Aunt Adina (who forced me to face myself, and see the genuine me).

Martialforce.com: Do you believe that the practice of Kata (Pre-arranged Movements) is useful and if so why?

N.W.LEWIS: I come from a system that does not practice “Kata” traditionally; we have two man sets that I suppose qualifies as kata, though aren’t referred to as such. However, I personally engaged in the practice of Kata as my form of meditation, I teach some of the techniques associated with some of the two man sets as 1 man katas so that my younger students can develop the muscle memory of the two-man set. So yes, I do, but I believe in training in kata with a purpose i.e. the application or bunkai of the technique as well as the Zen the mind and spirit of the kata.

Martialforce.com: From your experience, what do you believe defines a good Martial Arts practitioner?

N.W.LEWIS: A good Martial Arts practitioner in my opinion is an individual who demonstrates that he or she is high-motivated and dedicated to the development of their craft. A good martial artist is not a “weekend warrior”, no affrontation meant or implied…but a person of good martial caliber, will daily apply his or her training in virtually every aspect of their lives to some degree, in his or her quest to become proficient in the Martial Arts.

Martialforce.com: Can you give our readers your definition of a good instructor?

N.W.LEWIS: Ah a good instructor, like a good parent so to speak, they wear many hats, educator, guide, mentor, nurturer, a good instructor should have ability prepare each training module with the talent/gift to modify each technique to meet the needs that his or her students. What do I mean? Let us take a technique like Tai Otoshi (basic Judo wheel throw) and there are many good reference sources on this technique and some good methods taught in the effective hip rotation/foot placement, etc… However, for “me” it was in the explanation of the mechanicals of the arms within the technique that turned on the light bulb. The turning the wheel of the bus in converse to the statement push/pull seemed to make more sense to me. This particular thought repeated itself when I had the opportunity to train with Professor Wally Jay; Small Circle Jujitsu at The VAJ Headquarters where he would refer to fulcrum, lever, base and the method of rotation of a wrist lock he would say like turning the faucet/spiget, so when you think about what it takes to say turn on the water after you attach the garden hose to the spiget….the dynamics are astounding.

N.W.LEWIS: As a member of the military I’ve been awarded medals for Outstanding Leadership, I’ve won championship titles in Full Contact Stick fighting, Grand champions in a few tourneys, I hold a 7th Dan in Jujitsu, Certification in Combat Arnis, rank in Capoeria, Trained with some of the greatest martial artist on the planet. But, teaching has been my greatest achievement, I love teaching…In the Air Force I was an instructor for the HQ ATC Honor Guard, in Tech School Instructor for candidates going to Rope School, Squad Leader in Basic Training, when you see the light bulb go off in a student that presented challenges to you as an instructor in the initial phase of his or her training, they may not be the best fighter, or execute the form perfectly. But the attitude has transformed, when that person moves with more confidence and determination, like “I got this” or “Hey, Sensei was right I… can do this.” And You see a little more guide in their stride, more pep in their step….I remember I did a stage performance form for one of my students of The Restoration Youth Arts Academy, Chioneso Bakr which was choreographed to a song from “Mulan” the soundtrack. Chi Chi performed the form with such passion; it brought a tear to mine and the audience’s eye. This is one of so many. Did I say I love to teach?

Martialforce.com: In regards to tournament competition, were you an active competitor or do you practice non-sport?

N.W.LEWIS: I was an active competitor, I’ve competed in weapons, Self Defense, Kata, Kumite (would usually get DQ’d as an under belt) I used the right leg hook kick counter, off a right hand punch: lead or reverse, beautiful technique but I would get called for contact, and I love the ridge hand, but there are those who won’t score it, I remember I did an arnis form before arnis enjoyed the popularity that it has now in a tourney in New Jersey, Professor Vee was there with us, I got (3) 9’s and 1 judge gave me a 4, Prof said “don’t worry , he just doesn’t know yet” I stopped karate tourney’s shortly after I discovered the joy of full contact, mostly Filipino Stick Fighting….

Martialforce.com: At what age do you believe a child should start Martial Arts training?

N.W.LEWIS: I personally think 5-8 years is a good age to start the fundamentals of the martial arts. If a child is articulate enough at 4 years and displays the right disposition toward the vigor of the training, then I also says yes.

Martialforce.com: Well sir, thank you for accepting to be interviewed and we wish you great success.