Kurt Mitchell

I was raised in the church, I started off Methodist, and was there until my parents got a divorce. I fell away from the church for a while, but not really too far from Christ. When I met my now wife, we started at the church I am at now. Since starting there I have taken over as the leader of the men’s group, having just recently finished up a three year study called Men’s Fraternity. My wife and I run the nursery at our church, which is exciting! Even though they are young enough to sometimes not fully understand the Gospel, it’s great being able to pour out love on the little ones, and show them the Gospel in action. With Dojos of the Risen Son, I’m able to take a different approach and minister to a wide group of people, and in turn be ministered back to, which is amazing.

I’ve been passionate about Martial Arts for a very long time. I think I was probably 6 or 7 when I saw my first movie with Martial Arts in it, and I honestly don’t remember what it was. But I remember running around punching and kicking the air like I saw in the movies. I had a chance, around fourth grade, to experience an actual class of Karate...I believe Shotokan. I was able to take it for a few weeks in school, extracurricularly, and my appetite was never sated after that. It wasn’t until college though that I was able to take a style again. Until that time, I absorbed movies and video games, like most young guys, and thought I knew what I was doing. I found, that in fact I kind of did, which prepared me for when I took Uechi Ryu in college. Again, I was only able to take it for a short time, as I wasn’t able to afford it after the college course. I learn so much from it though, not just physically, but mentally and in a way spiritually, and I continue to apply those teachings to this day. So, sadly, I walked away from Martial Arts again, but now I had some real training, and foundation to work with. I continued to practice when I could, which still didn’t sate my thirst for it.

It wasn’t until just a few years ago, before my son was born, that I really got back into Martial Arts. I was able to take Krav Maga with Instructor Craig Gray, and his protector philosophy really hit home with me. I took that for about 8 months, and after my son Lucas was born, I had to give it up for a time. Around this time Sensei Brooks started pestering me to join Dojos of the Risen Son. At first I rejected the idea, hoping to go back to Krav Maga, but I finally gave in. I’m so glad that I did! I found a home here, where I can practice an art with like minded and faithed students, being challenged both physically, mentally and spiritually on a regular basis. Martial Arts, to me, doesn’t feel like exercise or a chore, as I have so much fun doing it, I rarely notice that I’m super tired and exhausted until it’s too late!

Practicing, and now instructing at Dojos of the Risen Son has really reinforced one of my favorite verses from the Bible. Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another.” As the founder of Men’s Fraternity, Robert Lewis says, “Life, is a team sport!”, I truly believe that we are always better together, and weaker apart. I try to live and breath that in all that I do, whether in the Dojo or outside of it.