I am pleased to announce the following promotions to 5th Degree Black Belt Master rank in C&S Self Defense Association:

• 5th Degree Black Belt White Tiger Master Dwayne Beccue
• 5th Degree Black Belt Wind Lynx Master Carl Parker
• 5th Degree Black Belt Mantis Master Scott Petitjean

These promotions were earned over the last, on average, 25 years of hard, dedicated work in our art, and confirmed by their fine presentations at the 2017 Master Candidate Review held 06/08/2017 on a 200 acre working farm in the beautiful southern Illinois cornfields of Mulberry Grove.

The Review was headed by 9th Degree Black Belt White Cobra Grandmaster Peter M. Rose and Storm Dragon Grandmaster David R. Landers. In attendance and assisting in the process were Masters: Kerry Bushue, Joseph Larison, Timothy House, Russell Jones, and James Nancarrow (who drove all the way up from his home in Florida to help out!).

Masters Beccue, Parker, and Petitjean will all agree after experiencing this process that being invited to this Review was not a done deal, and will attest that even at this level, their talents, patience, and skills were probed and analyzed for perfection.

I am also pleased to announce that Master Beccue, Master Parker, and Master Petitjean have also been accepted onto the C&S Self Defense Association Governing Council, and now have full autonomy over their lines, independent of anyone else in the association.

Grandmaster David R. Landers receiving his promotion to 9th Degree Black Belt from Grandmaster Rose.

Grandmaster Landers has been a student and friend of mine since 1970. He has earned the respect of not only every martial artist that he has come in contact with as well as myself, but all of the law enforcement community that he recently retired from.

There is nothing more I can say to praise Master Landers, other than to value him not only as my student, but also as my life long friend.

You will note that I have promoted Grandmaster Landers to the rank of 9th Degree Black Belt: my own rank. I am the only one that can do this. I have done this because Grandmaster Landers has achieved what every teacher and mentor desires: to have someone exceed their own accomplishments. Master Landers has more than done this. I am humbled by his achievements.

Prior to the examination of the Master Candidates, Grandmaster Landers and I announced the promotion of several of our Masters in C&S Self Defense Association.

• 7th Degree Black Belt White Crane Master Kerry D. Bushue
• 7th Degree Black Belt Sun Lepord Master Joseph R. Larison
• 6th Degree Black Belt Spirit Eagle Master Timothy A. House
• 6th Degree Black Belt King Snake Master Russell G. Jones

In addition, I also awarded both Master Bushue and Master Larison the title of Grandmaster. Normally, this title is reserved for at least 8th Degree Black Belt. However, both have more than exceeded the requirements for a Grandmaster title by having students under them promoted to Master level (Masters Beccue and Petitjean respectively).

As per association guidelines, both Masters House and Jones received their promotions for their fine work in guiding students toward the 2 nd Degree Black Belt Disciple level. Whether their students are able to successfully pass their exams for Nidan or not is immaterial. What is celebrated is Master House and Master Jones guidance of their students to even be considered as candidates for discipleship.

Looking out over the southern Illinois cornfields on the way to Mulberry Grove, IL.

Drive by picture of the Mulberry Grove, IL Post Office. Thumb in the corner; no charge.

The Cabina West at Mulberry Grove Cabins where half of the group slept as well as where we all ate and had our seminars and candidate reviews.

One of two large meeting and gathering areas in the Cabina West cabin. Because the weather was so warm and inviting on the covered porch, we had all of our meetings out there until it got so dark we couldn't see (and check and make sure no one was snoozing!)

The Black Bear Log Home where Grandmaster Landers, myself, Grandmaster Bushue, Grandmaster Larison, and Master James Nancarrow slept, and had late night review discussions after returning from the Cabina West cabin. We had Master House and Master Jones stay over at the Cabina West cabin so that they could entertain the candidates: Beccue, Parker, and Petitjean.

Grandmaster Landers showing me around the Black Bear Log Home after arriving. We made short work of that, and headed right over to the Cabina West cabin to begin the review.

View of the fields beyond Grandmaster Landers truck at the Black Bear Log Home.

I took this shot of the pond out behind the Black Bear Log Home.

Better than my shot of the pond out behind the Black Bear Log Home is this one I scraped off of the Bear Grove Cabins web site. You can't see it in the picture, but the Cabina West cabin is just beyond the trees on the other side of the pond. I walked around out there on that side of the pond with several of the Masters as well as each candidate. So very peaceful, and quiet.

GM Bushue and Master Beccue.

GM Bushue, Master Beccue, and GM Landers.

Master Parker, Master Jones, Master Petitjean, and Master Nancarrow.

GM Rose and GM Larison.

GM Rose, Master Petitjean, and GM Larison.

GM Rose, Master Petitjean, GM Larison, Master Jones, Master Parker, and Master Bushue.

Master Nancarrow, GM Bushue, and Master Petitjean, with GM Landers in the background.

Master Parker.

Master Petitjean showing the stress of the process; a not uncommon tendancy after 16 hour days of non-stop work.

Master Beccue, Master Nancarrow, GM Rose, and GM Larison.

GM Rose, GM Larison, and GM Bushue.

Master Jones, GM Landers, Master Petitjean, and Master Parker.

Master Parker, and GM Rose.

GM Rose, Master Beccue, Master Nancarrow and GM Larison.

GM Larison, GM Bushue, Master Jones, GM Landers, and Master Petitjean.

Master Beccue, GM Bushue, Master Nancarrow, GM Landers, and Master Petitjean.

GM Landers.

Master Petitjean.

Front of the Cabina West.

Master Parker, still alive and appearing well.

GM Rose, and GM Larison.

GM Landers.

GM Landers.

Master Nancarrow, Master Parker, Master Petitjean, GM Larison, and GM Rose.

GM Bushue.

Master Petitjean, Master Beccue, GM Bushue, Master Nancarrow, and GM Landers.

Master Parker, Master Petitjean, and Master Jones.

Master Jones.

GM Landers and Master Beccue.

Master Nancarrow, Master Parker, and GM Rose.

GM Larison, GM Rose, and GM Bushue.

GM Larison, GM Rose, and GM Bushue.

GM Landers and Master Beccue.

Master Nancarrow and Master Parker.

GM Larison.

GM Bushue and GM Rose taking a walk out by the pond.

Master Petitjean and Master Jones.

GM Larison, and GM Rose.

Master House and Master Jones.

Master Nancarrow and Master Bushue.