Sensei_Mayfield

Mr. Tim Mayfield-

Sensei

Sandan 3rd. Degree Black Belt

Danzan Ryu Jujutsu / Hikari Ryuza Ryu Jujutsu®

Hikari Ryuza Ryu Do Kan®

Council Member Hikari Ryuza Ryu Yudansha Kai®

Sensei Mayfield

Every Sunday after church we were allowed to watch T.V. while we ate lunch in preparation for our afternoon chores. My time was spent watching old Martial Arts movies. Like most children, I emulated the moves I saw because I felt there was something unique about the actors who displayed them. I wanted to understand their uniqueness and how to apply their skills to my life. Although only a child, I felt the calling of Black Belt, of Yudansha.

Early in my teenage years, my parents found my fascination was not waning and enrolled me in Karate lessons. My parents felt that not only could I use other tools for personal confidence but more importantly, discipline. I studied for several months before deciding that karate was not the form for me. The repetition of Kata's was boring to me and didn't give me the sense of control I had seen in the martial artist in the movies. I asked my parents if I could look for another instructor and they were open to the idea. After we researched schools in Grass Valley, California a family friend referred me to a school in Penn Valley, California. My parents and I met with Grandmaster Crimi (then Professor Crimi) to discuss his school and curriculum. They were pleasantly surprised with his thoughtful attention to child education and decided to check references. After they were satisfied, I finally was enrolled in classes with the man who would become my lifelong teacher, Grandmaster Crimi.

That was the beginning to my journey of self discovery, discipline, faith & belief.

My parents drove me to my first lesson at the age of 15 (I am now 36) and immediately knew my classes would be different. The art of Hikari Ryuza Ryu Jujutsu® and most importantly my teacher were so much more dynamic. My classes were not the static repetition of kicks, punches and forms that I had previously experienced but of real world applications of self defense. Grandmaster Crimi saw past my youthful brashness (that's not what the Grandmaster calls it) and filled our classes with techniques and discussions. I am the first to admit that I wasn't an easy student, every time I was shown a technique I questioned its ability to work. Each time that I asked, "what if I were to do this", Grandmaster showed me how countering the technique was more detrimental to me than to the technique. I have always been amazed at the amount of detail can be demonstrated with such little effort. Finally, all of those ideas that I had seen in the movies was being shown to me. I was not learning self defense; I was learning Hikari Ryuza Ryu Jujutsu® and what it means to be a Black Belt.

After a couple years of studying I left for college. I was not able to continue my training very often and soon stopped all together. I completed my collegiate studies and sought other Martial Arts instruction to fill a void that I was feeling. I bounce around through Aikido, Karate and Judo but did not find any art or instructor that matched what I had been taught by Grandmaster.

I had started my professional career and met one of my early loves. Transitioning from a young adult to a man was proving to be difficult as most of the discipline that I had been taught was lost through the years. I ran into several early road blocks in my career and my personal life suffered. The personal trials proved to be too much for me at the time. I lost all the things I held dear to my heart and was at a crossroads. At that point I decided it was time to find the man who could guide my growth and began the path back.

It wasn't until I received my Shodan (first degree Black Belt) in 2006 that my training and studies truly began. Until then I didn't realize what it meant to be a Black Belt. I thought being able to defend yourself and others was the goal of Martial Arts. But that is only a small portion. Every journey is an individual one as we all have different skills and the goal is to become one with yourself and your mind. The body might in act the technique, the mind initiates and completes the technique.

My studies of Hikari Ryuza Ryu Jujutsu® are the foundation to my life. I have learned that the techniques reach farther than being able to defend myself but help me set goals and achieve them. I use my training to strengthen my character, personal life and professional career. Though the experiences I had in my young adulthood were difficult, I found the tools through my Jujutsu to manage them as an adult. It is truly an honor to call Grandmaster Crimi my teacher for over 21 years. Without his instruction I would not be living the fulfilled life that I am now. I have become someone that I am proud to be and feel blessed that my family feels the same way.

I received my Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt) in Hikari Ryuza Ryu Jujutsu® / Danzan Ryu Jujutsu on September 5, 2009. I am certified in first aid and child/adult CPR under the Three Rivers Chapter of the American Red Cross as instructed by Professor Geary.

I hold a (B.Sc.) Bachelor of Science degree in business administration. I currently am the director of sales for a software company in San Francisco.