The Read

   Unless it is an entertainment magazine, I rarely pick up a book and just read for leisure.  I find reading to be very boring.  However, I know that it will help me tremendously in he long run.  

   One of my weekly tasks was to read a book over Spring Break.  My end goal is to one day, own a karate school, assisting urban youth with understanding themselves, the quality and value of their lives, character and discipline.  Over these past few weeks, I have found myself stuck, trying to figure out what to do next.  So, I read a book about entrepreneurship; "The Art of the Start."

   One of the most interesting things to me was that each chapter began with "GIST" ("great ideas for starting things"), covering a variety of facets to consider, from identifying your customer base and writing a business plan to establishing partnerships and building brand identity.  From beginning to end each chapter builds on the previous one and I found myself not wanting to put the book down. It's easy to read and understand.  It breaks down things you would need to know from a legal aspect, accounting, public relations, advertising and headhunting alike.  Similar to this class, the author encourages you to have a step by step process and weave a MAT (Milestones, Assumptions and Tasks).  In this, you will find ways to prove your concept, raise capital, and make it appeal to your geared audience.  

   All in all, "The Art of the Start" was a great beginning to the things I hope to accomplish in the near future.

Glenn Keeney
President of the Professional Karate Commission

Master Keeney started studying karate in high school in 1957. "I used to hitchhike from Indiana to Cincinnati every weekend.

The dojo which was opened by Mr. Pickel (Keeney's instructor at the time) in 1966, was purchased by his 3 top students, Jerry Brown, Larry Davenport and Mr. Keeney. By 1969, Mr. Keeney had bought out his partners, and although they helped keep the doors open for many years, Komakai Academy was now his soul responsibility. In 1972 & 1973, Mr. Keeney was rated #1 fighter in the USKA, 1972 & 1973 top ten fighter by Official Karate magazine, 1973 top ten fighter by Professional Karate magazine, 1974 #4 fighter in the U.S. by Black Belt magazine and inducted into the Black Belt Hall of Fame in 1977. As an administrator, Mr. Keeney helped write the rule book for tournaments in the US Karate Association and was the Rules Chairman for 10 years. He was also a Trias International award holder. As a member of the USKA World Champion Team in 1971 and 1972, he traveled extensively in the US and abroad. The team went undefeated for both Good Will Tours.In the PKA, he served as a judge in the 1974 1st World Championships in Los Angeles, and was the head of their ratings committee for several years.


"I love karate and money, so that was my motivation to stay in business and do the things I needed to do. Maintaining the business wasn't really hard for me. But, there were always people that I felt didn't want to see me succeed. But then I realized, there always will be those types of people around no matter what you do."

Master Keeney is the head of the organization that my karate school is a part of. I wish to one day have my own dojo and also, lead the Professional Karate Commission also.

Lawrence Blakley-Vice President of External Affairs for De La Salle Institute

After speaking to Mr. Blakley, I understood that his initial outlook on life was not one of pleasantry, high hopes, motivation, etc. He was an average, sometimes below average student and more often than not, hated school. His basketball scholarship assisted in the furthering of his education. "I definitely wouldn't have been at Loyola had it not been for my scholarship. In fact, even with my scholarship, I don't really know how I got into any college. To be honest with you, my grades were sub-par for most of my educational career."

Though he did not enjoy school in and of itself, one thing he did enjoy was learning new things and helping other individuals. "I have always receive some sort of self-gratification when I extend myself at the sake of others in need." This must be the reason that his career path has lead him in the direction of External Affairs at De La Salle Institute, consisting of service in the community at the Tolton Center and fundraising and sponsoring different events for different grammar schools around Chicago and its metropolitan area.


Grandmaster John R. Venson-Chief Instructor at Just For Kicks Martial Arts

For this man, the life he leads now has been one he has lead for many years. He is the current CEO and chief instructor of Just For Kicks karate school. He has been a student all his, studying under his father, founder of the karate school. "The decision was pretty much made for me. When my father was no longer able, I was going to take over the family business, no matter what I wanted." To somewhat secure his future, Mr. Venson attended Roosevelt University, majoring in Business Management, after his honarable discharge from the United States Marine Corp. He later began working for the Secret Service and his now a sheriff for the state of Illinois.

Mr. Venson is also one who loves helping others. But his reason is a little more personal. "I went into the service when I was 16 years-old. When most of my friends were going on prom and graduating from high school, I was in Vietnam, fighting for my life. I was very close to death twice, and my knowledge of effective hand to hand combat, was what saved my life. I often told God while I was in War, if he let me live and see my loved ones and American soil again, I promised to guide his children in the right direction. So, I figured I would do it the best way I knew how; through the disciplinary, character and life lessons I learned through karate."