The Saline Reporter
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
The write stuff Martial artist pens book
By Krystle Dunham, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: April 24, 2008
As a young boy, David Stress found the self-defense aspect of martial arts to be most important to him.
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But now, as an adult, he has learned the inner calmness that martial arts can bring is much more important.
"The inner calmness just happens. It becomes more like a reflex," he said. "There are so many more things you can gain from martial arts. The way you handle things in your life is much more important and I hope my book will show that."
Stress, a martial artist and information technology manager for McNaughton & Gunn Inc. in Saline, has written and self-published his first book titled "Martial Arts from a Student's Perspective." His book was released in early March.
In the book, Stress shares his practical experiences and presents material to those considering the martial arts, as well as those who currently practice the marital arts.
Advice is given on selecting the correct martial art for readers and suggestions are offered that will help readers select a dojo instructor who best fulfills the reader's needs.
Dojo, a Japanese term, is known as a formal training place for martial arts.
Applying the martial arts to everyday life and suggestions on how to get the most out of each practice session is also discussed.
"I hope readers will find my book insightful," Stress said.
The 50-year-old has had a love for the martial arts since he was in the third grade. Stress said some of his friends at school had started taking martial art classes and he decided he wanted to see what the classes were like.
Stress took martial arts classes until he reached junior high school, when his family moved. During this time, he decided to stop taking classes.
However, once he reached the ninth grade, he decided he wanted to learn karate and judo.
Karate involves sharp, quick blows to sensitive parts of the opponent's body, and judo doesn't involve punches and kicks. Judo involves throws, takedowns and control techniques.
"Sometimes you have to be without something to realize you really like something," Stress said.
High school programs for marital arts took place in the fall, so in the summer Stress, his brother and friends would practice throughout the season in his front yard.
Stress went to a karate school from his sophomore year of high school to his senior year, called Karate Jewel School of America. It was then that he learned a Korean style of karate called Tang Soo Do and earned his black belt.
For Stress to earn his black belt, he had to learn all of the foundational pieces of martial arts. After a year of having his black belt, he received his instructor's certificate.
Stress graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor's degree in computer science and was a member of the university's Korean Karate Club.
He also received a master's degree in technology management and business management from EMU.
In April 2000, he wrote his capstone paper to earn his master's degree and it was then that he thought writing his own book was a definite possibility.
This wasn't the first time, Stress considered writing a book, but this time the possibility seemed more realistic.
"I've had an interest in writing a book, all of my life," he said.
Stress said his dream of writing a book was put on hold as life got in the way.
Last October, Stress decided it was finally time to sit down and start writing his first book. He told his wife, Tina, his plan and Stress said he didn't think Tina thought he was serious at first.
He decided to select martial arts as the subject of his first book because he thought he had enough information on the subject to write about.
By this past February, he had completed his book.
"This was a huge learning experience," he said.
Stress now spends his free time as an instructor at the Japanese Martial Arts Center, 771 Airport Blvd., Suite 1B, in Ann Arbor.
Nicklaus Suino, chief instructor at the Japanese Martial Arts Center, said he enjoyed Stress' book and thought that Stress did a good job of expressing simple concepts.
Suino has known Stress for two years through the center. They first met when Stress was a student there.
Suino said he thinks Stress does a good job of putting aside what he knows about martial arts to train others with an open mind at the center.
"He thinks about what he wants to get out of the art," Suino said. "He has a real unique quality that's hard to find in a martial art student."
For those interested in purchasing Stress' book, call him at 429-8724 or visit the Web site www.davidsbook-store.net.
Krystle Dunham is a freelance writer. She can be reached at krystleadunham@gmail.com.
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