A Welcome Message from Joni's Angels / Guardians of the Martial Way...

Welcome to The Guardians Blog! Here's where you come to find out the latest news on our program and activities, learn more about our events and what's going on at our great Guardians Network Member Schools, and pick up some awesome tips and pointers for Martial Arts and Self Defense. Check back weekly to stay up-to date on all of our latest developments.

"We do good things FOR the Art by doing good things WITH the Art."

Hello everyone! Welcome to our website and our very first blog. For those of you who I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting, I'm Charlie. I'm the C.O.O. and National Ambassador here at Joni's Angels / Guardians of the Martial Way. I'm also a lifelong Martial Artist who loves the Art and what it does for people, and who embraces Martial Art as a whole. My background is in Wing Chun, Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Martial Arts (where I have had the good fortune of being trained by four of the very best Martial Artists in the world), but I have made friends in a multitude of styles and systems over the last four decades of formal practice, and these days I kind of just explore anything and everything that comes into my sphere. My current rank is 4th Dan under Professor Robert Suttles of Suttle Impact Kajukenbo / Jeet Kune Do. I was also a student of GM Dick Burrows, Sifu Don Hildenbrand, and Sifu David Leung. My Martial Heritage stretches back to the very origins of American Martial Arts, and I respect all of the various styles and systems of Martial Art for the individual expressions of spirit and self-discipline that they are. I officially joined the Joni's Angels team in February of 2025, when we first launched the Joni's Angels Martial Arts Scholarship Program.

Deborah, Steve and myself share both a concern for the disadvantaged young people in the world and a desire to spend our time doing things that benefit others in a positive way, and our current program sprung to life from this mutual desire - our 501c3 Nonprofit stands as a representation of the spirit that lives in each of us, and you will find much of who we are reflected in its activities.

The story of the young people that we are trying to help through the Joni's Angels Martial Arts Scholarship Program is a story that I know well …it is my story. You see, I came from a poor family that lived below poverty level. The environment was one of desperation and threat - and good examples and role models were few and far between. Even in the households where two parents were present, both had to work full-time just to make ends meet, so the kids and the teenagers in my neighborhoods did not receive much supervision - and since the cost of housing is typically lowest in crime-ridden areas, the places where a young person can find trouble are plenty while the places where they can find strong character and guidance are few. Most kids "fall through the cracks"; because of the Art and the four great men who taught me, I did not. I know firsthand the difference that attending an outstanding Martial Arts school - with great mentors and role models as Instructors - can make in the life of a struggling young person faced with the challenges of living below poverty level. Most of my childhood friends have taken a wrong turn in life or wound up in prison as adults, and I know that it is because of the Art - and the four great men who taught me and that were my example - that I did not.

The aim of the Joni's Angels Martial Arts Scholarship Program is to provide that same opportunity to today's economically disadvantaged young people by connecting them with GREAT Martial Arts Schools and role models - so that they can receive the same kind of life-changing mentorship and guidance that I was lucky enough to get from my amazing Teachers.

There is much more to our company than just the Joni's Angels Martial Arts Scholarship Program, but it is the central theme that our other activities revolve around. We also work hard to bring different styles and approaches together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and collaboration, and we are tireless about our efforts to promote the positive aspects of Martial Arts practice to the uninitiated public, and the things that we do to support the people, schools and organizations that make us all look good by representing the Art well. Steve and I both are also active Instructors that teach classes and seminars - and that is quickly becoming a part of this as well, and in the weeks, months, and years to come, this blog will feature several different "topics" that you can choose from that will each feature posts that cover some aspect of what we do.

Our organization is here to do good things FOR the Art by doing good things WITH the Art - and our programs and activities are designed to bring benefit to everyone involved. Beyond that, there really is no limit to what the future might hold in store…

…we hope that you'll JOIN US.

Respect and Love,

-Charlie

A picture of me and my beautiful wife, Michelle.