Namido Martial Arts Yudanshakai

THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THE MARTIAL ARTIST WHO HAVE GONE ON TO BE WITH THE LORD.

TOMMY FAIRCHILD SENSEI- Tommy was one of my first instructors in the art of Shotokan. He was a wonderful person, a great martial artist, with awesome power and flexablity. Tommy's speciality was kicking. He could stand flat footed and do jump spinning kicks with such speed and unbelieveable power and his flying side kicks were something else. Tommy was a great fighter and he definately had the respect of his students and all who got on the floor with him. Tommy began teaching at the Roosevelt State Park toward the end of 1979, along with Shihan Steve Parham, and Hanshi Larry Ingle. I learned a lot from Tommy over the years and I will always hold him dear to my heart. The Lord called Tommy home in 2005 but, before he did, Hanshi Ingle and I  went to see him a couple of days before he passed and I guess I hadn't seen him in many years. Tommy was suffering from pancreatic cancer. When I first saw him, my heart hurt because, if I hadn't known who I was looking at, I wouldn't have recognized him, because the cancer had taken a toll on his body. We sat on the back porch of his sister's house and talked of old times and laughed a little and I had to hold back the tears a few times. I remember asking him if he was ready to go and if his soul was saved, and he told me that he was going to heaven to be with Jesus.  After a while, he became tired and we excused ourselves and his last words to us were, "thanks for the memories guys". When Hanshi Ingle and I left, we had a talk about the Yudanshakai ranking Tommy to his rightful rank of Master and we had planned to come back a few days after our visit and present him with a Master rank certificate, but never got to give it to him, because he died three days later. I am honored to make things right, and rectify that now, by listing Tommy Fairchild Sensei in the Namido ranks as Master Tommy Fairchild.

I spoke with Tommy's sister recently, and shared our plans to promote Tommy with her. I also told her that Tommy had to be really living it up in heaven right now with the rewards he is receiving, because of what is going on in this ministry. Even though when I was taking lessons under Tommy as a youngster, he wasn't living for the Lord in those days and nor was I, but he still had a hand in shaping and forming me into what I am today as a martial artist. When the Lord saved me, and gave me the idea of a martial arts ministry, I had no idea how far this ministry would go and the lives that have been won for Jesus. Every life that has been won, or will be won to Jesus through this organization, rolls up to Tommy because of the seeds he planted in the beginning, without even knowing it. That is awesome! Amen!  

Shihan Michael Frazier

BROOKE LAUREN POPE- Brooke was a very sweet and beautiful 20 year old college student, who trained in Budoshin White Tiger Hapkido and Namido Jujitsu under Shihan Craig Hamm. She was tragically killed June 07 in Selmer Tn. at an event the town was putting on that featured a race car burning down its tires. Something went wrong and the race car lost control and darted into the spectators injuring and killing many. Brooke was one of the first ones to get hit. She was young and full of life and a very good martial artist. She was a Christian and we know where she is right now, because the Word says to be absent from the body, is to be present with God. She will be sorely missed.