Independent Warriors Association

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Welcome Guru Michael Schwarz, out of Illinois, into the IWA Ohana! 🤙🏼

A big welcome to our newest IWA Affiliate School, Casa De Combate Del Valle - Martial Science Study Group, located in New York under GM Carlos Del Valle. 🤙

The IWA is honored to have Grand Master David Ducay as an official member of the Ohana. Welcome sir! 🤙🏼

I was recently reminded how our Martial Art Community is fragile in our beliefs and are often swayed by outside influences regardless of our insistence to be free from political beliefs that are not associated with the martial arts. Basically this means that many “Talk the Talk”, but fail to “Walk the Walk”. This saddens me because some of those people I consider to be friends and or mentors. That being said, when someone speaks of being a Martial Artist and, whether in a seminar or other Martial Art venue, they disassociate from others who they once called friends because of Politics, they then expose their hypocrisy and appear to be cowards to their professed belief and spoken words of “we are all Martial Artists and we don’t do Politics” or “we are all Brothers and Sisters wanting to learn and expand our knowledge”. It is a sad thing, not only on a personal level, but for the Martial Art Community as a whole. Namaste ~ GM Mikeal ‘Bear’ Smith

A big welcome to Carlos Del Valle, based out of New York, our newest member of the IWA Ohana 🤙🏼

For 13 years, the Independent Warriors Association (IWA) Annual Gathering & Training Clinic has traditionally been held on the ‘First Saturday in May’ and in my mind will continue to be the Spring opening event of the Year. The 2023 event was a great success and I look forward to the May 4th 2024 event (mark your calendars). A reminder to all IWA members that the only dues asked of you is to support the IWA and to promote the IWA to like minded Martial Artists, and Students, who enjoy the spreading of knowledge and the gathering of Ohana.
As in all things… Plan, Adapt, and Overcome. ~ Namaste, GM Mikeal ‘Bear’ Smith

Please Welcome Leticia 'Bunny' Garcia into the IWA Ohana. She's one of the New Generation who are picking up the torch of knowledge and passing it on to others.

On the mat at the IWA Annual Gathering & Training Clinic.

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Instructors - IWA Annual Gathering & Training Clinic.

Left to right: Professor Denise Gonzales, GM Mikeal Smith, GM Glenn Gavin, G**o Brian Everett, & Sijo Johnny Oliva

Please Welcome G**o Brian Everett as one of our newest members into the IWA!