Posted By :    Grand Master Joe Lewis
Posted :    10/8/2012
Comments :    This was the last note I would get from Master Lewis. Master Dennis Nackard sent it to me in late July 2012. "Doc, what you are doing is very budo. Helping raise awareness and revenue for such a worthy cause is a reflection of the true meaning of the word honor. I am very sorry that my current condition is such that I will not be able to attend this year. I wish you all the best. I was proud to be part of the event, particularly in its very first year. Much success in the future! Semper Fi! Lewis

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Posted By :    Dane Abbott  (shihan@samuraisports.com)
Posted :    9/21/2012
Comments :    SERGEANT WILSON: This was the best Wounded Warrior Expo I have had the honor to be part of! Everyone in attendance took the time out of their busy schedules to help make a difference in the lives of those wounded warriors who have protected our many freedoms and American way of life! From all of us to all of you "THANK YOU" for your service. The morning kicked off with the "Kick Doctor" and then progressed to stretched ligaments while being kicked up-side the head by the Kick Doctor and the great "Superfoot". There were patriots from all parts of the country being spindled, folded, and mutilated by Master Blok! I even spied a few "steely eyed missile men" with swords in hand charging over the grassy knoll! Yes SIR - It was an auspicious occasion and a truly good time was had by one and all! Dane - you keep up the good work as this is a VERY worthy cause and I am proud to be a part of it!....to quote you Aikido guys...OSU!...Your Buddy Dana - now when are you and the Bu-ryu coming out here to train again!

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Posted By :    SGM (R) Tom Mullins
Posted :    9/20/2012
Comments :    This was our first visit to this event. My wife and I truly enjoyed it and plan to attend next year. The food and entertainment was great, along with the demonstrations from the various martial artists. Little Dane (Josh) truly showed his dad that he had nothing on him. It is such a wonderful program. My wife and I would love to hear from some of the veterans who obviously benefit from this type of event. Overall this one get's a "A+" in the SGM handbook!

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Posted By :    catherine tanner MD
Posted :    9/20/2012
Comments :    Once again the martial arts community has shown the true way of bushido by coming together to help the wounded warriors and educate and train the community about living together with caring compassion and the strength to back it up. The sessions were fantastic and the instructors world class. I love these guys and the passion they have for their disciplines. This inevitably shows in their teaching. Really looking forward to next years event.

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Posted By :    Frank  (framiv@gmail.com)
Posted :    9/18/2012
Comments :    For the 2nd year, COL. Harden organized a premier martial arts training expo that foremost raises donations for the Wounded Warriors and secondly includes training with renowned martial artists including Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Dana Abbott, Kevin Blok, and of course COL Harden. The instructors are world class; and, they provide lessons that anyone can draw from. I certainly plan for my 10 year old daughter to attend the 2013 event. Please mark you calendars and we will see you in 2013.

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Posted By :    Kenneth Smith  (kenny@aikidoin.net)
Posted :    9/17/2012
Comments :    I loved the training and the abilities of the instructors complimented each other. It was like they each set the bar "really" high and then teased the other instructors to go a little higher. It was amazing! Without question this was the best martial arts seminar I have EVER attended and I have been at this for more than twentyfive years. You guys rock!

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Posted By :    David H. Henry  (proformtkd@gmail.com)
URL :    www.proformtkd.com
Posted :    9/17/2012
Comments :    This is the second year I have attended the Wounded Warrior Martial Arts Expo and Master Harden has outdone himself. The quality of the instruction was second to none. Master Dane Harden, Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, Shihan Dana Abbott, and Kyoshi Kevin Blok are all amazing martial artists and more importantly for seminar goers, fantastic teachers. They not only can DO their respective martial arts, but can teach them. The fact that between sessions, each instructor was very approachable and humble was also a big plus because it made my students and me feel very at-ease. One of the best things about the Wounded Warrior Martial Arts Expo is that it is for a great cause. It is not just about the training, but also about giving back to those who have given so very much to us in service to this country. It is an honor to be able to give something back to the men and women injured in combat through the Wounded Warrior Project, and there is no excuse for anyone to not give. To be able to give to such a worthy cause and get something in return (the amazing training) is fantastic. For anyone reading this, I hope you will attend next year's W.W.M.A.E., I know I will.

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Posted By :    Dr. Pete Marghella  (pmarghella@dpr-inc.net)
Posted :    9/17/2012
Comments :    Once again, another fantastic experience at the 2012 Wounded Warrior Expo! While we missed Master Joe Lewis and were saddened to learn of his recent demise as a result of cancer, COL Harden and his Team at Western Masters Martial Arts managed to turn out an incredible program. This year's event was held in Abingdon, VA, in the beautiful southwest corner of the state. Headlining the cast of martial art's legends were none other than Bill "Superfoot" Wallace, with return performances from Master Swordsman Dana Abbott, Aikidoist Extraordinaire Kevin Block, and Dane Harden himself--one of the most talented, emerging superstars in the Country. I'd challenge anyone Nation-wide to show me where any seminar or weekend program could expose students and Black Belts alike to such a remarkable collection of phenomenal talent, all in a collegial and totally fun-filled setting. That this program is completely dedicated to one of the most worthy causes in the Country should just top the reason why anyone would want to attend. Mark your calendars and don't miss next year's Wounded Warrior Expo. You surely won't regret it!

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Posted By :    Bruce Feigenbaum  (slumguy@yahoo.com)
Posted :    9/17/2012
Comments :    I am always impressed by the quality of and the variety of martial arts skill sets that Sensei Harden practices. He has rock solid skills in Aikido. Tae Kwon Do, and the samurai sword. His instructors are some of the best in the world at what they do and he has skill sets from all of them. This years EXPO was a blast with Bill Superfoot Wallace, Dana Abbott, Kevin Blok, and Jeff Webb...it was truly an event to remember and I don't recall ever being at a seminar with this degree of expertise and what a great cause! COL. Harden and his staff are amazing. I will be here for next years event...because it is just TOO good to miss! GREAT Food, GREAT martial arts, GREAT cause and the person putting it on has a trump card..."He REALLY is a warrior and has sacreficed and served us all" Dane, "Thanks for having our back for the last twenty five years that you have served as an ARMY Officer". GOD Bless You!

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Posted By :    Ervin  (www.ervin@us.army.mil)
Posted :    9/17/2012
Comments :    COL. Harden and the Wounded Warrior Expo are to be commended for a outstanding event. They raised money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project, involved local National Guard Units and some of our own wounded soldiers as well as including the pre-nine eleven veterans from Vietnam and other wars. This is a wonderful event and I personally had an absolutely terrific time. What an example of the truest sense of leadership. Thank You, SIR!

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Posted By :    Kevin Blok  (http://www.aikidocanada.org/)
Posted :    6/23/2011
Comments :    Testimonial I had the honour and privilege to be among the teaching group at the Wounded Warrior Expo held in Annapolis, Maryland in June 2011. It was an outstanding and enjoyable event. Masters Lewis, Abbott and Harden demonstrated and shared their experiences and their more than apt skills, freely with the many attendees. Participants had the opportunity to learn from some of the best teachers at a single location and over the course of a single day. It was a great occasion to advance one's skills, network, make new friends, re-acquaint with old ones, and all for a good cause. The training, socializing and comraderie were all stellar and I cannot recommend this annual event highly enough. My hat is off to our hosts Colonel Dane Harden, Sensei Bruce Feighenbaum and Sensei Pete Marghella. Hope to see you there next year. Kevin Blok Kyoshi/Kaicho Chudokai Aikido Federation International Windsor, Ontario, Canada

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Posted By :    CDR Pete Marghella, MSC, USN (Ret.)  (pmarghella@dpr-inc.net)
Posted :    6/21/2011
Comments :    In the 33 years I have been actively involved in the Martial Arts, I have never been to an event the likes of the 2011 Wounded Warrior Martial Arts Expo. We were breathing some rarified air, indeed, because we were in the presence of some Martial Art's legends! I spent years reading Karate Illustrated and Black Belt Magazine, and on a recent weekend in Annapolis, found myself on the mats with some of the very guys that have graced those covers for years. What an experience: Joe Lewis recounting stories of the hey-day of American Sport Karate and demonstrating his unique fighting techniques; Dana Abbott amazing us with his dazzling swordplay and encyclopedic knowledge of the Samurai arts; Keven Blok, arguably one of the most amazing Aikidoist's in the world demonstrating awesome technique and talking martial philosophy; and finally, Dane Harden, just one of the most incredible all-around Martial Artists I've ever known capturing us in rapt attention with his fantastic teaching style and stunning skills. I've waited a lifetime for this level of experience, and the only thing that made it better was the fact that we were together for the worthiest of causes--the support of our Nation's Wounded Warriors who have gone in harm's way in the defense of our freedoms. Count me in for next year, and as many years in the furture that this wonderful program goes on.

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Posted By :    CPT Micheal A. Nelson  (micheal.nelson@us.army.mil)
Posted :    6/21/2011
Comments :    Great Seminar and terrific martial arts instruction. The skill sets of all the instructors was off the chart. Thanks for helping the Wounded Warrior Program! It provides access to programs like this that are first rate in any book and "Second to None!" CPT. Nelson Medical Officer

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Posted By :    Kannan Rasiah
Posted :    6/20/2011
Comments :    The sheer time and effort it took to set up this event really paid off. Sensei Harden and Dr. Sherry Harden, Sensei Feigenbaum, Sensei Clubine, and the rest of the WMMA team really did a great job making the whole thing come together. It made the world class instructors able to really teach us things that outside of that room very few people could claim to know or fathom. Sensei Harden's knowledge of the body and understanding of how the body works really shows in his expertise in each style, and also in the way he helped many students learn more about their limits and how to push them. Sensei Lewis cut around the tradition and went straight to the things that fight science is made of - footwork and understanding a lot of principles that are universal. Shihan Abbott was a deceptively fast swordsman who taught with an easygoing, slapstick humor that belied a deep understanding of the sword. Sensei Blok's outlook on life and on Aikido both on and off the mat was truly "aiki" and a very smooth and knowledgeable ending to a very instructional, and mind-blowing day. Many thanks to all the instructors and the WMMA team - Osu!

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Posted By :    SFC Brian Wilson  (brian.wilson@us.army.mil)
Posted :    6/20/2011
Comments :    What a terrific event! I got a chance to train with Joe Lewis, Kevin Blok, Dana Abbott, and of course Doc' Harden! The training was phenomenal and I really enjoyed working out with Joe Lewis and hearing and learning about his history of training with Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and all the regalia of the sixties martial arts scene! Dana Abbott and the sword techniques reminded me of pugel training and it was great! His speed was frankly...amazing! Master Blok and his philosophy and aikido skills...not to mention his power and the approach to martial art was so different and yet in many ways similar to the other instructors! Last but in no way least I have no idea what to say about Doc' Harden as he and I have chewed a lot of dirt together in Iraq! He is a phenomenal martial artist and in everyway was a solid match with each instructor there. Unique to Doc is that he has high level skills in "all" of the approach's to training, COL. Harden is a student of all of these guys and it is crystal clear when you watch him move! A true patriot and warrior who really goes the extra mile for his brothers and sisters in uniform! Way to go Doc', I can't wait till next year and Abingdon! Hooah! SFC Wilson HHT 278th ACR TNARNG

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Posted By :    jthomas@komdokwan.com
Posted :    6/20/2011
Comments :    The Wounded Warrior Expo was an incredible opportunity to learn from some of the best instructors in the world! The participants were welcoming and truly supportive in helping so many people from so many disciplines learn together to everyones mutual benefit. Dane Harden Sensei and the entire team were professional, on time, and truly delivered a quality world class experience that is not to be missed!! I cannot recommend this event highly enough. It should be on every martial artist "To Do List"! -Jason E. Thomas, President Kom Do Kwan Martial Arts Association

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Posted By :    Philip Hornsey  (phornsey@komdokwan.com)
Posted :    6/20/2011
Comments :    The 2011 Wounded Warrior was an exceptional event which had the added benefit of raising money for one of the very best of causes. I particularly enjoyed the initial emphasis of stretching techniques, which provided medical explanations for the warm-ups we do every day. It is extremely useful to be able to add explanation as to why stretching is a necessary part of martial arts when one is teaching. The later sessions were excellent as well, with Joe Lewis giving a presentation on sparring techniques replete with his experiences, followed by Shihan Abbot’s presentation on the sword, and Aikido techniques with Kyoshi Blok. All the while the event was supported by medics, all of whom were veterans of Iraq, just in case we might forget why we were there. I look forward to the 2nd Annual Wounded Warrior Expo.

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