9th Degree Black Belt from Columbia, South Carolina. A “Love Offering” will be collected. Open to GMAU Leadership Only
Click below to see more information about Hanshi Ridgely Abele
I grew up Catholic and attended both catholic and public schools. From first grade on I knew I was in the body of Christ. I always felt closeness with God. I attended church and went through first communion, and confirmation. After leaving catholic schools I continued to attend catechism classes. Once leaving high school I stopped going to church. Even though I THOUGHT and believed myself to be a good a person I simply stopped going to church. Years later following a broken life and broken marriage, and my children were living in another state that I started to think about and search for God again. I realized that my thinking was formed from my early days of education in the Catholic school. I knew the Ten Commandments and tried to live by them. I was "working" to earn God's love and acceptance.
My children were growing up without the early training and instruction in God and it broke my heart.
It was during this time that my younger brother became a born again Christian. He called me and shared with me what happened to him. He expressed that is heart's desire is that I would be saved and truly receive Christ as my Lord and Savior. I did not know what he meant! Patiently, he shared God's plan of salvation with me. Each and every time I spoke with him he encouraged me to accept Christ. At this point, I started to go his church when I was still living in Florida but remained lost and without Jesus in my heart.
Years passed and I still had not given my life to Christ... but all that was about to change. Many years ago, I operated a Karate training Camp in Cold Mountain, North Carolina. One summer, my brother came up to assist. A Christian woman owned this camp and it had a chapel on campus. Even the housing dorms were named after towns/regions in the Bible such as; Bethel, Canaan, etc. During my brother's stay with me that summer I heard an unusual noise one night about 2:00 o’clock in the morning. To me, it sounded like a small animal in duress with a high pitched cry. I then got up to find out what was making this terrible noise! I walked all around the campgrounds, and decided it sounded as if it were coming from the Chapel. I approached the building very quietly and cautiously to peer inside. There was my brother crying out to the Lord that I would be saved!! Now, the cabin I was sleeping in was about 200 yards away from the Chapel and the other dorms were LESS than a 100 yards and no one else even woke up! There were over 70 people in the dorm.
I thought that if my brother can have such a burden that I should be saved. I would see what God has to say. It was not much longer and surrendered my life and I accepted Christ. Soon thereafter I was baptized at North Side Baptist Church in West Columbia, SC.
I immediately began taking my children to church and Bible study. I was a very happy man and my heart had been miraculously transformed by Christ! I began crying out to God and praying that my children and former wife would be saved.
I have to tell you about my children. When Sashay was nine and Jordan was five, we were in Phoenix, AZ. While there, we were attending North Phoenix Baptist Church. After the message the Pastor made an alter call at which point I turned and said to Sasha, “This is the way in which I received Christ into my heart... the Pastor made a call and I went forward.” I then closed my eyes and started to pray. After a minute I opened my and looked down to the alter and there was my daughter walking to the front! It was the most moving experience I think a father can have to see his child getting saved. It was only a few years later and my son Jordan was saved and baptized. All during this time my former wife and her husband were saved and baptized. God is an awesome God!
After years of growing in Christ and becoming solid in the faith, I was asked to teach the 35 - 55 year olds Adult Bible class at North Side Baptist. My wife Sally is a born again Christian and such a godly woman. She is a Proverbs 31 woman! We remained members at North Side for many years.
Then, some time ago, Sally and I heard a local Christian radio program by Pastor Ken Jumper. The funny thing is that we heard it separately! When we got home that night both of us said we had heard a pastor on the radio and were really blessed. It turned out to be the same one! Shortly thereafter we visited his church and have stayed. Back then there were only about 50 members, now it is 850.
Sally and I taught the High School age at The Harvest Church. Later, one of the members with the Pastors blessing was starting a church on his own. We told him that if he did we would support his efforts, we did that for about two years and then we moved back to the Harvest Church. Since that time I started Bible study with the Precept-by-Precept studies. I spent 10 years in a weekly bible study, which covered in-depth books of the Bible. Right now we are also involved in small group studies with six other couples.
Authored Books
Karatedo Art Sport Science – 2000 Essential Principle Teaching – 1995 Gold Medal Kumite - 1989 revised 2000, 2003, 2005 Coming soon: The Warrior’s Life Beyond Black Belt - 2008
Hanshi Abele is a two time winner of the USKA World Championship and was a USA National Championship’s All-American Champion. In 1971, Mr. Abele was awarded his instructors degree, and since then, he has trained students in traditional Okinawan Karatedo, Jujitsu, and Kobudo, as well as competitive martial arts. Hanshi Abele has produced more than 160 black belts, which have included state, regional, and national champions, as well as top-ranked world competitors.
Hanshi Abele believes there is value in authentic martial arts training for everyone. He is actively sought to teach seminars throughout the world and has taken teams to compete in Japan, Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean, and South America.
