Reflections from the founding members of the Inayan Brotherhood of Eskrima members on the first anniversary of our Father's passing...

 

 

 

Steve Klement -

"The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he hoped to make it."    --Sir James Matthew Barrie, Scottish dramatist-author (1860-1937)

 

 

Suro truly wrote, directed and starred in his own kind of story. Though it ended much too soon, he lived many lives in his time.

 

Never have I met anyone that loved what they did as much as he. I am blessed that his lessons, love and personality in general have filled my heart and soul - yet somehow it will never be enough...

 

Thank you for all the lessons Suro. My only hope is to make you proud.

 

Steve Klement - (9/20/01)

 

 

 

 

 

Cory Hanosh -

Mangisursuro Michael G. Inay

A Warrior, A Friend, A Father In The Arts.

A year ago we lost you so unexpectedly. A loss that burns in each of us who had the pleasure of knowing you and studying the art you held so dear.

 

You opened our eyes with your zest for life and instilled the desire to continue on with your dream. The dream of sharing your art with those that want to learn and helping people discover their true abilities.

 

I personally want to thank you for the opportunity to learn from you. An individual has their life shaped by many factors while they live. One of the biggest is the people with which we associate. You were one individual that had a tremendous impact on my life and I look forward to teaching my sons those lessons I learned from you.

 

We miss you Suro,

 

Cory Hanosh - (9/20/01)

 

 

 

 

 

Emanuel Hart -

It has been a close to a year since Suro Mike Inay passed away. Over the past year, I’ve felt closer to him then I ever did in the past sixteen years of our time together. We shared so many different experiences involving Eskrima, music, games, and all kinds of travels. Now that he is no longer here to ask questions to, or talk with when things get rough, I look for him in other places. For example the line "I can feel it from the mountain tops, running down to the fogy brine. In a restaurant, across a table top, looking into a glass of wine" From the song "Beautiful Obsession" by Van Morrison, sums up how I keep him in my life these days.

 

Suro was very good at using Eskrima to show his students other aspects of the world around them. For instance, I became a professional African dancer because one day in Eskrima class, Suro told me to go and drum for the class. I didn’t know how to drum at the time but he said "that doesn’t matter, just play something good". With his encouragement I started a drum class and began to investigate the relationship between music and Eskrima. Over the years we would talk about the relationship between drums and Sinawalies as well as dance and group movement in combat. We would spend lots of time playing our "git fiddles" (Guitars) and singing old Bob Dylan songs. One of his dreams was to put on a private concert for all our friends one day.

 

Suro’s knowledge went far beyond the battlefield or one on one conflict, but he used them to teach about what’s inside you, and the world around you. I truly believe that his goal was to make the world a better place by teaching people to walk with honor and self-respect. He talked about giving people the opportunity to stand up for what they believe in. It is my belief that he saw an opportunity to do that through Eskrima as well as learn more about his father’s culture and human nature. I say his father’s culture, because culture is not something you inherit, it is something learned. Suro understood this and wanted to create an Inayan culture that consisted of warriors with integrity, honor, a sense of brotherhood and a drive to teach.

 

On the same Van Morrison CD (Wavelength) there is a song called "Take it where you find it". For me, this song puts a perspective to the future of Inayan Eskrima and the drive behind the Inayan Brotherhood of Eskrima that I think Suro would be proud of. In the song there is a line that goes; "Take it where you find it, can’t leave it alone. You will find a purpose to carry it on. Maybe when you find it, your heart will be strong about it." If I too can show someone Inayan Eskrima, and they find something in it that will let them walk with honor and self-respect, then I too have made this a better place to live.

 

R.I.P. Suro, you will live on in me, and in the dreams of my students. Until the next time:

 

"Life is short, live hard"

 

Emanuel Hart - (9/20/01)