“WE MUST BE THE CHANGE WE WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” ~Ghandi

 www.nuskinny.nsedreams.com

Close your eyes and count to six….every six seconds, somewhere on this planet, a child is lost to malnutrition….  5 million children die every year simply because they do not have enough nourishment….

In a time that faces much turmoil, be it from rising gas prices, natural disasters, a recessive economy, or war, it is important that we do not lose sight of who we are and our humanity more than ever and band together as brothers and sisters, rather than as enemies.  Unfortunately, I know that it is difficult to do this and maintain a positive outlook on life when the government, mother nature and the economy are throwing everything in their arsenals of combat at us, and from every direction.  How can we be positive for each other and about the world when it’s so hard to be positive for ourselves and about our own lives? 

Though we are each individuals, we are all bound together in this life, and even though the Martial Arts is generally regarded as “combat sports” and systems that were developed for times of turmoil, as Martial Artists, we also know that the mental and spiritual foundation of the Martial Arts was built upon unity, or achieving a positive connection, with everything and everyone.  In a time when this positive unity and connection seems hardest to hold onto, I think it is necessary, for ourselves and each other, to grasp with all of our might before it becomes lost.  As Martial Artists, or more importantly, as human beings, it’s time for us to look deep within ourselves and muster up all of the positivity that we have to share and put it to good use, especially when the rest of world seems in desperate need.  

A wise man named Ghandi was once quoted that “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”  These are words that I, personally, try to live by, and which I hold very dear to me.  Just as a simple, yet undeniably powerful act of fasting worked to drive an unforgotten movement in Ghandi’s life, if only for a moment, these simple, yet undeniably powerful words created a movement within me, which I hope to share with you….even if you take the time to listen or take action for only a moment.  It’s better than nothing.  With all of the negative going on in the world, and all of the negative being fed to us on a day-to-day basis by the media, it is important to maintain a positive energy within ourselves, but even more important to pass it along to others.  After all, if we want a positive world, we must be the positivity we wish to see.  Who better to pass this along to than a child?

This is why Aznar Weaponry and I have teamed up with NuSkin Enterprises and the “Nourish the Children” campaign to, hopefully, do our part in making the world a better place, if even for a moment more.  Every SIX SECONDS, somewhere, a child is lost to malnutrition.  Take a moment to realize how many seconds have passed since you began reading this e-mail.  One child…every six seconds. 

Thanks to the “Nourish the Children” campaign, millions of nutritious meals are being provided every month to children all over the world; China, Africa, the Philippines, Honduras, etc. 

What’s so innovative about this program?

1) Instead of writing a check to charity, you actually donate something very tangible; nutritious food that is formulated especially for starving children.

2) You have the assurance that your donation is going directly to those who need it the most.

NUSKIN Enterprises and VITAMEAL

In 2002, this billion dollar company focused their efforts on developing the ideal food for starving children.  The result was VitaMeal…a food with the perfect balance of essential nutrients and electrolytes, plus 25 vitamins and minerals…exactly the right balance and formulation to nourish and sustain children in need.  They then developed a partnership with the Feed the Children Organization that has expertise in delivering this food where it is needed the most.  For information, please visit this website and watch the video…

www.nuskinny.nsedreams.com

WE NEED YOUR HELP!  HERE’S HOW….

1) Simply visit this website….www.nuskinny.nsedreams.com…and make a purchase for a VitaMeal plan to be donated, and it will be delivered by a reputable charity to children in need.  The primary charity involved is the FEED THE CHILDREN Charity, which is the 3rd largest charity in the United States.  The Feed the Children Charity DOES NOT charge for administrative, transportation or distribution.  You will, of course, receive a receipt for your donation from Feed the Children, which may give you an income tax deduction. 

2) In addition, NUSkin Enterprises matches your donation with company product donation!!!

3) VitaMeal is distributed to children in school, which helps to get children to go to school to further their education.

4) VitaMeal helps to provide jobs where needed.

5) For every 5 VitaMeal packages purchased, Aznar Weaponry will purchase 1 VitaMeal package in return.  Although only one is listed on the website, there are actually THREE different VitaMeal package options so that you can choose which one best suits your budget….

1) 1 VitaMeal Bag (30 child meals) = $19.95

2) 2 VitaMeal Bags (60 child meals) = $39.90

3) NTC $100 Package (150 child meals) = $100.00

If you would like to purchase either option 1 or option 3, please e-mail me so that I can arrange this, because as mentioned, I only have option #2 listed on the website.

Moreover, AZNAR WEAPONRY WILL BE DONATING 5% OF ALL OF JUNE’S PROCEEDS TO THE “NOURISH THE CHILDREN” CAMPAIGN.  This includes any additional products on the following webpage….www.nuskinny.nsedreams.com….as well as any purchases made from www.aznarweaponry.com. 

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?  BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS WORLD….IF EVEN FOR A MOMENT.

Thank you!!

Melissa Aznar

THE ARNOLD CLASSIC MARTIAL ARTS EXPO

I just got back from Ohio, where I attended the Arnold Classic Fitness and Health Expo, February 29-March 2, which includes a Martial Arts section, and while I am rightly exhausted, it was a very enjoyable time.  For those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to experience this event personally, I highly recommend blocking out the dates for next year’s event. 

If you’re a martial arts enthusiast, which I imagine you are if you’re browsing the Aznar Weaponry website, then believe me when I tell you that you will get your fair share of the martial arts.  Not only do they have a number of vendors, including those of us who were there from Aznar Weaponry, but you have a chance to witness demonstrations and competitions in the numerous styles of the martial arts.  If that’s not enough, there are several seminars and clinics being held throughout the weekend, and it isn’t unlikely to bump into the many celebrities who are in attendance to this event, including Joe Lewis, Chuck Zito, Jason David Frank, many, many guys from the UFC, including Dana White, and even Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. 

If you get tired of browsing the martial arts section, you can wander off into the fitness and health section, as well as the bodybuilding section, both of which are in the same area as the martial arts.  Personally, I enjoyed wandering around until I either got so depressed that my 12% body fat content was considered morbidly obese in comparison to the fitness buffs who were in attendance, or else I got scared away by the insane number of women who could crush me (literally) with the smallest muscle in their bodies….and I cannot even tell you which muscle that is since they all look equally large!!!

They also had other events in the different areas of the Convention Center, which included dancing, gymnastics, arm wrestling (I was going to join up for one of these competitions, but I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings on the miraculous chance that the woman I went up against who, in all likelihood, could bench press twice my body weight, had a terrible muscle strain in the middle of our arm wrestling bout, causing me to win in a freak accident), table tennis and more….seriously, there was a lot more, but I just can’t remember right now that I am daydreaming about the idea of being arm wrestling champion of the world (just a quick note, I can barely bench press my own body weight of 120 lbs., so moving on….)…..

Anyway, some wonderful friends of mine, Donna, Matt and Amanda Owen, all Grand Champions, were on-hand to represent the ISRD System through several demonstrations, under the instruction of an amazing individual, Doc Braff.  If you missed it, hopefully they will be back next year to put on more amazing demonstrations, but if not, you can catch them in the various tournaments in the different circuits throughout 2008.

All-in-all, it was a very enjoyable weekend, with the UFC Fight Night between Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson being in town, and be sure to check out some of the new pictures that will soon be up to showcase the events.  Hopefully,  you will all get a chance to make it next year and we will see you there!!!  Maybe a few of us can team up and join some of these bodybuilding events (as in try and lift the weights together as a team effort) so that we can show these guys and girls what’s what!!!<wink>

 Keep training and keep smiling!

Melissa Aznar

Hello friends and fellow martial artists!!  For those of you with whom I haven’t had the privilege of speaking to or meeting personally, my name is Melissa Aznar, and I am the CEO of Aznar Weaponry.  To give you a very brief background on myself, I have approximately 20 years of experience in the martial arts, ranging from Aikido, Iaido, Arnis, Tae Kwon Do, and Kenpo, with some experience in other areas like Jujutsu, Muay Thai and KickBoxing. 

Throughout my years of training, I have had the extreme honor of studying under some of the world’s BEST and most dedicated martial artists, such as Sensei Robert MacEwen, Shihan Bowe, Kyoshi Steve LaVallee, Grand Master Dr. Robert Braff, Master Cacoy Canete, Danny Inosanto, and Master Sam Kim, to name only a few.  My main emphases right now are within the Nihon Goshin Aikido system under Sensei Robert MacEwen and Shihan Bowe; in the International San Ryu Do Iaido system, under the instruction of Grand Master Dr. Robert Braff; as well as in Kyoshi Steve LaVallee’s USA Black Belt Champion’s Kenpo system, under the incredible instruction of Master and Sensei Sgarlata and Company. 

To say that I have been blessed with the opportunities that I have had in my life solely in the people I have encountered and the life that I lead, as far as living and breathing martial arts, would be putting it lightly.  Not too many people can say that they have the honor of being able to wake up every morning and do what they absolutely LOVE to do from start to finish, day in and day out, while meeting some of the world’s most incredible martial artists and make a living in doing so. 

I would be completely remiss if I didn’t mention the vast number of people that I have met and become friends with through the martial arts, whether it be my friends in Aikido; the LaVallee’s group in Cicero, NY; my friends in the Philippines; my ISRD friends in Ohio; and even those with whom I have met only through Aznar Weaponry itself.  Each and every one of you have helped mold me into the person who I am today, and in turn, you have all helped to create Aznar Weaponry into the fantastic business that it has become, though none more-so than my parents and my grandparents, but especially my grandfather.  So, thank you to you all and may only the brightest of rays shine down upon you for that.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

With all that having been said, and in not as “brief” a way as I had intended, thank you so much for taking the time to review our Aznar Weaponry website, as your interest, support and feedback are always a great deal of help in allowing us to provide you all with the most superior products on the market, while keeping your voices in mind. 

For those who have been faithful clients for the many years that Aznar has been around, thank you, thank you, thank you for your continued support.  For those of you who are new…welcome, and I hope that you can allow us the pleasure of providing you with some of our fine Aznar Ebony Weaponry.

For everyone, you will all be happy to know that we now have some new engravings available, which include:  Dragon, Japanese Lion, African Lion, Monkey, Wolf, Geisha, Cherry Blossom, Tribal, Barbed Wire, Hippo, Phoenix, Eagle, Eagle Head, Mantis Head, Praying Mantis, Tiger, Monkey Head, Cobra, Phenom Signature Engraving, Yin/Yang and more….  Most of these engravings are available in the various engraving styles that we offer, including Standard Engraving, Standard Wrap, Full-Wrap and Head Carve Handle Engravings.  Please be patient while we continue to update and improve our website, so not all of these available engravings are listed just yet.  If you need more information or have any questions that you would like answered, please feel free to e-mail us directly….you can even e-mail me at MAznar@aznarweaponry.com. 

Again, thank you.

Sincerely,

Melissa Aznar