I Am Savage: We are the Warriors history never told you about (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781546584056)

My name is Lovell Pierce Jr. Eagle Elk aka FireWalker. I'm a 5th degree Black Belt with 28 years of Martial Arts experience. My heritage and culture is of the Cape Fear Indians and Waccamaw Indians mentioned in NC early colonial records. We are a people of mixed Algonquian, Siouan and Iroquois culture but today living the Iroquois way. The way of our ancestors. In the early 90s, I met a Native American professional wrestler named Wahoo McDaniel who really sparked my interest in Native American Martial Arts. We grew up wrestling as kids and now being able to put historical context with it gave the arts an all new meaning and importance to me. Through my years of cross training and learning multiple disciplines, one of my teachers, Soke Childress "The Soke", encouraged me to step out on my own and create or re-create my own way. In his word, "Kill the Buddha". This lead me to talking with many elders, other researchers and people wanting me to succeed by gathering and reconstructing many of the combative weapons, movements and ideologies of my native ancestors in the southeast. With the help of My Lakota brother James who is a 5th degree Black Belt, Navy Seal, Indigenous Living Editor, Survival Expert and Executive Security Expert, I've been able to recreate the art of ATASSA to represent the Woodland Native Americans and specifically the Southeastern Native Americans form of Combat. This was not handed down to me from an elder or war chief, it was not taught to me by a warrior society or found in some mystical scroll. Although that sounds fascinating it is highly unrealistic and false. Atassa is the result of research, hard work, test, trials, success and failures to see what works and what doesn't work. Compounded with my years of experience, we feel this is definitely an art to be proud of. All arts were created the same way. By someone dedicated to personal, spiritual, mental and physical health, fitness and transcendence, MOM (mind of matter). Also dedicated to precise ways of striking down an enemy without exerting too much energy, the protection of family, mothers, fathers, children, elders, our ways of life and our tribes. Many things went into the creation of NAMA. The art will continue to outgrow me as it should. I'm just reminding you that our warrior spirit is still here.