Keeper of the Arts: The Story Begins... (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781412077842)

At an early age, while living in Oakland, California, their parents separated. The Mother decided that moving to Sioux Falls, South Dakota would increase her chance of passing as a white woman. Four years later, they returned to Reno.

Helen Cruickshank had a dream that her grandsons were being subjected to violent physical and mental abuse from their Mother. Miss Cruickshank convinced the boys Mother to put them on a Greyhound bus bound for Oakland and their Father.

Jackie and Mark lived in East Oakland for two years. They were always in neighborhood fights as the new kids on the block and for having light skin, curly hair and green eyes. One day, the boys and their Father saw a movie titled "Five Fingers of Death." The action packed martial arts film influenced Jackie and Mark to learn the way of life.

Before they could find a school, a life changing event happen to their Father that sent the boys to finally live with their Grandmother.

During the 8th grade, Jackie and Mark started training at the Berkeley Wado-Kai Karate Dojo with Sensei Yoshiari Ajari. In high school, Jackie studied with a friend named Doug Jones on a Chinese Kempo style from the Al Dacacosa's school of Kung-Fu.

Later during his J.C. college years, after failing to make the school's basketball team, Jackie met Julius Baker Jr. He was teaching a Tae Kwon Do class at the college. After training with Mr. Baker for 4 years, Jackie received his Black Belt.

Mr. Baker also formed a demonstration team called "Baker's Martial Arts Theatrical Troupe." The concept was to substitute the sometimes boring display of kicks and punches in formation. Choreographed fight routines with dramatic and humorous themes were performed for audiences in several local states.

Jackie was introduced to Capoeira by a senior black belt named Ken Pitts. Mr. Baker eventually met Mestre Accordion and allowed him to teach the African-Brazilian style at his school.

In 1982, Jackie wrote a stage play titled "Dream Maker" that later became "Keeper of the Arts." Mr. Baker's Demo Team was the play's main characters with a supporting cast of;

Sensei Bruce Klickstien's Aikido Institute Demonstration Team. Master In-Hyuk Suh's Kuk Sool Won Demonstration Team featuring Master In-Joo Suh. Mestre Accordion and the World Capoeira Association Demonstration Team featuring Master Instructor Julius Baker Jr. and 5th Degree Ken Pitts. SiFu Bills Owens and the Kasami Vijiti Stick Fighting Demonstration Team featuring 5th degree Black Belt Ken Pitts. SiFu Anthony Chan and the Berkeley Institute of Wu Shu Demonstration Team.

Jackie Grant Miller participated in the 1st World Capoeira Association's Tournament held in Alameda, California. He also won the middle weight kumite division for black belts at the Kuk Sool Won 1st Open Tournament held in San Francisco, California as well as many other tournaments.

With the death of his Grandmother and Jackie Grant Wilkerson, his father, he moved to Southern California. There, Jackie found a video production called "Cadillac Dreamz" and H. "Spanky" Jackson." After working on several filming projects and screenplays, Jackie decided on fulfilling a life time dream of writing a book.

The author currently lives in Southern California with his girlfriend Hope. He has two boys with the oldest named Torren Grant Miller a.k.a. "Nerrot" and Daniel Jackie Miller a.k.a. "D.J. Grant."