Fayetteville, AR- Fayetteville resident Master Randy Edwards hold the rank of sixth degree black belt. He can break boards. He can break bricks. If he wants to, he can break arms and other body parts too, but that's not what this 25-year veteran of martial arts training is interested in.  Edwards teaches peace. He teaches "peace education," to young people - and when it comes to the topic of martial arts he's fast to point out that, "Peace is more important than punches."
 
"Peace education is about peace talk, peaceful thinking and peace action," says Edwards, which is self-defense at its best. Knowing how to defuse a potentially violent situation, knowing how to control anger, and using peace thinking in you life, is far more relevant to self-defense than any kick, punch or throw."

 "If you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends.  You talk to your enemies." -Mother Teresa

 Another proclaims,

 "Aye, fight! But not your neighbor.  Fight rather all the things that cause you and your neighbor to fight." -Mikhail Naim

 "To kids," says Edwards, "we're big, strong heroes, we're black belts!' So when I start talking about peace, my kids are wide-eyed and paying rapt attention.  It makes me feel like I'm offering them a perspective they are not getting from the news, from TV, and video games.  Almost every week one or two students come to me with a story about how they are using peace in their lives."

 Master Edwards is offering to give a presentation to any group of young people and/or students on the "Peace is More Important than Punches" flashcards; he has also pledged to give a complimentary set of the cards to any group that invites him to speak.

 "We could really use a little more peace in our world," says Master Edwards.