2000 - 2002 Broadcasting from KNRY on Historic Cannery Row in Monterey, California
on our original Radio Program ... "Where the Eagle Meets the Condor"

~~~ Kristian Crump ~~~

Kristian Crump is a great martial artist and superb young man. It has been an honor to know him and to train with him. He inspires us with what he is doing with his life. Kristian grew up in a suburb of Los Angles, California and choose the mid-west to attend college because he wanted to experience a different culture than the large urban areas he was accustomed to. When he learned that the California State University system was opening a new campus in Monterey he applied and was accepted in 1995. He spent four years at Cal State Monterey Bay with the latter half concentrated on Inter-cultural communications. His educational focus was on oppression studies.

Kristian says a major push for his choice was probably the guilt associated with having privileges in society and not being aware of such privileges. "Some examples of these privileges are through my identities, such as being male, being white, having a college education, being middle to upper income, being a U.S. citizen, etc. What struck me so soundly was how does one operate in today's society with such privileges. Do I use these identities for the purpose of my own gain? How can I use all that I have for the betterment of society? Many questions like these perplexed me throughout my college experience, and continue to perplex me today." Kristian's DRO Remote studio photo was lost, so here is one of him at the Marina Ten Chi Kai Dojo.

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During the latter days of his college sojourn he participated in a volunteer experience that helped shape his interaction with his world. He attended a two day training put on by the local AIDS project and needle exchange that helped answer some of the questions he was struggling with in college. They were being trained to work with high HIV risk and hard to reach individuals in marginalized communities. So how does anyone who does not belong to these communities gain trust and access to such communities? The answer was a rather simple and difficult one. They use a method called Harm Reduction. Simply put, as public health volunteers, they are trying to reduce any harm done by someone engaging in risky behavior.

This is how Kristian explained the method..."The strategy is three fold; first you let go of your own baggage. You acknowledge your personal identities in society and then look at your stereotypes and biased views of the communities you will be working with. Next you actively listen. You listen to the folks you are serving non-judgmentally and non-reactively. This is very difficult. Lastly you respond to what you have heard compassionately. You react in way that is helpful and attainable for the person you are working with.

What is so wonderful about working with anybody in a Harm Reduction fashion is that you are treating folks with dignity and humanity. I really do this work not so much for the prevention of HIV or other blood borne diseases, as much as bringing dignity and humanity to a group of people who are treated daily with disgust and contempt. Active drug users in today's society have little respect in the eyes of society. So much is true for people involved in the sex trade industry. I view my work as a way to help bring some humanity to communities that deserve it.

I also see a lot of connections between Aikido and Harm Reduction. For the past three years I have been studying aikido, a Japanese martial art. Aikido follows a lot of the same principles as my work. I understand the violent society that I was raised in and currently live in. I understand that being immersed in such a society has deep impact on my psyche and daily interactions. When conflict arises I can listen non-judgmentally and not react in defense of my character. I can also respond to this interaction non-violently. I can have compassion for the other human I am interacting with, whether or not the interaction is hostile. So I really enjoy practicing Aikido and Harm Reduction through out my day, at work or at play think that they both carry similar principles in interacting with fellow humans."

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