Musings From An Aspiring Servant Warrior

Technology enthusiast, martial artist, former rock musician, and NLP Master Practitioner. I currently hold 4 blackbelts. I earned them all while completely blind. Most of my posts will be about my many geek obsessions, martial arts, my experiences with NLP/hypnosis, and my unconventional Christian faith.

[servantwarrior]

My friend Shane surprised me with a surf skateboard from South Bay Board Co. I haven’t ridden it yet, but Chance thinks it works perfectly as a throne from which to survey the living room. Megan’s a little curious too. Thanks, Shane. Blind surfers gotta stick together!… Except in the ocean. Blind party waves are no bueno. Photo descript for my blind/vi people: Chance, a very fluffy poodle terrier mix of about 14 pounds, sits towards the tail of the almost completely black board. Megan, a black lab, sniffs under the board, in case any kibbles have been left and forgotten. @southbayboardco @gdb_official @expeditiontrufit @surfightjj @stokeforlife @usasurfing @trufit @ampsurf_us @cafoundation #BlindSurfer #JoshuaTheJedi #JoshuaTheJedeye #inspiredsurfers #heroesofsport #TeamUSA #BlindAdventurer #dogfather #Waves4All #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/ChOO1_-rsKr/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

Seems my body involuntarily did this Monday. Hope this is my one and only seizure. Using this as a reminder to take care of myself, so I can keep striving for the benevolent badassery to which I aspire. Caption for my blind/vi brothers and sisters: Zoom in on Joshua wearing a black t-shirt with yellow text. The text says, “Have you tried turning it off and on again?”. #WarmReboot #seizure #BlindSurfer #ProfessionalAdventurer #Surfight #Waves4All #Trufit #StokeForLife #heroesofsport #AmpSurf #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce6ugezv1pQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

Doing standup in Honolulu tonight. Anna Obrien’s has an open mic show, and your favorite blind surfer is going to tell some jokes while he’s in town. #blindsurfer #comedy #HASC2022 #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/CekSxhYLoNv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

My friend Matt surprised me with a travel bag for surfboards for my birthday. Matt,and his wife Sarah, are some very cool people. Also proud to be on the USA Surfing National Adaptive Surf Team with Sarah. Hawaiian Adaptive Surfing Championships are next week. I’m leaving Megan on the mainland,but she really wants to come. 2 photos here. One shows me lying in the bag doing a cobra pose from yoga. Megan, a black labrador looks inside. In the second photo, Megan has joined me inside the bag. @matt.bettencourt @sb10ct @usasurfing @surfightjj @expeditiontrufit @mikespikerman @gdb_official @stokeforlife @accessurf_hawaii #BlindSurfer #Surfight #HASC2022 #dogfather #Waves4All #StokeForLife #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/CeZmW98vXsD/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

Feast your eyes on my new board shaped by David at King’s Paddle Sports. Thank you, David and everyone at King’s! She’s a 9 foot beauty. The top of the board is an orange heavy sunset fade, with just a little red in the nose. The bottom is orange with a black fishnet pattern. Mad thanks to Stoke For Life and High Fives Foundation for putting up the $$ for the board. Much love to both organizations. Now, it’s time to dial in the board and ride it into a victory at the Hawaiian Adaptive Surfing Championships next week. @kingspaddlesports @stokeforlife @hi5sfoundation @surfightjj @expeditiontrufit @mikespikerman @trufit @cafoundation @accessurf_hawaii @usasurfing @isasurfing #BlindSurfer #surfing #Surfight #StokeForLife #highfivesfoundation #Waves4All #HeroesOfSport #inspiredsurfers #TeamUSA #AASP #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind (at Kings Paddle Sports) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeSP_n-Lldq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

Ready to paddle for my first wave at the WSA West Coast Championships this last Sunday. Enjoying the moment just before I do. One of my most favorite things about surfing is the calm just beyond the break, and the appreciation of the moment just before the action begins. Photo credit John White. Thanks, AmpSurf, for the sponsorship! I took 1st again, in case you were curious. Pleas send me more blind surfers! @expeditiontrufit @surfwsa @ampsurf_us @ampsurforg @surfightjj @usasurfing @isasurfing @stokeforlife @hi5sfoundation @surfride @trufit #BlindSurfer #surf #surfing #Surfight #Waves4All #AmpSurf #heroesofsport #inspiredsurfers #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind (at Churches Surf Break) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdq-CKyPzLZ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

From me and Megan to all of you… May the Fourth be with you! Picture shows me sitting in front of our couch on the floor, with Megan resting her head on my leg. She’s staring at the piece of jerky in my hand. If you look closely, you can just see my Stoke For Life t-shirt, the storm trooper coffee mug in the background, and the Baby Yoda blanket just visible. Megan is fresh from the groomers, with a bandanna the same color as her favorite Jedi’s light saber. Of course she’s a Mace Windu fan… Photo credit: @aloya319 @gdb_official @stokeforlife #BlindSurfer #dogfather #GDB #StarWars #MayTheFourth #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/CdKi9AxO6J7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

More comedy tonight at Mad House Comedy Club in downtown San Diego! Late night show at 11:30 PM. Free to get in. Full bar. Love to have you come down and laugh with me. Picture is of me with a fresh haircut and beard trim just ouside of S&N Barber Shop and Master Shave in La Mesa. Thanks, Sam, for the expert cut and trim. @sn_barbershop_ @madhousecomedyclub #comedy #BlindViking #barber #BlindSurfer #standup #comic #adaptive #blind #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc9VFRhL338/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

Post 2 of 2: Here’s the rest of the bio which began in my last post. Please leave your thoughts or suggestions in the comments. This pic was taken by the kind folks at American Comedy Co. the last time I performed there. Fantastic club and staff! Joshua has earned five black belts and ranks across seven styles. He continues to train and grow as a martial artist, having developed a particular fondness for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The overlap in surf and jiu jitsu culture eventually had its impact, and Joshua started surfing in 2017. His competition record and intuitive surfing style has many wondering if he really can use The Force. Joshua has continued to embrace authenticity in response to personal struggle. In late 2016, Joshua had to scale back his martial arts training due to a torn hamstring. While recovering, he tried his hand at standup comedy, thoroughly enjoying himself. Soon after, he was diagnosed with PTSD and major depression connected to childhood trauma prior to his blindness. He now speaks honestly and openly about his struggles in his standup and other forms of expression. Whether it be standup comedy, martial arts practice, surfing, or hosting a podcast, Joshua does his best to live by the following ideal. “Adventure is a state of mind. How you live it is up to you!” @americancomedyco #blind #comic #MartialArts #BJJ #Surfight #BlindSurfer #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/Cco1ozkLcx3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

Post 1 of 2 Here’s a brief bio. What else do you think I should include or modify? Please leave your thoughts in the comments. This pic is of me warming up on the beach with some Mind Boxing exercises before the WSA contest in Huntington Beach earlier this year. Joshua “The Jedi” Loya is a blind surfing champion, martial artist, and standup comedian. Joshua’s mission is to cultivate resilience and a renewed sense of wonder in himself and in the people he meets. From an early age, Joshua was easily lost in stories of adventure and personal triumph. He had a congenital condition which made him extremely near-sighted and more vulnerable to eye injuries. As a result, he quenched his thirst for adventure through books, movies, TV, comics, and video games. He loved to ride his bike and his skateboard, but he was taking a huge risk whenever he did. Things changed when he lost his remaining sight in a martial arts accident with a pair of nunchucks at age 15. In response to losing his sight, Joshua reveled in the fact that he could no longer lose it, the activity restrictions placed upon him when he was young had now been lifted. The summer after he lost his eyesight, he tried water-skiing for the first time. He studied kung fu in his junior year of high school and competed in his first martial arts tournament when he was sixteen. In his senior year, he was the first blind person to qualify for his belay card at his local climbing gym. Joshua was now able to not only appreciate stories of adventure through awe inspiring literature. He could now craft some adventure stories of his own. (Continued in next post) #blind #BlindSurfer #adaptive #Surfight #surfer #Waves4All #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMindurer https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccoz37lL6CU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[servantwarrior]

Thanks for the support everyone! We’re so dang close. If I can raise another $1000, then I can make sure the minimum expenses of this trip will be covered. If I raise more than I need for this trip, it’s my intention to pour any remainder into Adventure Mind, the nonprofit for which I just filed articles of incorporation 2 weeks ago. “Adventure is a state of mind! How you live it is up to you!” www.gofundme.com/send-a-blind-guy-surfing If you’d prefer Venmo, for any reason: www.venmo.com/joshuathejedi #BlindAdventurer #BlindSurfer #blind #surf #surfing #Surfight #Waves4All #StokeForLife #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/Cb8h4KrP3Br/?utm_medium=tumblr

[servantwarrior]

Been a little on the quiet for the last day or so. Yesterday, we realized something was up with Chance, our little dog. Thanks to Brian from We Saved A Puppy, we’re going to get him sorted, but this has been taking up a lot of my emotional energy the last 18 hours or so. If you’re into supporting people who rescue puppies from the mean streets of Tijuana, and who occasionally provide vet care for blind surfing champions, please consider giving some love to We Saved A Puppy. Here’s a picture of me, Chance, and Brian just after Chance’s intake this morning. I’m holding Chance, and Brian has his left arm around me. The van Brian uses to rescue our furry friends is just behind us. It is just Barely in the shot. www.wesavedapuppy.org #dogfather #TheChancellor #WeSavedAPuppy https://www.instagram.com/p/CbgWbWTJcar/?utm_medium=tumblr

[servantwarrior]

Megan says, “This is my trophy!”. She earned it, for sure. Love this girl, even if she is a full on diva. Image description for accessibility: Megan, a 3-year-old black lab guide dog, sits with her handler, Joshua. A large surfing trophy is between them. Joshua is squatting down on the balls of his feet. He is wearing an AmpSurf baseball style hat. Photo credit: @aloya319 @ampsurforg @gdb_official @trufit @stokeforlife @surfightjj @surfwsa @usasurfing @wsl @isasurfing #BlindSurfer #blind #dog #dogfather #WSA #Surfight #Trufit #Waves4All #InspiredSurfers #disabled #adaptive #guidedog #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind https://www.instagram.com/p/CbavbiAPpRz/?utm_medium=tumblr

[servantwarrior]

Group shot of the adaptive surfers from this past weekend’s WSA contest. These are small contests, but they’re fun. Always stoked to show what adaptive surfers can do! Thanks to AmpSurf for covering my registration fee! Special thanks to John White for having my back in the water. Another 1st place win in the books! Send! Me! More! Blind! Surfers! @ampsurforg @surfwsa @stokeforlife @expeditiontrufit @trufit #BlindSurfer #Surfight #AmpSurf #StokeForLife #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind (at Oceanside Beach and Harbor) https://www.instagram.com/p/CbZH95yu90r/?utm_medium=tumblr

[servantwarrior]

Saturday, Andrea and I marked 17 years of marriage. We celebrated the occasion a little earlier this month by seeing one of our favorite comedians, Maria Bamford, at the American Comedy Co. Great show! My first time back in a comedy club, on stage or in the audience, since February 2020. (I still have yet to get back on stage.) Also, Maria couldnt’ have been nicer. She was also extra cool with Megan, my guide dog. The 2 of them had their own visiting time as well. In this pic, from left to right, Joshua, Megan (the dog), Maria, and Andrea. It was taken just outside the club, the streets of San Diego behind us. @aloya319 @mariabamfordcomedy @americancomedyco @gdb_official #NightOut #HumanConnection #dog #comedy #MariaBamford #TeamLoya #JoshuaTheJedi https://www.instagram.com/p/CbYarcovyMf/?utm_medium=tumblr

[servantwarrior]

Andrea and I spent about 2 hours today training with our favorite German born sensei. Martial arts, especially for those of us without the benefit of eyesight, is about connection. The 3 of us trained in the park connecting through the techniques and drills, as well as connecting as friends and fellow human beings. So often we try to do a thing or lots of things. Maybe take a page from the book of my favorite little green dude. “Do or do not. There is no try.” Simplicity is where peace is found. Andrea took this picture of the park where we trained today. In it you can see the fountain, and the red tiles surrounding it. There are palm trees and a green grassy area visible in the background. #BlindSurfer #TeamLoya #TekioJutsu #JediWisdom #connection #karate #budo #martialarts #jiujitsu #BJJ #BlindAdventurer #JoshuaTheJedi #AdventureMind (at Solana Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cax5bUIP9k-/?utm_medium=tumblr

[servantwarrior]

Instagram removed my last post because of copyright. I guess a short clip from South Park isn’t fair use. No big deal. Most of IG is irrelevant to me, given its visual focus. I still love the people behind the profiles, though. #IGWithNoEyes https://www.instagram.com/p/CaQyHDCFHQD/?utm_medium=tumblr