Ozark Profile : Gentle martial artist Mink helps others be proactive, prevent addictions
Posted on Monday, July 3, 2006
Ask someone on the street how big one-sixteenth of an inch is, and most could not even come up with something small enough to compare it to. But ask Ed Mink how big it is, and hell tell you its the difference between the life he used to live and the life he lives now.
Mink, a Fayetteville resident, can remember a time when he was 17 and that fraction of an inch made a huge difference in his life.
I broke my neck playing football and the doctor said I was one-sixteenth of an inch from being completely paralyzed, Mink said.
Despite some tough times that followed, including flunking out of college in his first year, Mink eventually settled into the life he lives now, one that follows a philosophy that his brush with paralysis inspired.
Live every moment to the fullest, Mink said.
Since then Mink has influenced the lives of countless people. Hes a fourth-degree black belt in the martial art of Aikido, the director of health promotion and education at the University of Arkansas, and an adjunct assistant professor at the Pat Walker Health Center.
Mink has spent the past few years teaching his Aikido students and his UA students the ideas of respect and appreciation, as well as helping students be proactive and preventive when it comes to substance abuse.
Mink was born and raised in the city of Warren, Ohio. He grew up as a good kid: He made good grades, was devoutly Catholic, and was a source of pride for his parents.
But after his football acci- dent, Mink began to search for something more.
Boy did the pendulum swing. Eventually I settled into the belief I have now, living every moment to its fullest, Mink said.
Mink received his bachelors degree in history and education from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, and he planned on being a teacher. But after a bad experience substituting, Mink changed his mind.
I remember breaking up a fight at a local high school, and thinking, Man, this isnt for me, Mink said.
He then became interested in counseling recovering drug addicts and alcoholics at a clinic in Warren.
My parents were disturbed, Mink said. Here they are, thinking, We got this bright kid, and we want him to be a doctor or a lawyer, but hes hanging around drug addicts and drunks,
It was around that time that Mink was first introduced to the art of Aikido. Minks brother, a chief of police, introduce him to the martial art in 1984.
He said Eddie, punch me and down I went. Mink said with a smile. He did that several times to me before I asked What is that ? .
Mink then became more and more involved in the lifestyle of Aikido, one that promotes a holistic way of life, appealing to the physical, mental, emotional, and social ways of life Mink said.
The practice itself is purely self-defense, and is all based on taking the momentum of an attack, evading that, and redirecting it.
The whole attempt is to simply neutralize the attack, Mink said. But its a spiritual thing as well.
Mink said everyone is taught by their sensei, or great teacher, and that Aikido teachings say that to hurt another person, even an attacker, disrupts the universe.
Mink eventually settled into a type of Aikido called Tomiki, which is a blend of Judo and Aikido. There he met his first sensei, and one of the major influences in his life, Merrit Stevens.
He was the absolute greatest teacher Ive ever known, Mink said. He lived what he taught, and there was a gentle calmness about him.
Mink said that Stevens gentleness taught him some very important things.
He showed me there was a power in gentleness, which is kind of a paradox, but its true, Mink said.
Mink kept working with Tomiki, but eventually got burnt out working with people recovering from substance abuse problems.
It was hard work. People who get addicted generally never recover, Mink said.
In 1987 Mink made the move from Ohio to Fayetteville to pursue a doctorate in counseling.
I heard somewhere along the line that if you work for a university, you get a tuition break, and the University of Arkansas was one of the schools to receive a federal grant for substance abuse programs, Mink said. So down I went.
But Minks desire to get his doctorate in counseling changed shortly after he met Dr. Rick Guiton, a professor of health education at the UA.
He introduced me to the discipline of health education, and got me excited about the ideas of prevention and proaction, Mink said.
Mink used the federal grants to help start a substance abuse prevention program. The idea of the program is to stop addictions before they happen.
Mink began teaching health classes on subjects such as self-esteem, assertiveness training, alternative medicine, stress management and even one on happiness.
About 80 to 85 percent of physical illnesses are stress related, Mink said. So by teaching how to handle and avoid stress, were teaching how to avoid a lot of sicknesses.
Mink created 10 of the classes that exist in the program at UA, and felt like his participation has helped him a lot.
It began to broaden my horizons, and it gave me more opportunities and responsibilities, Mink said.
Mink received his doctorate in health education from the UA in 1992.
Along with the health classes he teaches at the university, Mink has also started an Aikido club, and he also teaches Aikido classes at the Fayetteville Martial Arts Academy.
Patti Mink, Eds wife of two and a half years, said that her husband is one of the most sincere people shes ever met, and believes his work in Aikido has a lot to do with it.
You know that just looking in his eyes that he cares, Patti said. He would give you the shirt off his back if that would help you.
Patti met Ed when she was a student in one of his Aikido classes at the Fayetteville Martial Arts Academy. Theyve know each other for 10 years, and Patti is a black belt in Tang Soo Do, a Korean martial art known by most as the type that celebrity Chuck Norris practices.
Patti and Ed Mink have done several classes to teach women self defense.
Its really empowering for them to watch me throw Ed around, Patti Mink said. They love to watch it.
Patti Mink said her husband tries hard to be an example, and really cares about people.
Every Christmas he makes a tape of Christmas songs for the bakery ladies at the local grocery store, and they love it, Patti Mink said.
Mink said his wife has taught him a lot as well.
She has reinvigorated me with joy and passion, Mink said.
Mink also said his two daughters, as well as his two other step daughters have been an important part of his life.
They taught me what it was like to be proud, and challenge me on a daily basis, Mink said.
Ed Mink is living proof that perhaps the best thing to be in life is genuine, and that some big things come out of little things, such as one-sixteenth of an inch.
Mink said that whatever storms he battles he will continue to follow this simple philosophy: Be kind, be genuine, be compassionate, live life with passion, and with complete generosity of spirit.
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