Meet Khari Sekou I | Martial Arts Instructor & Plant Based Chef

We had the good fortune of connecting with Khari Sekou I and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Khari, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?

I believe in having a strong “why” before you start any major endeavor. Things are going to be difficult at some point in any business/path/journey so having a solid reason to keep going is a must for me. Many people start and stop things and start something else and start and stop that when it gets rough. The real reality is that there is no “easy way” for anything worth doing.

I saw a podcast a long time ago on Valuetainment (YouTube) that talked about identifying your “5 Must Haves” in life. He said to choose 50 things on your bucket list and narrow those down to the top 5. These are the 5 most important things that you want to accomplish in this life. Martial arts and meditation were at the top of my list because they could give me the discipline and focus to accomplish everything else.

My martial arts company, Warrior Garden, and my plant-based foods company, Winner Winner Vegan, have both had setbacks and challenges, but I’m able to push forward because of my training and my “why”.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

“Do what you love and never work a day” is a motto I live by. I have loved martial arts since I was the kid wearing a ninja suit to school lol. I’ve practiced and continue to practice martial arts for over 30 years. Now I teach classes and get to do what I love every day.

I founded Sekm Maa (“True Power” in Ancient Khemetic/Metu Neter language) Warrior Arts, a hybrid combat system that teaches meditation, combat conditioning, grappling, empty hand, and weapon-based self-protection training. We focus on “6 Levels of War” and include de-escalation training in our curriculum. Our mission is to make a positive impact on the world through the Warrior Arts.

The introduction e-book to “6 Levels of War” is available for free download at warriorgarden.net.

My plant-based foods company, Winner Winner Vegan (Dinner), is now live on all major food ordering platforms (UberEATS, GrubHub, DoorDash, ChowNow, etc.). We offer delicious plant-based dishes infused with superfoods and herbal supplements. We believe food is medicine. our mission is to help heal humanity with plant-based foods. We also have a retail products side to the business that sells products in stores.

I’ve been vegan for 28 years now. It’s literally one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. My whole life changed for the better since making that decision. Food is so connected to our health but many people believe the lie that they can eat anything and run to the doctor to get a pill and it’s going to be ok. Most people take better care of their cars than they do their bodies. What we do today will be manifested tomorrow. I believe in preventative medicine and that medicine is the all-plant everything diet, exercise, and healthy living.

Get 15% off your first order at winnerwinnervegan.com.

I still have much to learn and a lot of work to do to get to the level that I want to attain. This whole process is teaching me patience and perseverance. Pursuing this path and working to grow these companies is challenging but it makes me step up my game on every level.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

As I grow, my interests have changed. I was partying, clubbing, and time-wasting since I was 15 so that’s played out to me. With the wars, public shootings, COVID, etc. I’m very careful of the places I visit.

I went to see the Samurai Exhibit at the High Museum recently. Very dope to see the Samurai armor in person (I train with a real Samurai from Japan). There are a lot of new vegan spots in ATL now so I’d take them out for a bite to eat. I like Cafe Sunflower, Full Taste Vegan, Loving It Live, Wadada’s, and others. A friend of mine plays in a funk band called Entropy. They recently played at a spot in Little 5 Points. I’d take my people to check some live vibes definitely. I’d also see if there are any festivals or events happening in the city that we could check.

If they’re my close friend they would also want to get in some warrior training while they’re here. I’d take them to my classes and visit some other masters that live here.

I’d cook/prepare something excellent and let them try my new recipes to get their feedback before I add them to my menu.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout out my SuperMom and SuperSis for believing in me, encouraging me to pursue my dreams, and investing in me. Many thanks to my family, friends, customers, and tribe who support my brands. I am grateful to my students for trusting me to guide them on the Warrior’s Path.

Website: warriorgarden.net

Instagram: @warriorgardencombat

Facebook: @warriorgardencombat

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/winner-winner-vegan-atlanta

Youtube: @warriorgardencombat

Other: winnerwinnervegan.com

Image Credits
Kason Carter Media.