THE REAL POINT OF IT ALL

 

   Maybe it is just the time of year, as I am a Christmas person to the point of perpetual sentiment during the whole season. Beyond that, it is time that I believe everyone reflects back and looks forward. Such was the case with this years Red Dragon Christmas Dinner.

 

   The group was a gathering of families originally brought together by a common denominator; the pursuit of excellence in the Martial Arts. How long that pursuit continues for some, is anybodies guess. But for now we all enjoyed the moment.

 

   Within any gathering for the sake of celebration, there lies the possibility of success or failure. Even with the “common denominator” there are no guarantees. The unknown factors are will the dojo chemistry translate to the social atmosphere and will the spouses, friends and relatives, blend with the total group.  This is always a sticky situation. There is the ”what is Shihan really like" and have they already formed an opinion of me. New students and guests have a dilemma as to how to approach me outside the dojo as I have seen very few of them anywhere else. They have also been exposed to the “careful what you say” warning and witness someone not taking that advice. Plus no one but the RD’s and their families know each other.  So what we can have here is an uptight gathering and a host (me) who tries too hard to have (make) everyone have a good time. At the end often you wish that you hadn’t bothered and vowed to skip it next year.  I have had such a gathering and you probably have too.

 

   This was not such an evening. The new people translated all dojo chemistry to the evening. It was like we had all been together for years. Our core group of Red dragons who have been together any where from nine to fifteen years, were willingly “joined” by the newcomers. It was a bonding and family feeling of the first order.

 

   I began the evening with an introduction of all students and instructors and gave a brief overview of their accomplishments, with at least one dojo story regarding them. Then all listened to Jason Anzur briefly describe the Red Dragons role in the ICA, the HLF, our web page, and the Red  Dragon Tab. The new students and their guests then sat quietly and in awe as each Red Dragon stood and said what the dojo had meant to them and what each meant to each other. What could have come off as rehearsed, didn’t! As it came from their hearts. Curt Pennington my oldest member in terms of time and age (sorry Curt) spoke about his time there and his cancer survival. Earlier when I introduced Woody and Sherry, I was able to announce that she was cancer free. Imagine the feeling in that room. Especially when Woody “tried” to express his appreciation to everyone inside and outside our dojo. The emotion continued and each Dragon, one by one, had their say.

 

   None of what the Dragons said was any surprise as we have been with each other so long. It is always just great to hear. What it did was demonstrate to the new people and their guest what the real reason is for us continuing to attend class after class, week after week, year after year, injury after injury. It is because of each other, and our brothers and sisters outside our own dojo.

 

   In all honesty, we didn’t want new students and just wanted to continue to train with our existing group. We didn’t want the distraction of people coming and going and wasting our time. But looking at the new people and working with them reminded us of what we always knew. The joy is in the giving. The challenge is renewing your passion with the passion of some hopeful student. Yes, it is still to be going through thirty or forty, to get one good one, that will stay with you.. Because the name of the game is making a difference in someone, if only for one class. And you do, each dojo sensei leaves an indelible mark on everyone who crosses through his or her dojo door.  Why? Because what and who you are rubs off in a hurry. How many times has someone who only stayed even short time with you told you something you said to him or her that they remembered. It doesn’t mean that we are geniuses or great orators. It means that we have been given an opportunity and gift to communicate certain values to people who maybe have never listened to anything else anyone ever said.  That is what is so unique about what we do and how we do it. We get a chance to make a difference, no matter how slight. It is a special gift to us given for a purpose. And we who teach have discovered this purpose. No wonder we love it so much.

 

   At the end of the evening, every one left the dinner with far more than they entered with. The new were touched by the brotherhood shown and expressed by the Dragons. Wives and parents commented both orally and in emails their pleasant surprise, as to who their loved ones were associated with. And how glad they were that they had a group like ours with some activity that was positive and offered self improvement. A few of the comments came from wives that before, were not all too happy that hubby was going to be away two nights a week. Or the parent that originally wished their child had chosen soccer or baseball.

 

   For now the objections have turned to support. Hope springs eternal and everyone is going to stay forever. We will enjoy it while it last and start all over again when it is time to reload. In the meantime, we will keep our unity as a constant and live for the day, with hope for tomorrow.

 

   We hope this includes many of you with whom we have had the good fortune to be associated with and benefit by your friendship and leadership. We also hope we can add to the total of friends as we go and continue to experience the REAL reason for keeping on keeping on.

 

   Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Sen-I Jutsu (Dragon Spirit  Fighting), to each and every one of you.

  

Next year will be a JAMMIN time…….