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ARTICLES
AND COMMENTARY
OUR NEW DOJO
Sometimes life comes full circle more than once. This has been one of those times. About four years ago, I closed down my commercial dojo in favor of a more Spartan training environment. I wanted to implement Dragon-Sen-I Jutsu (situational street fighting), into my curriculum of training without distraction and this was the surest way to do it. Along with my black belts and a few others who thought this was what they wanted, but soon found out it wasn’t, moved with me to a fitness center. We then concentrated on ourselves without the, as we called it, distractions. Distractions were defined as new students, kids, or anyone who wasn’t there for the bitter as well as the sweet. We spent some quality time there, putting our new street combat system together, cramming all the old and new techniques and disciplines we were learning down each others throat and training through every class like it was our last one. All the while keeping our Isshin-ryu traditions in tact. It was hard, but it was supposed to be hard. Most things worth the effort are. We had some great times there, hosted some super jams, were visited by some super masters and sensei’s teaching us their skills, and accomplished much. In the process, the gym itself was going badly. Finally we were told that it was closing and moving to a much smaller place. They said we could stay but the dojo would be much smaller. We made the best of it for a few months and then moved on to the back of a swim center. That was even worse as it had no upside and the people who ran it, should have all been tied back to back in a row boat. What a depressing six months it was. I had the best, most dedicated people I’ve ever had and I lead them to some place like this. At this time, the owner as he had before, wanted me to move into his gym in Greenville. Now my guys were in Anderson 45 minutes to an hour away. I had move to Greenville six years ago and was making the drive back and forth to Anderson. I also did not want another commercial gym with more hours and responsibility to those “distractions.” Even more, I did not want to ask the Dragons to drive up here. The dilemma was multi faceted. I wanted a suitable place for them to train, as Lord knows they had earned it. I also wanted to protect what retirement time I had on those glorious days, when you have nothing to do and all day to do it in. Then there was also a little thing called money. I had to be willing to fork over some build out money, as the room was the back part of an old Winn Dixie store. As I write this, I realize that I am helpless to accurately describe all my misgivings about the move. I made my decision like I have always made them. You can never coast in life, because you can only coast down hill. I decided to keep taking risk; the life blood of the true competitor and achiever. The hardest part of the decision was solved by my students and wife. My students immediately formed car pools and said they were ready to travel if I was ready to have them do it. They pitched in physically, especially Woody, and made that big dark room the pictures you now see in this article. I also got the support and encouragement I needed to receive from Reese. We have gotten use to spending a lot of time together the way we chose to spend it. Now that life style was coming to an end. It would be me covering morning, afternoon, and evening classes. My black belts are willing, but remember, they live an hour away and can’t make it except to the evening classes. And for a while, I need to be there for all of them. Reese could have trapped me in the middle by objecting, but she didn’t. Instead, as usual, she is my most enthusiastic supporter and nutritionist (for all the late night meals we now have). Like I told her daughters when they ask me how I felt about it all. I told them I had gone through this before but this time I had an ace in the hole I never had before. Their mother. I am proud to be able to offer my long time student-family, a really nice place to train. It is very large and very well equipped. I am also looking forward to being able to host another jam instead of Joe Laney and others, having all the responsibility. I do believe that things happen for a reason and I am already seeing evidence of that. My black belts are very happy there. With the influx of new students, it gives them a chance to teach and give something back. Every one should experience the joy of teaching. All of a sudden,, no one is a distraction. They are just another opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life and they yours. I have also lost about twelve pounds and feel great. My black belts have so much to teach from what they have learned these past few years, that the students will be the fortunate recipients of the latest in martial arts training applications. New people will also down the road have an opportunity to belong to the ICA. Think of how it would have been if we had had access to this information and exceptional masters to train us. . Well guess what??? We do now and most of us are still taking advantage of the opportunity. Cross training is not new, it is just finally out in the open. What is new, are some of the concepts and techniques. That will continue to be true, so it is critical to stay up. So keep cross training, or start cross training. A good place to be for either, is at Joe Laney’s Steel Hand Dojo in Knoxville, Saturday the 16th, at high noon. The Isshin-ryu Cross-training Alliance, is hosting a seminar, with as usual, the top people, performing and teaching the latest in martial arts skills. For a full explanation of the ICA, go to its page on this site. So one more trip around the block. A race car driver has a car to drive. A football player has a team to play on. Any coach and any player has a team. A martial arts sensei/ master has a dojo and students. Come see us in ours!
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