HIS Karate-Do

That old song (sung to Auld Lang Syne) “We’re here because we’re here…”  always runs through my head at this time of year.  It does have some extra meaning to me, and speaks to me of perseverance.  Four decades ago when Sensei Wayne, Peter and I were part of the KAH, it contained some of the best karateka in Hawaii and I daresay, in the US.  We were proud to be a part of the organization and while we could hold our own with our fellow black belts, there were definitely some that were better than us.  Recently, we reminisced about the old days and the quickness of one, or the power and technique of another and so on.  You know, for every hundred white belts who started training in the old days, one or two might make it to black belt.  Out of these, just a few would ever be selected for the old KAH’s special training.  And within that elite group, there were a few who were quite amazing to us.  As we were talking story, we also acknowledged how few of these gifted and tempered karateka were still involved in the art.  I suppose that it’s only [...]

A while back, I shared a story entitled “Karate in Strange Places”, describing the surreal experience of observing from a mile away, a solitary figure performing the familiar Shotokan kata, Kankudai on the isolated beach of Kalalau Valley, while the early morning sun was rising.  By the time we reached the beach, he was long gone. Years later, while talking story with a fellow seated next to me at a mutual friend’s wedding reception, I was to discover that he was the unknown karateka who performed the kata – on the same beach where he was married, shortly thereafter.  I have always thought about what a coincidence that was and that it was a fitting end to a mystery that had bothered me for years.  Well, it turns out, that wasn’t quite the end of the story. Last weekend, my old mentor, Sensei Ed was guest instructor at our place as he does once a quarter.  Afterwards, over lunch, we were discussing the recent passing of a mutual karate friend, Sensei Richard Lovell.  Anyways, that reminded Ed that one of Richard’s assistant instructors was the first karateka that he had ever promoted to black belt many years ago.  His name [...]

Every day, there is so much to be thankful for, and often-times, we seem to be too busy to stop and reflect on all of our blessings.  When we pause to reflect, it’s really looking at yesterday, viewed through the lens of the present.  After some close and honest introspection, we are often surprised to discover how the multitude of past experiences, both good and bad, helped to shape so many of the blessings we enjoy today.  While there are some who tend to dwell on the past, many of us are solely focused and working towards the future.  Either approach may be less than ideal and we may not end up where we intended to be. Years ago, in church, the pastor shared an analogy with us that I still find personally meaningful till this day.  It was about aiming a rifle (one’s trajectory in life) at a target (one’s goals in life) and hopefully, hitting (reaching) it.  He explained that atop the barrel are a pair of sights – the front sight at the end of the barrel and the rear sights (you know, the one with the v-shaped groove) close to your eye. The front sight equates [...]