HIS Karate-Do

Way back in 1977, I was a brand new sales representative trainee for IBM Corp (International Business Machines), synonymous with computers and selectric typewriters. Back then, we also made a line of copiers, including our top of the line, the high-speed Series III Copier. One of the first tasks I was ever assigned as a trainee was to “babysit” a problematic Series III that we had recently installed at the local headquarters of a large international airline. My job was to sit near the machine and ensure that any problems or questions that arose were quickly addressed. In addition, it was a nice marketing technique and show of customer support to actually dedicate one of IBM’s representatives (yes, I wore a suit back then) to ensure client satisfaction. Actually, the copier worked with few jams or problems that day, but due to its speed and newness, much of the time, there would be a line of curious users who wanted to try out the new technology. For me, the most impressive event of a rather boring day was watching a tall, well dressed blond gentleman deftly and subtly work his way from the back of the line (some 7 or [...]

Just a quick note – If you access the following site: http://www.theshotokanway.com/interviewlinks.html , you’ll see a long list of interviews. The site is from a JKA style Shotokan group in England and is chockful of good karate information. Over the last few years, I’ve enjoyed reading interviews with a great many senior Shotokan instructors on the site, including many of the masters from the old JKA in Japan. Anyways, the most recent interview (2 parts) is with a very familiar instructor…Shihan Kenneth Funakoshi. I think most of you know that for many years, Shihan Funakoshi was the primary instructor for Sensei Wayne, Sensei Peter and myself. While we have trained with different sensei’s over the years, much of what we know about the art was first learned directly from him. Back in the 1970’s when we were young black belts, he led the grueling training for our special Yudanshakai group at the old Puck’s Alley dojo. We all trained directly under him throughout that decade in his special flavor of advanced and kumite conditioning. Later, in the 1980’s, we were additionally blessed to revist and strengthen our basics and intermediate techniques under his tutelage at the Mililani dojo. In fact, [...]

Well, 2010 has just flown by and July’s here already, which means it’s already mid-summer and we’re finally grandparents (just call me Gigi, haha). Yes, we are now blessed with a little grandson that my wife can spoil and dote over. When I look into his cute little face (I’m not kidding, he really is cute!), he seems to encapsulate facets of so many of us whose DNA is intertwined with his own. I am jazzed, just like I was jazzed when his mother was born. Unlike the first time I ever saw and held our own children as newborns however, this time I’m not overwhelmed by the mantle of responsibility of his young life…rightfully so, that mantle belongs to his mommy and daddy. Instead, I experience feelings of continuity and tradition, also seeing in him, the many faces of those who preceded us. Looking at other family members gathered in the crowded Post-Partum room to welcome the newest addition, I wonder if the other relatives feel the same. Whether we know it or not, each of us lives in our own little world, shaped by our own perceptions, our own memories, our own huge bag of experiences. For most [...]