I know that the title is an odd one, considering that tomorrow is Mother’s Day. However, I was just thinking about why I originally got into the martial arts, and as you would expect, there were a bunch of reasons. However, as it turns out, my initial foray into the arts (aikido) wasn’t really due to any initiative on my part. I remember that it was my dad who was the actual impetus. One day, after he had come home from work, relaxing at the dining room table with the newspaper and a cold beer (he favored Primo and Lucky Larger back then), he told me, “Wes, I’m going to take you someplace tonight.” Since this was a rare and unusual statement from him…actually, those days, any statement from him was rare, I looked up from the book I was reading and asked, “Where?” He said we were going to the local Hongwanji dojo where his friend from work practiced aikido. And that was the beginning… Looking back, I suppose dad’s unprecedented interest in getting me into a weekly activity was heavily due to dad’s interest in the martial arts, though his only experience was some judo as a kid [...]

Whenever I watch the program, Antique Roadshow on the tv, I wonder about the true meaning of value. I get shocked, like everybody else, when the experts examine some dusty old figurine or a small wooden table or some (ugly, to my eye) landscape painting, and triumphantly declare that the item is worth a small fortune. Other times, the anxious owner smiles weakly and nods, when their obviously valuable family heirloom (or so they thought) is priced at under a hundred dollars. The ugly old painting that was wrapped in paper and stored in grandma’s closet, forgotten and valueless, except as something to be thrown or given away…this same painting, properly cleaned/framed in an art museum with a million dollar price tag, may be thought to be a magnificent, priceless work of art. The lesson learned here is, things are only worth whatever value one places upon them. A long time ago, one of my senseis told me, “Wes, the day you have a dojo of your own, don’t teach for free… Even if the place is rent-free, charge the student at least $1.” Since I was hoping to teach for free, I asked him why. He went on to [...]

Just a reminder that next Saturday, April 21 is our bi-monthly rake-day at Momilani Rec Center . Yes, weather permitting, it’ll be an opportunity to get even more fresh air, sun and healthy exercise raking leaves from the grounds that surround our training place. If everyone arrives and starts right at 09:00 am, the work should be done quickly. At the same time you folks begin to rake, I plan to give our two mature purple belts (Edith and Ken) their long delayed exam…then we’ll quickly change to join you in the sun. If for some reason, rainy weather delays our rake day, bring your gi’s just in case.