I usually forget to remind everyone that it’s gonna be the first Saturday of the month (this weekend), which means…two hour training available for everyone to train together. So here’s your reminder that this Saturday is double the fun, double the exercise, double the blessing of being able to stretch, strengthen, move and learn something new.

Anyways, I was thinking of all the things we should be thankful for when we arrive for training: 1) A great place that’s large enough to accommodate our group…with covering too. 2) The blessing of good health which allows us the freedom to enjoy a great, stress-releasing workout. 3) Having/making the time in our busy day, to be able to come to the ministry once or twice a week. 4) The blessing of fellowship, received from those who are training next to us (obviously, we’d be hard-put to come out and train all by ourselves each week). 5) The sempais in our group who willingly share their knowledge with the kohais, purely out of the desire to help their progress. 6) The kohais in our group, who, during the process of being taught, help teach the sempais too. 7) And most importantly, the Lord, who makes all of this possible; and brings each of us safely to practice (no matter how tired/reluctant/sleepy we are that day), and blesses our exercise so that we each leave feeling satisfied, relaxed, and knowing just a little more than when we came.

And I feel the most blessed of all. I recall that when the ministry first started practicing at Momilani Rec Center in January, 2002, the small group immediately shrunk by half – most had never had to step very far when we were still in the little church office (and there was no A/C, nor carpeting at Momilani!) I never cared about class size, as long as there was one student who came to train….on a couple of occasions in those early days, I actually was greeted by just one faithful student, haha. Today, I am always greeted by a faithful group of you, and I am always impressed that you continue to entrust some of your precious time to the practice of karate-do. May we continue to enjoy the blessings that allow us to walk the path.