HIS Karate-Do

Wow, words of wisdom from Him, regarding ministries, reaching/sharing with others, karate, etc…written by the messenger, Sensei Trisha (I always tell her, she’s my favorite daughter…she always responds, “Right, I’m your only daughter.”) It was since June of last year (2004) that God had spoken to me about this journey. I was quite hesitant to take the leap and begin a Karate Ministry, so I procrastinated. I wasn’t sure if anyone would be interested, much less, actually learn something from me. Yet, who am I to know what the outcome would be? After a year of wrestling, I finally gave in. I began the process, all the while, in denial. The timeslot was booked for the gym, flyers were posted, and I spread the word. To my surprise people seemed interested; to my demise, no one really committed. I had to keep focus. Shotokan Karate is an art focused on character building. I had to “seek perfection of character, be faithful, endeavor …” if it truly was God’s leading. Like any ministry, we can only give what we have. If I don’t have these traits, how would I expect anyone else to? My walk to the gym felt like hours [...]

I was just thinking on “life’s coincidences”….there sure are a lot of them. I have a pretty good memory and discovered a long time ago, that if you remembered things and reflected back on them, life was sure full of “coincidences”. Today, as a Christian, I have a different view on how things happen, but back then, I couldn’t see that there was any kind of long-range plan that consisted of so many intertwined weavings that these were so easy to overlook at chalk up to coincidence. On Saturday, the ministry was blessed when two of my old time friends and fellow karate sensei, both came to visit for the first time ever, on the same day. Sensei Wayne had last visited sometime during the summer (before football season began, haha) while Sensei Peter had come twice before, the last time, perhaps a year ago. We certainly enjoyed their dual presence and Sensei Wayne gladly taught for me during the second half of training, while Sensei Peter joined me in the training line like we used to, over thirty years earlier. A good time was had by all, and I am truly glad for their friendship and the fact that [...]

In the midst of our recent promotions, I didn’t want to lose the opportunity to really congratulate two of your sempais who just made shodan, and one who has made made dan several times over. Of course, I’m talking about sempais Doreen, Wes, and James. I think some time back, I wrote about the heart of a black belt, so hopefully you won’t find this repetitive in any way, haha. In my mind, the several years it takes to normally make it to one’s first dan ranking is such a special time in one’s experience with the martial arts. I liken it to learning one’s ABC’s…repetitive, sometimes boring, sometimes frustrating, with emphasis on the “correct way” to form letters while writing, and the confusing way to pronounce a hard or soft “c”, or the “th” sound, or how about the silent “g”? As children, we hang with it and after many, many repetitions and trials, we finally get our ABC’s down. Similarly, when I share the basics of Shotokan with white, blue, green, purple, and brown belts, it is a continuing focus on basics and the most “correct way” to execute techniques. It’s a multi-year journey that only a minority [...]