Training with Fujiwara Shihan of KyokushinKan Karate
The Previous Year -
I traveled to Miami during Halloween to fight, and met a group of people from a dojo in Cocoa Beach that had come to the same tournament. Included in this group was Triston, Koby, Sean, Grahm, Susan Sensei, and their head instructor Dan Sensei. They where with the KyokushinKan Karate Organization, headed in the U.S.A. under Kenji Fujiwara Shihan. After speaking with them for the day, they seemed to be interested in me and invited me to a training camp they where having in which they would host Fujiwara shihan when he came back from Japan. I thought they where just being polite. Then Dan sensei said I could stay with them, they just wanted me to attend.
I guess he was serious.
I told him to let me know when it was.
The tournament ended and we parted ways.
Year 20.X. - February -
I received a message from Dan sensei apologizing for the late notice, informing me the training camp would be the following weekend. I responded with a message that said I didn't know how, but I would move mountains to get there.
I didn't realize the powers that be would take that statement as a challenge. What followed was difficulty after difficulty.
But I'm not one to give up....
° First there was the little problem of money. I didn't have any. After much renouncing, selling, borrowing, and withdrawing, I scraped up the money...
° Next was the ride from the airport to the training. Chris and I had planned to get together whenever the camp was, and drive to Cocoa Beach from Jacksonville, and have a time of it. Well, a week is a bit of a short notice, but I contacted him anyway with the hope that he would be available. His reply: "No good. I have school and work, I definitely can't do anything right now. Use your powers of the mind and something will happen...like that time in Japan you won that drawing you never entered when we lived in Hiyoshi. Do your best!" Now I had no ride... just then I received a message from Dan sensei telling me that Cocoa Beach is only an hour east of Orlando, and if I could get there, he would drive and pick me up. He said not to worry about paying for training, room, board, or travel. All I had to do was get there! Fantastic. I went to by a ticket to Orlando...
° In 24 hours time the ticket prices had almost doubled. I could literally sit and watch them rise. I acted quickly and bought the cheapest, most convenient ticket I could find... almost. As I went to finalize my purchase, I was notified that someone had JUST bought that ticket... as in, WHILE I was buying it. I hastily bought the next one I could find. All this was due to the Super Bowl being that weekend, where I happened to be going...
° The night before I was supposed to leave, I received a message telling me that my flight had been canceled. . . I called to tell them it had not. It turns out that a huge blizzard was on it's way, and was reeking havoc on everything. After an hour of talking to someone in a place that was certainly not an English speaking country, things got straightened out. I notified Dan sensei of my new arrival time.
° Arriving at the airport, the blizzard had started. I was certain my flight would be canceled. It should have been canceled. It was not. Instead I was treated to the most turbulent flight I have ever had. I've been in fights gentler than that. I was sure we were going down, and that I would be the only survivor. Well, we made it.
° Looking for where my transfer flight was supposed to be, I saw a delay sign. I was informed by the attendant that the plane coming in had tried to pull the same stunt as my plane...and upon landing, one of it's flaps BLEW OFF! They where searching for a new plane... I borrowed a phone and left a message to Dan sensei stating that I would be at least another 4 hours late....
After all that, I finally made it to Orlando, at about 11pm on Friday. I was greeted with an "OSU!" by Dan sensei. The ride to Cocoa Beach was pleasant. The weather was nice, and once we got to where we where going, I took my jacket off.
We arrived at a huge, very fancy condominium right on the beach. I was told by Dan sensei that the rent for the place was around 2-3000$ a month. This is where Dan sensei, Susan sensei, Fujiwara shihan, and myself would be staying. As I walked in, greetings and introductions where made. I met Fujiwara shihan and his wife, Mikako, both of which had just come back from Japan, and greeted Susan Sensei and Koby. I was then shown to my room, my bathroom, and fed handsomely. Dan Sensei's "shephards pie". Delicious. Triston then came over, and after a few hours of catching up and conversation, it was off to bed.
The next morning I went out on the balcony and performed my morning exercises. Then Dan sensei treated us all to a Delicious and extensive breakfast. In honor of "the pancake challenge" story, he cooked pancakes. Fujiwara shihan still hadn't decided what to make of me yet. After all, it was a camp for his organization, and this dojo, and I wasn't a member of either. We all ate and talked, and then it was time for Saturday training. I asked Fujiwara shihan whether he wanted me to wear my black belt, or my white belt (as I always carry both). He thought for a moment, then said "white. It will show you are humble." I gladly complied. The Saturday training consisted of mainly kata and basics. I also met Triston's girlfriend, Savanah. Following the training was an amazing potluck lunch. After picking up all the food, it began. Fujiwara shihan, Mikako, and myself even had champion level clam chowder! Fujiwara shihan regaled us of stories of his 3 years as an Uchideshi under Masutatsu Oyama, and then his 3 years as Uchideshi in New York. I mingled with everyone, thought knowing myself and the company, the conversation would invariably turn to Kyokushin karate, or martial arts in General. Triston was asking Fujiwara shihan what he should work on to be a good knockdown karate fighter. "hmm, let me see your hands." Shihan said. Triston showed his hands and was met with "hm. you do not grip your fists tight enough. If you did, there would be calluses in this part." Fujiwara shihan then asked to see my hands. "Just like this!" he exclaimed. He then told triston to pull his shorts up, to see his legs. "No good. Your legs are too small. A fighter must have big strong legs or he will get hurt. You have chicken calves. More squats!" He then said Triston's thighs should be like mine. I have to by pants 3 sizes bigger than my waist size and belt them closed, because of my thighs.
After that exchange Tristion, Savanah, some others plus myself went to the beach. I showed Triston the benefits of Sanchin style kata in regards the tempered iron body. He said "wow... I always just thought you where highly trained. I didn't know you where... this!" I don't know what word he was looking for, but I've heard a few. Savanah wanted legs like mine, and Triston needed to become stronger, so I taught them the hindu squat. Also, during the conversation between Triston, Fujiwara shihan, and myself, it came to light that Triston couldn't do a handstand. This is of course blasphemy for a kyokushin karate exponent. Triston had wanted to badly learn to do a handstand... and then I came along. I'm not sure how people needing to learn these things always find me, but I help whenever I can.
He's well on his way now!
Later, I was told that there was scheduled for the following early morning a rocket shuttle launch. What was scheduled to be the final night-time launch, to be exact. Dan sensei, Susan sensei, Fujiwara shihan, Mikako and myself decided we would get up at 4:15 to view it. I had an alarm set for 4:10. Dan sensei came into the room I was sleeping in at 4:05 and whispered "...Nash." I reacted as I always do when woken up. Dan sensei's description:
" I am so glad I was just sticking my head in the door. I have never seen anyone go from sleeping to standing up and lunging toward someone to attack them so fast!"
He actually caught me on a slow day...
As we all gathered in the foyer to get ready to view the launch, we watched the news so we would know when to go. Then they canceled it. For the day anyway. They postponed it until the next morning. We all went back to sleep for an hour or so. Then I got up and went out to the beach to perform my morning exercises.
Then it was time for the Olympian style breakfast. Dan sensei served the food on my plate, telling me to eat freely. I waited. Again he insisted I eat. Still I would not. Not until everyone else (especially Fujiwara shihan) started eating. Dan sensei again insisted. Fujiwara shihan said it was ok to eat. I said I would wait. Fujiwara shihan: "YES! see? HE knows! That is the appropriate way. Don't eat until the guest and top rank eat!" I suppose it was a test? I passed. Up until then, Fujiwara shihan had been a bit skeptical of me; but after that, seeing how hard I trained, and hearing me talk with Mikako for a couple of hours in Japanese (she hadn't learned English yet), he decided I was ok.
Now we all headed out to undergo the black and brown belt only portion of the training. Like most teachers of his caliber, Fujiwara shihan has an eye for detail... and he knows how to motivate with a shinai. At one point I was partnered with grahm, who is about 6 feet 7 inches tall and 285 pounds. It was certainly fun, but he hasn't learned to harness his power yet. He couldn’t' even move me with his strongest punch. Once he unlocks his power though... it will be great! I wait anxiously to fight him then.
After weighted punching rounds, round kick drills, counterdrills, fight training and pad work, in only two hours they called it a day. We went and ate lunch and Fujiwara shihan talked about the zen philosophy of "why?" and "some things are". It was insightful. I still wanted to train though, so I went to the beach and ran, practiced kata, and then took a nap. When I woke up it was dark...
I got back to the condo and we all got ready for an amazing farewell dinner for Fujiwara shihan and Mikako, who where leaving the next day, on Monday.
We all arrived at a nice Chinese restaurant that served Japanese sushi. On top of the appetizers we all ordered "The Boat". This was a model of a boat, FULL of various kinds of sushi. We all ate our fill, then Mikako and myself ate more, then I finished everything off. I explained this method to Triston earlier: " You must approach eating like you would training. Eat only food that makes you stronger; eat for power. The more you train, the more you will have to eat to support the training. When the eating time comes, you must eat a lot, which means, if you don't want to get fat, weak and slow, you must train even harder to burn what you ate. This training will be hard, and require that you eat more. Just as way leads to way and a downward spiral will pull you down and ruin you...This is an upward spiral! keep rising, and put yourself in positions where failure is not an option. This is the same as fighting."
Fujiwara shihan seemed to like my theory on eating.
When we got back to the condo, we all settled in and relaxed. Fujiwara shihan informed me that Mikako and I would be making breakfast the next morning. News to me, but I just said "OSU!" and accepted it...
04:00-
I awoke earlier than everyone to avoid another situation like the previous morning when I surprised Dan sensei. The group gathered at about 04:15 and we headed to the roof. The launch was a go. In pitch black night there was a surprising quite excitement in the air as we all waited. I couldn't figure out where the rocket was supposed to be. Suddenly, a sphere of light burst forth as if the sun was rising out of the very earth itself. Everything’s became as though it where daytime and then the light moved up and away into space, returning everything to it's nighttime appearance.
I found the rocket...
It was a beautiful thing to witness, and to think that there would be no more nighttime launches like that, I feel lucky to have witnessed it.
An hour or two later, it was off to the beach for morning exercises, then to the kitchen to help Mikako with breakfast. "Help". My job was mostly to make tea and make sure everything was in it's appropriate place. We had amazing omelets.
After breakfast, Dan sensei and myself took Fujiwara shihan and Mikako to the airport. On the way there, Fujiwara shihan said "ahhh, Nash. You like hard training! If you really like hard training, visit Aoki sensei. He teaches the old way. " Dan sensei added " Hundreds of squats, he washes his karate gi by hand, with a bucket of soapy water and a bucket of plain water, and then hangs them up... you'd like him!" I was told Aoki sensei teaches in Phoenix Arizona. If I wind up that way, I will certainly stop by. I love hard training!
Once we got to the airport I attempted to get a picture of the four of us. This lady's timing was awful. Both times no one was ready. Oh well...
Dan sensei and I bid them farewell and headed back. We ate lunch. During my time there, Dan sensei showed me a couple of T-shirts that Fujiwara shihan had brought with him to sell and help raise money for the organization. He gave me one of each, complimentary. I thanked him profusely. I decided to head to the beach for some personal training. When I was finished, it was time for training at the dojo.
Dan sensei asked if I would teach that night. I told him if he wanted me to, I certainly would. After all, I owed him a lot with all he had done for me that week, it was the least I could do.
I taught some intermediate IdoGeiko and their finer points and how it all related to the fighting. Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the training, and got a nice workout, body and mind. After I was done teaching, it was sparring time. Dan sensei wanted to make sure that everyone had a chance to spar me. I was more than happy to oblige. Everyone had decent technique. I connected with an ax kick to Triston's head, but I pulled it to avoid injury. Their where good techniques, but the most memorable moment came when I caused Triston's girlfriend to cry.
I actually didn't attack Savanah at all, I just had her rush me. She wasn't breathing though, and despite my best cries of "BREATH!" she continued to hold her breath. This caused her diaphragm to cramp up, which kept her from being ABLE to breath. Then came the tears from the shock...
She was tough till the end though, and once she starts exhaling, she'll be a force to be reckoned with.
After all the training, some of us went to an all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant and got our fill. Then back to the condo.
Grahm was taking me to the airport early in the morning, and we where going to leave before anyone else was up. So, that night we all said our goodbyes and parted ways.
I began getting ready at 03:30, with almost no sleep to speak of. After my morning exercises grahm and I where ready to go. I just had one last thing to do.
This whole trip Dan sensei, and Susan Sensei had given so much to me, but would not accept anything in return. So I wrote them a thank-you note and pinned 20$ to the refrigerator. It wasn't much, and I didn't have much, but I hoped it would help. After that, Grahm and I left.
I thanked Grahm for getting up so early to help me and then we parted ways at the airport.
My plane landed at 12:00... I had business at 12:30. I went straight from the airport and jumped into my day, after having been up two days. When I finally got some sleep the following day, it wasn't to bad.
The experience I had training in Florida could only be described as perfect. Dan sensei, and Susan Sensei are amazing people who, selflessly gave to me:
°They drove an hour to pick me up at the airport, drove an hour to take me to the camp.
°Put me in a 2-3000$/month luxury condo right on the beach for 5 days.
°Stayed with the owner of the dojo, Dan sensei, and Fujiwara shihan and his wife for the whole time.
°I was treated to many expensive gourmet meals (and a couple all you can eat buffets!).
°Fujiwara shihan brought a couple of different shirts to purchase at 15$ a piece to help the organization - I got both for free.
°I was asked to teach the training for Monday night. I obliged. They said it was great.
°I got into the camp for free, all the students of the dojo had to pay (plus it was a closed camp anyway...).
°I got to see the last of the night-time rocket launches. In person!
°I got in good with Fujiwara shihan, and he said he would introduce me to some more people, and hoped I would fight at his tournament.
°They drove an hour to drop me off at the airport, and then an hour back to where they live.
I kept offering to pay them something, but they said they where just happy to have a guy of my caliber there. I hope they feel like their investment was worth it.
This trip had amazing food, great training, and people who truly represent what the martial arts and karate are all about. I feel like I have made many new friends who I would gladly help out in a heart beat if they asked for it.
Thank you again,
-Nash
I traveled to Miami during Halloween to fight, and met a group of people from a dojo in Cocoa Beach that had come to the same tournament. Included in this group was Triston, Koby, Sean, Grahm, Susan Sensei, and their head instructor Dan Sensei. They where with the KyokushinKan Karate Organization, headed in the U.S.A. under Kenji Fujiwara Shihan. After speaking with them for the day, they seemed to be interested in me and invited me to a training camp they where having in which they would host Fujiwara shihan when he came back from Japan. I thought they where just being polite. Then Dan sensei said I could stay with them, they just wanted me to attend.
I guess he was serious.
I told him to let me know when it was.
The tournament ended and we parted ways.
Year 20.X. - February -
I received a message from Dan sensei apologizing for the late notice, informing me the training camp would be the following weekend. I responded with a message that said I didn't know how, but I would move mountains to get there.
I didn't realize the powers that be would take that statement as a challenge. What followed was difficulty after difficulty.
But I'm not one to give up....
° First there was the little problem of money. I didn't have any. After much renouncing, selling, borrowing, and withdrawing, I scraped up the money...
° Next was the ride from the airport to the training. Chris and I had planned to get together whenever the camp was, and drive to Cocoa Beach from Jacksonville, and have a time of it. Well, a week is a bit of a short notice, but I contacted him anyway with the hope that he would be available. His reply: "No good. I have school and work, I definitely can't do anything right now. Use your powers of the mind and something will happen...like that time in Japan you won that drawing you never entered when we lived in Hiyoshi. Do your best!" Now I had no ride... just then I received a message from Dan sensei telling me that Cocoa Beach is only an hour east of Orlando, and if I could get there, he would drive and pick me up. He said not to worry about paying for training, room, board, or travel. All I had to do was get there! Fantastic. I went to by a ticket to Orlando...
° In 24 hours time the ticket prices had almost doubled. I could literally sit and watch them rise. I acted quickly and bought the cheapest, most convenient ticket I could find... almost. As I went to finalize my purchase, I was notified that someone had JUST bought that ticket... as in, WHILE I was buying it. I hastily bought the next one I could find. All this was due to the Super Bowl being that weekend, where I happened to be going...
° The night before I was supposed to leave, I received a message telling me that my flight had been canceled. . . I called to tell them it had not. It turns out that a huge blizzard was on it's way, and was reeking havoc on everything. After an hour of talking to someone in a place that was certainly not an English speaking country, things got straightened out. I notified Dan sensei of my new arrival time.
° Arriving at the airport, the blizzard had started. I was certain my flight would be canceled. It should have been canceled. It was not. Instead I was treated to the most turbulent flight I have ever had. I've been in fights gentler than that. I was sure we were going down, and that I would be the only survivor. Well, we made it.
° Looking for where my transfer flight was supposed to be, I saw a delay sign. I was informed by the attendant that the plane coming in had tried to pull the same stunt as my plane...and upon landing, one of it's flaps BLEW OFF! They where searching for a new plane... I borrowed a phone and left a message to Dan sensei stating that I would be at least another 4 hours late....
After all that, I finally made it to Orlando, at about 11pm on Friday. I was greeted with an "OSU!" by Dan sensei. The ride to Cocoa Beach was pleasant. The weather was nice, and once we got to where we where going, I took my jacket off.
We arrived at a huge, very fancy condominium right on the beach. I was told by Dan sensei that the rent for the place was around 2-3000$ a month. This is where Dan sensei, Susan sensei, Fujiwara shihan, and myself would be staying. As I walked in, greetings and introductions where made. I met Fujiwara shihan and his wife, Mikako, both of which had just come back from Japan, and greeted Susan Sensei and Koby. I was then shown to my room, my bathroom, and fed handsomely. Dan Sensei's "shephards pie". Delicious. Triston then came over, and after a few hours of catching up and conversation, it was off to bed.
The next morning I went out on the balcony and performed my morning exercises. Then Dan sensei treated us all to a Delicious and extensive breakfast. In honor of "the pancake challenge" story, he cooked pancakes. Fujiwara shihan still hadn't decided what to make of me yet. After all, it was a camp for his organization, and this dojo, and I wasn't a member of either. We all ate and talked, and then it was time for Saturday training. I asked Fujiwara shihan whether he wanted me to wear my black belt, or my white belt (as I always carry both). He thought for a moment, then said "white. It will show you are humble." I gladly complied. The Saturday training consisted of mainly kata and basics. I also met Triston's girlfriend, Savanah. Following the training was an amazing potluck lunch. After picking up all the food, it began. Fujiwara shihan, Mikako, and myself even had champion level clam chowder! Fujiwara shihan regaled us of stories of his 3 years as an Uchideshi under Masutatsu Oyama, and then his 3 years as Uchideshi in New York. I mingled with everyone, thought knowing myself and the company, the conversation would invariably turn to Kyokushin karate, or martial arts in General. Triston was asking Fujiwara shihan what he should work on to be a good knockdown karate fighter. "hmm, let me see your hands." Shihan said. Triston showed his hands and was met with "hm. you do not grip your fists tight enough. If you did, there would be calluses in this part." Fujiwara shihan then asked to see my hands. "Just like this!" he exclaimed. He then told triston to pull his shorts up, to see his legs. "No good. Your legs are too small. A fighter must have big strong legs or he will get hurt. You have chicken calves. More squats!" He then said Triston's thighs should be like mine. I have to by pants 3 sizes bigger than my waist size and belt them closed, because of my thighs.
After that exchange Tristion, Savanah, some others plus myself went to the beach. I showed Triston the benefits of Sanchin style kata in regards the tempered iron body. He said "wow... I always just thought you where highly trained. I didn't know you where... this!" I don't know what word he was looking for, but I've heard a few. Savanah wanted legs like mine, and Triston needed to become stronger, so I taught them the hindu squat. Also, during the conversation between Triston, Fujiwara shihan, and myself, it came to light that Triston couldn't do a handstand. This is of course blasphemy for a kyokushin karate exponent. Triston had wanted to badly learn to do a handstand... and then I came along. I'm not sure how people needing to learn these things always find me, but I help whenever I can.
He's well on his way now!
Later, I was told that there was scheduled for the following early morning a rocket shuttle launch. What was scheduled to be the final night-time launch, to be exact. Dan sensei, Susan sensei, Fujiwara shihan, Mikako and myself decided we would get up at 4:15 to view it. I had an alarm set for 4:10. Dan sensei came into the room I was sleeping in at 4:05 and whispered "...Nash." I reacted as I always do when woken up. Dan sensei's description:
" I am so glad I was just sticking my head in the door. I have never seen anyone go from sleeping to standing up and lunging toward someone to attack them so fast!"
He actually caught me on a slow day...
As we all gathered in the foyer to get ready to view the launch, we watched the news so we would know when to go. Then they canceled it. For the day anyway. They postponed it until the next morning. We all went back to sleep for an hour or so. Then I got up and went out to the beach to perform my morning exercises.
Then it was time for the Olympian style breakfast. Dan sensei served the food on my plate, telling me to eat freely. I waited. Again he insisted I eat. Still I would not. Not until everyone else (especially Fujiwara shihan) started eating. Dan sensei again insisted. Fujiwara shihan said it was ok to eat. I said I would wait. Fujiwara shihan: "YES! see? HE knows! That is the appropriate way. Don't eat until the guest and top rank eat!" I suppose it was a test? I passed. Up until then, Fujiwara shihan had been a bit skeptical of me; but after that, seeing how hard I trained, and hearing me talk with Mikako for a couple of hours in Japanese (she hadn't learned English yet), he decided I was ok.
Now we all headed out to undergo the black and brown belt only portion of the training. Like most teachers of his caliber, Fujiwara shihan has an eye for detail... and he knows how to motivate with a shinai. At one point I was partnered with grahm, who is about 6 feet 7 inches tall and 285 pounds. It was certainly fun, but he hasn't learned to harness his power yet. He couldn’t' even move me with his strongest punch. Once he unlocks his power though... it will be great! I wait anxiously to fight him then.
After weighted punching rounds, round kick drills, counterdrills, fight training and pad work, in only two hours they called it a day. We went and ate lunch and Fujiwara shihan talked about the zen philosophy of "why?" and "some things are". It was insightful. I still wanted to train though, so I went to the beach and ran, practiced kata, and then took a nap. When I woke up it was dark...
I got back to the condo and we all got ready for an amazing farewell dinner for Fujiwara shihan and Mikako, who where leaving the next day, on Monday.
We all arrived at a nice Chinese restaurant that served Japanese sushi. On top of the appetizers we all ordered "The Boat". This was a model of a boat, FULL of various kinds of sushi. We all ate our fill, then Mikako and myself ate more, then I finished everything off. I explained this method to Triston earlier: " You must approach eating like you would training. Eat only food that makes you stronger; eat for power. The more you train, the more you will have to eat to support the training. When the eating time comes, you must eat a lot, which means, if you don't want to get fat, weak and slow, you must train even harder to burn what you ate. This training will be hard, and require that you eat more. Just as way leads to way and a downward spiral will pull you down and ruin you...This is an upward spiral! keep rising, and put yourself in positions where failure is not an option. This is the same as fighting."
Fujiwara shihan seemed to like my theory on eating.
When we got back to the condo, we all settled in and relaxed. Fujiwara shihan informed me that Mikako and I would be making breakfast the next morning. News to me, but I just said "OSU!" and accepted it...
04:00-
I awoke earlier than everyone to avoid another situation like the previous morning when I surprised Dan sensei. The group gathered at about 04:15 and we headed to the roof. The launch was a go. In pitch black night there was a surprising quite excitement in the air as we all waited. I couldn't figure out where the rocket was supposed to be. Suddenly, a sphere of light burst forth as if the sun was rising out of the very earth itself. Everything’s became as though it where daytime and then the light moved up and away into space, returning everything to it's nighttime appearance.
I found the rocket...
It was a beautiful thing to witness, and to think that there would be no more nighttime launches like that, I feel lucky to have witnessed it.
An hour or two later, it was off to the beach for morning exercises, then to the kitchen to help Mikako with breakfast. "Help". My job was mostly to make tea and make sure everything was in it's appropriate place. We had amazing omelets.
After breakfast, Dan sensei and myself took Fujiwara shihan and Mikako to the airport. On the way there, Fujiwara shihan said "ahhh, Nash. You like hard training! If you really like hard training, visit Aoki sensei. He teaches the old way. " Dan sensei added " Hundreds of squats, he washes his karate gi by hand, with a bucket of soapy water and a bucket of plain water, and then hangs them up... you'd like him!" I was told Aoki sensei teaches in Phoenix Arizona. If I wind up that way, I will certainly stop by. I love hard training!
Once we got to the airport I attempted to get a picture of the four of us. This lady's timing was awful. Both times no one was ready. Oh well...
Dan sensei and I bid them farewell and headed back. We ate lunch. During my time there, Dan sensei showed me a couple of T-shirts that Fujiwara shihan had brought with him to sell and help raise money for the organization. He gave me one of each, complimentary. I thanked him profusely. I decided to head to the beach for some personal training. When I was finished, it was time for training at the dojo.
Dan sensei asked if I would teach that night. I told him if he wanted me to, I certainly would. After all, I owed him a lot with all he had done for me that week, it was the least I could do.
I taught some intermediate IdoGeiko and their finer points and how it all related to the fighting. Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy the training, and got a nice workout, body and mind. After I was done teaching, it was sparring time. Dan sensei wanted to make sure that everyone had a chance to spar me. I was more than happy to oblige. Everyone had decent technique. I connected with an ax kick to Triston's head, but I pulled it to avoid injury. Their where good techniques, but the most memorable moment came when I caused Triston's girlfriend to cry.
I actually didn't attack Savanah at all, I just had her rush me. She wasn't breathing though, and despite my best cries of "BREATH!" she continued to hold her breath. This caused her diaphragm to cramp up, which kept her from being ABLE to breath. Then came the tears from the shock...
She was tough till the end though, and once she starts exhaling, she'll be a force to be reckoned with.
After all the training, some of us went to an all-you-can-eat Chinese restaurant and got our fill. Then back to the condo.
Grahm was taking me to the airport early in the morning, and we where going to leave before anyone else was up. So, that night we all said our goodbyes and parted ways.
I began getting ready at 03:30, with almost no sleep to speak of. After my morning exercises grahm and I where ready to go. I just had one last thing to do.
This whole trip Dan sensei, and Susan Sensei had given so much to me, but would not accept anything in return. So I wrote them a thank-you note and pinned 20$ to the refrigerator. It wasn't much, and I didn't have much, but I hoped it would help. After that, Grahm and I left.
I thanked Grahm for getting up so early to help me and then we parted ways at the airport.
My plane landed at 12:00... I had business at 12:30. I went straight from the airport and jumped into my day, after having been up two days. When I finally got some sleep the following day, it wasn't to bad.
The experience I had training in Florida could only be described as perfect. Dan sensei, and Susan Sensei are amazing people who, selflessly gave to me:
°They drove an hour to pick me up at the airport, drove an hour to take me to the camp.
°Put me in a 2-3000$/month luxury condo right on the beach for 5 days.
°Stayed with the owner of the dojo, Dan sensei, and Fujiwara shihan and his wife for the whole time.
°I was treated to many expensive gourmet meals (and a couple all you can eat buffets!).
°Fujiwara shihan brought a couple of different shirts to purchase at 15$ a piece to help the organization - I got both for free.
°I was asked to teach the training for Monday night. I obliged. They said it was great.
°I got into the camp for free, all the students of the dojo had to pay (plus it was a closed camp anyway...).
°I got to see the last of the night-time rocket launches. In person!
°I got in good with Fujiwara shihan, and he said he would introduce me to some more people, and hoped I would fight at his tournament.
°They drove an hour to drop me off at the airport, and then an hour back to where they live.
I kept offering to pay them something, but they said they where just happy to have a guy of my caliber there. I hope they feel like their investment was worth it.
This trip had amazing food, great training, and people who truly represent what the martial arts and karate are all about. I feel like I have made many new friends who I would gladly help out in a heart beat if they asked for it.
Thank you again,
-Nash