In June of 2018 I attended National Convention in Lincoln Nebraska, the last National Convention with my Teacher’s Teacher, Shihan John Roseberry, a direct student of Seikichi Toguchi.
During this convention I tested for Nidan, while my practice had never ceased it had been twenty years since my Shodan Test with his Senior Student, my Teacher, Michael Dascenzo, my once and forever Sensei, a Father figure like no other.
While my practice had continued during this time, even running a Dojo of my own outside of the Organization, whilst training under the likes of Kris Wilder (on a couple of occasions), Gene Villa in the Higaonna lineage, and directly under Teruo Chinen, I found my muscle memory picking up on drills I had not done in twenty years, along with some Kata, right where they left off… With the help of Douglas Miles Sensei, who was my partner throughout the test.
I am thankful to Miles Sensei for his guidance in helping jog those memories and even more thankful to Shihan for passing me even though I felt I could have done better.
I look at the certificate and realize it was the last signed by Shihan, while wishing my Teacher could have been there, I know my other Teacher, Charles Todd Sensei was proud.
Charles Todd Sensei was my Sensei when I moved to Spokane, the Senior Student of Michael Dascenzo, an older brother on the floor and one willing to step in as Teacher when Dascenzo Sensei was not available, as now.
I remember, at this convention, Shihan had ran us into the ground and continued training with these jumping jacks combined with knee strikes.
I felt like I was going to pass out at a certain point, but told myself, very loudly, ‘you can do this, you got this,’ and kept going.
Later I was paired with a young Brown Belt during Kiso Kumite. I showed him how to take someone down with the sit throw and eye gouge, very gently, and had him do it on me full speed.
The kid ended up doing superb each time. Seeing him succeed was the highlight of my life in that moment.
Brad Seibler Sensei, I will not forget, took it upon himself to come up and give me pointers on Seipai, my favorite Kata.
‘You need to go through like this in order to build momentum,’ he said,’and that will lead through to this.’
It made sense to me and showed me where I was missing some information, not that my Teacher had left it out, but that I had neglected it.
Seibler Sensei also made a point to show me where I was lacking in throws and locks with Rod Sensei.
All of those lessons have stuck and changed my perspective.
Recently I attended a Seminar by Kris Wilder at the Dojo of Gene Villa, two people that have my utmost respect, and many of these memories were drudged but by Wilder Sensei.
Yet when Wilder Sensei talked about how lucky each Student was to have a Dojo, to have a Sensei willing to put I. Their life for their Student’s spare time, Shihan came to mind… The answers are on the floor.
I will never be Shihan Roseberry, likely never be a ‘high ranking Karateka,’ but I will always have these lessons to impart.
That is enough.
