One Day CAN be that Very Day!

Well my story today was one of worth. Some may know and some might not know that I started an art form called Aikido when I was 13 years of age and I have carried on with it and then I stopped as one does get busy or has things that do come up. First started Aikido in Syracuse, N.Y. My mentor I have kept in contact with as he move to Cincinnati and well that is a long story within itself. But I came into a town in Canada and was the first instructor of Aikido at the age of 17. I had had the privilege to learn by some of the most unique Shihans (masters) from Japan. So today I had left off within the morning with the idea that I would head of and do something with this friend of mine which took place later - but then I could see that within this small dojo (school) there was something taking place. Little did I know that there was a Shihan that was about to come in and do a seminar.

I sat there as I know the instructor here and I took a few picture and sat in what you call Seiza - and before you know it here comes in this old master from the West Coast. He was Japanese and before he started the instructor introduce me to him. I know the culture all to well and have taught the art for some 20 years. So....

We talked and he wanted me to come back at 1:00pm, and I didn't wish to put off my other plan so what I did - what I took one of my Bokkens and I called and went over to a very re known Shihan (master) of Kendo. He as well is Japanese and I asked him if he could write a message to this Aikido Shihan. Both men are of the same age near about 70. And the letter was wrote as I told Ken what I wished to say. He smiled and I had not seen Ken in three years. But he knew me all too well as I used to teach here for a period of time as well I have practice at one point within Ken's Kendo Dojo. So...

It all went well, Ken's wife asked me from my telephone number as well as my email and she took me aside and told me that both of these older Japanese gentleman were the best of friends! Coincidence...

I ended up going back to the Seminar and I had the time to talk with this Shihan as he knew all the people that I knew and the intention of the letter with respect and within Japanese was to express my gratitude as well as that I would like to teach a class one day a month. So we shall see - as when I first arrived as when I did in a city called Edmonton it all just comes back to one. I suppose it's like riding a bike and there are things that you never forget. So....

My intention is that there will be another class tomorrow and I hope that I will receive a call or an email which shall allow me to do so. There were more pictures taken but they insisted that I don't take any of the seminar as this is something rare - so that was all fine with me but to sit and talk to the man and the memories and then he asked me why I have not practiced nor taught within two years. I indicated to him why and he just looked at me and said that he or someone shall be back to me. So this was a very decent day to say the least. And yeah I met up with this lady friend and then there after when I arrive home I called my friend Jim, who was busy doing the family laundry and Jim was one of my first students when I was 17 and Jim said, "Isn't that something". Jim was right on the mark as it was...

So it really was a superb day. I don't make things up here and this day was one that really raised the bar for me in many ways.  I won't sit and wait - but this is one of those things that seemingly was a coincidence and there are times when one is well within the flow but this day really was that flow and a superb Saturday to say the least. Aikido has always been a way of my life, although I have not taught in a while the philosophy of it has never left.