Shorin-Bushido Dojo: A Pearson-Ha community.

Please join Shorin-Bushido Dojo and KiShinKai aikido in congratulating Geoff Hill for successfully completing the requirements for sankyu in our aikido curriculum. Geoff completed several hundred locks and throws, performed bokken and Jo katas, and demonstrated a solid understanding of aikido fundamentals. Geoff, from the beginning of his training at our dojo, has been a valued member and is almost always first one to the dojo and first to help with setting up the dojo for class. Every dojo would benefit from having a Geoff in thier ranks. I know that we are!

Today I would like to honor my teacher, Sam Pearson, Sensei on his birthday. Sensei was Soke, Watai-Karate-Jitsu, and Hanshi,10th Dan Shorin-Ryu Karate-do. But mostly he was Sensei. He was the epitome of a martial artist for his entire life. He was all that he was, and nothing that he wasn't. He would tell us grand stories of people that he knew of years gone by, and he would brag, but only on his students. He was the definition of a simply-complex man. He never stopped learning, never stopped training, never stopped helping. He was one of the strongest men I ever knew. He understood perseverance in the face of hardship and often joked about obstacles in his life that he had not yet mastered. He scoffed at being called Master, and revered those that he thought truly were. He could be a dichotomy at times, and I learned that is part of what made him human. He was a man of small stature who was larger than life. who could command a room full of unruly martial artists, and the next moment console a lost child at a tournament. It took me a long time to learn many of the lessons he taught, and I am still working on some of those. But, much of what I learned was not from the martial artist, but rather from the man. Happy Birthday, Sensei!

Happy Fathers Day to all the dad’s in our orbit. Shorin-Bushido is truley grateful for your leadership and council. Mentoring kids in our current environment is challenging, but you have all proven to be up to the task. Have a great day and enjoy your families!

Shorin-Bushido dojo wishes all moms far and wide a Happy Mothers Day. You are the heart and soul of our families!