We drove back from Dickinson this
morning, put the top down in Sturgis and drove down US 385 to Custer,
through Deadwood... and caught the end of Cool Deadwood Nights car
show. Great fun pulling up next to a great looking hotrod. The day was perfect for being topless, partly cloudy sky and
perfect temperature. We really enjoyed the wind through our hair.
We were in Dickinson for a judo
seminar, a promotion exam and party.
I think about judo most of the time
when I am not engaged in something else and every night before I go
to sleep. This seminar gave me an opportunity to stretch my judo
legs a bit and see if what I had been thinking about was anchored in
reality or drifting in fantasy. And to test my physical condition.
My recent judo research has been about
the Gokyo no Waza (a matrix of judo techniques) as a teaching
syllabus. I learned of this from Steven Cunningham sensei initially
and continued to develop it in the class room/mat at NDSU/Red River
Judo (for about 20 years). With the retirement of Steven Cunningham
from judo I am one of only a couple of people in the world who is
researching/using the Gokyo no Waza as a training syllabus.
So this weekend I had an opportunity to
present some of what I have been thinking about. We did 14
techniques (of 40) in 2 ½ hours, which as it turned out, was not
rushing things nor being slow either. The students varied in
experience, from green belts with a year of experience to black belts
with 20 plus years of experience. It was a very satisfying seminar,
the beginners were challenged and successful, at the same time
appealing to the curiosity of the most advanced students.
Jeff Ficek, one of the head sensei for
the Dickinson, Roughrider Judo Club was taking direction from my wife
Carol sitting on the sidelines, trying her best to make sure I wasn't
getting too tired. This was my first judo outing since surgery,
radiation and chemotherapy and Carol didn't want me to over do it. I
pushed a little bit, but the schedule and with my wife's vigilance,
the pace was just perfect. I got a bit of a sweat and my leg muscles
were plenty sore the next morning – I felt like I got a great
workout. Carol said I was in my element.
We did a promotion exam in the morning
which required me to sit down for 30 minutes. In the afternoon I
taught 5 techniques, then we did another part of the promotion exam,
and then I taught four more techniques.
Congratulations to “Pineapple” Dave
on promotion to nikyu (2nd brown belt), Steve on promotion
to ikkyu (1st brown belt) and Ryan on promotion to shodan
(1st degree black belt).
Special thanks to uke (the person who
gets thrown) Jeremy Magelky for taking hundreds of falls, you make me
look great, man!!!! It was great practicing with you again! Also
great to see David, Erik, Jeremy, Clint and Vini from the Fargo Dojo,
and Steve from the Bismark Dojo. What a wonderful day.
The social was at Jeff and Ruth Ficek's
home. Great food as always, handmade by loving hands. Great
company. The hospitality was fabulous. Feeling much love.
Many thanks to all who made the day possible, you are the best.
Thanks Mark Larson sensei for the glass of sake through David Scott.
Love to all,
Van
