sensei8

What do I do? No matter how much I want to...I'd decline either invitation because I love my wife unconditionally and my obligations to my wife supersede anything and everything...then I'd find a quiet room away from my wife and scream out in frustration...into a pillow. Besides, remember the look that only a wife can give? Yeah, that one! She'd KILL ME ...yeah...she'd let me go...but...it's that look that would bore right through me...I'd be playing catch up for the rest of my life. Thanks, but NO THANKS!!

Sing it with me.... Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Zaine, Happy Birthday to you....and many more!! Hope you're having a great birthday!!

Now, that's a solid piece of writing!! Concise, and well researched!! It was everything that an article should have when approached as with the MA in mind. SOLID!!

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. http://www.karateforums.com/articleimg/shindokan-shield.jpg Most, if not all, styles of the martial arts have some type of indentifying symbol of one kind or another; the image above is the symbol of Shindokan Saitou-ryu. The Shindokan shield was designed, and authorized, by Soke Fuyuhiko Saitou in 1950. It remains unchanged to this very day. Let us explore said shield as I briefly explain the nomenclature of our identifying symbol. This shield can be found on practically every official Hombu document. From our letterheads to our certificates of rank/title to scrolls to our flags to our banners to our by-laws to the patch that's worn on our gi; it's everywhere. We wear this shield proudly and with no ambiguity whatsoever; it's our badge of honor. The shields round circumference has a four inch diameter. There are three distinct colors within the shield: gold, red and white. There are also four distinctive fields within the shield: the outside gold border, the red three fold tomoe, the white triskelion and the gold kanji. Each color or field has an important meaning to us. These same fields weren't haphazardly thrown together by mistake, nor were they created by our Soke to only please the viewer. No, their meanings serve a solemn purpose because they echo the very life of our Soke; his very martial art journey, poured out onto this shield. The color gold, as found on the outside border, depicts Shindokan as being quite generous and giving, compassionate and loving, sharing its wisdom and knowledge with others unselfishly and without any hesitation; what is ours is freely yours. The color gold is associated with higher ideals, wisdom, understanding and enlightenment. It inspires knowledge, spirituality and a deep understanding of the self and the soul within everything that's Shindokan. The color red, as found just on the inside of the outer border, depicts Shindokan as giving fiery heat and warmth, therefore the life that it brings; as the red-hot heat of the Sun. Beyond those life giving properties, the color red symbolizes the courage within our hearts and the confidence within our movements; capitulated because of our driven energy, speed, strength, danger and passion for Shindokan. The color white, as found in the direct center, depicts the purity of Shindokan; untainted by the immoral ideologies. In the color white, there is a new birth, or beginning of a life cycle that's yearning breathlessly and unadulterated towards that which is unknown, yet hoped for and expected. In the color white, there is an equal balance, representing both the positive and negative aspects that constantly embrace and surround us all; how we balance them is important. Its basic feature of equality, implying fairness, impartiality, neutrality and independence, is what aides the binding forces of Shindokan. The shield's round circumference and four inch diameter has no tremendously significant meaning as to its given size and shape. The roundness is the same shape of the Tinbe (shield) we use while practicing our brand of kobudo (Old Martial Way). Its diameter has no direct correlation with the size of the human heart. However, the four inch diameter is sufficient enough to shield the heart and, while the human heart's location isn't directly under the shield per where it lies on one's gi top, its intended meaning should be easy enough to understand. The outside gold border symbolizes the fire that burns extremely bright, yet unbroken and unquenchable, within each of our hearts. This fire defends the three fold tomoe which in turn supports Shindokan. The border defends the virtue of Shindokan without any pause or reservation because it's within the border to defend Shindokan against all adversaries at any and all costs; absolute and without any contestation. The red three fold tomoe constantly circles to protect and serve Shindokan. The comma shaped crest is recognized as the Hidari Gomon, the traditional symbol of Okinawa. The varied explanations surrounding the tomoe are not only rich in its history, but also in its wealth of opinions. Many Okinawan karate dojos have incorporated its use into the symbols they use to represent their particular style of Okinawan karate-do. When a group of Okinawa's loyal to King Sho Nei staged a rebellion against the Japanese and were defeated, they were sentenced to death. Typical of the cruelty of the Satsuma samurai this was to be no quick execution. There would be no sense of dignity offered to the Okinawa's who failed in their attempt to restore their king. Instead, death would come painfully: being boiled alive. The bodies floating in the scalding water are captured in the swirling commas of the Hidari Gomon, and has come to depict the courage and tenacity of those individuals who took action against injustice and faced the consequences with dignity. The white triskelion is often times mistakenly confused as the Okinawan shield, which is used by most Okinawan karate styles; it represents itself to be the "rope in offering." In actuality, what's taken to be the Okinawan shield, in the color white, the triskelion between the three fold tomoe, that's the three "commas." This is the true Okinawan shield; in that, the red portion is nothing more than background. Cleverly disguised, some proponents believe it to be two shields in one. The gold kanji reads, from top to bottom, Shindokan. "Shin" means "heart," "do" means "way" and "kan" means "house". Literally, it translaes to "The House of the Heart Way." Having the kanji placed dominantly center, and placed over both the three fold tomoe as well as the triskelion, wasn't to overshadow the totality of the symbol, but rather, it was to place it respectfully in its deserved place. Shindokan is the father, while its practitioners are its devoted and loyal children. Hopefully, you've enjoyed a brief explanation about the Shindokan shield as much as I've enjoyed sharing it with you. It's hard at times for most people, including martial artists, to understand each and every what, where, when, why and how of a symbol's design. For us Shindokanists, it becomes clear when one knows the creator of each and everything that is Shindokan. Note I hereby certify that I am duly authorized, and thereafter protected by Shindokan by-laws, as Kaicho of the Shindokan Hombu, to permit both the usage of its proprietary image as well this article herein to be used in its complete totality; as it's my given right.

Solid post!!

I must FIRST learn what goes where and when and how and why and so on and so forth; solo training, the core of the kata because that's how it's presented to most students...the 'A' before the 'B' or the '1' before the '2'. Then, the supplemental training begins when I've a partner to execute live training so I can NOW see the where and when and how and why and so on and so forth. Learn the steps first! Then, supplement that knowledge with someone who can throw the monkey wrench into the entire kata. Both posts here are solid and are actually discussing two different cars that are a part of the same train. At its primary level, kata serves simply as a catalog of techniques and as a method of personal improvement/perfection. As a catalog of techniques, any time individual kata practice is performed, whether the student is first learning a kata or doing it for the 1000th time, it is a training method to remind both the body (muscle memory) and mind (movement concepts) how individual techniques are performed. As part of personal improvement, we do kata over and over and over again, each time attempting to concentrate on some minutiae here and there the work on and hone. Bob's post regards a car that's a bit sooner in the train, near the front. When learning a kata, whether a student is taught movements first and then bunkai or vice versa, the student must understand the basic movements of each waza in the kata (from a physical, muscle memory standpoint, not necessarily intellectual understanding of bunkai) before being able to partner up. DaveB's post regards a car that's only a bit later in the train, perhaps only a car or two after Bob's. Once the basic movements of each waza in a kata are understood from a physical standpoint, partner work is essential to understanding what we're actually doing with the moves in a kata. This is a great point and I think goes well with the two posts quoted above. Originally, when Tii was first developed, there were no kata. Training included the study, learning, and development of movements and techniques using "shadow boxing", targets, or training partners (what we would call kihon), as well as fighting scenarios and live opponents where they would apply the techniques within the context of "matches" (what we would call kumite). There was a lot more to Tii than just the "kihon" and "kumite" aspects, but they provide insight into how the pre-founders of karate trained and developed their art. The first vestiges of "kata" appeared within Okinawan folk dances, which the Tii players would learn during their training as both a cultural preservation and a method to "hide" the techniques as weapons and fighting methods became outlawed. These Tii waza didn't develop into full blown kata until after the infusion of Chinese martial arts with the Okinawans' indigenous Tii (becoming Tode). Solid post!!

Common problems? Holding their breath!!

Seasons... Sure, especially for kids. Summer and sports!! Some parents don't allow their kids to compete during school; only during the summer. In that, they must earn the right with parents to compete. Have bad school grades...no competitions. Sports are as seasonal as MA competitions. Their chosen sport will cause MA competitions to take the backseat...each and every year. With me, baseball, when I was a kid was paramount. Karate took the backseat. Why? It was baseball season and not Karate season.

You're on vacation... While you're sitting at pool side, soaking up the rays, and downing your favorite beverage, a shadow casts over you...you open your eyes, and who stands right before you... The Sensei's Sensei!! You acknowledge him/her! Then he/she invites you to tomorrow's seminar, that he/she's hosting in your hotel or nearby local dojo. What do you do? If you decide to go, how do you go? How do you tell your spouse/girl boy friend? Or do you lie, so you can go? OR... Same scenario, but this time it's not your Sensei's Sensei, it's... One of your most MA hero...EVER!! Same questions apply.

Learning isn't a mistake, no matter the venue!! Imho!!

Solid post!!

Can you give me an example? Do you drill the ground techniques you learn in the kata and use them in sparring too? And you just hit the nail on the head. It may be in the kata, but it must be drilled with a partner and tried while sparring otherwise you won't get it. As mentioned on other posts, kata is great but only part of your training. If it's ground game you seek it's ground game you must train in my opinion! Imho, Resistive training is the only way to effectively train any Kata, any segment. Why? A cooperative training partner who "allows" techniques to work, is doing a disservice to both training partners. False security needs, imho, to be eliminated across the board; being honest with oneself first, then being honest with your training partner is a very close second.

Great post !!! Yes...solid post!! For any learning venue, effective feedback is essential at every corner. Without effective feedback, effective MA is nothing more than an illusion. Imho!! Totally agree, but what then is your opinion if there is feedback through video testing? I'm fine with that because Master Allen Tackett of the Seido Karate under Toma Sensei has tested up to Kudan via that format; not all ranks, mind you, but his Nanadan to Kudan have been done that way. Toma Sensei's in Okinawa and Master Tackett is in Bakersfield, CA; works for them, and Master Tackett is a very solid MAist, through and through!!

Who else could've done the voice for the Genie in 'Aladdin'? My wife had always wanted to see Robin Williams and Jim Carrey perform together; that would've been hilarious!! RIP Robin!!

Welcome to KF; glad that you're here!! Yes, there's a training log here... http://www.karateforums.com/the-martial-artists-training-log-vt30246.html

devil dog, What you've posted sounds like your Hombu is slowly getting their act together. Time is what anything needs to grow and to strengthen for their student body to improve across the board. Concerning Soke type's. I HATE them, and this is because of San Dai-Soke...I don't trust them! Hate is such a strong word, but in this regard, it's appropriate. Soke and Dai-Soke were trusted and excellent overseer's that had an unmatched zeal about them for the student body. Because of San Dai-Soke, and his acts of betrayal, Soke types have been exercised out of anything and everything Shindokan across the board, and they've been exercised out of our entire By-Laws, and our Hombu will NEVER have another Soke type, well, I surely hope so!! How Soke's were in our Hombu of yesteryear, Soke's OWNED EVERYTHING concerning Shindokan. They owned the building, the inventory, everything inside of the building, the By-Laws/Scrolls/ETC, the brand, the style...YOU NAME IT, SOKE types OWNED EVERYTHING!! If they own everything concerning Shindokan, then it's to be expected that they can do with what they own anyway they feel like. Want to close the Hombu? Then they can close the Hombu. Want to close Shindokan? Then close Shindokan. What to more the Hombu wherever? Then move the Hombu wherever. However, Soke types can't sell what the student knows already in and out about Shindokan. I spit on San Dai-Soke; on his name and everything about him!! Harsh? Not from what I've seen. What is your Hombu doing concerning the entire student body??

Great post !!! Yes...solid post!! For any learning venue, effective feedback is essential at every corner. Without effective feedback, effective MA is nothing more than an illusion. Imho!!

Solid post!!

Yes, as Luther unleashed has said...welcome to KF; glad you're here!! Visit your doctor and see what he/she has to say; the advise of a doctor professional is a billion times better than anything I could ever advice you on this. The back is too important for me to offer any advice, except that I believe that it would best serve you best if you visit a doctor ASAP. To many people have had their back worsen by listening to well intended family and friends and those in passing.

Thank you for your kind words; I'm glad you liked the article. That's why I did what I did...supplement my income. I was solid financially in the dojo, and having a lot of students helps that reality. That reality helped me push myself to venture into the retail business. I failed...A LOT...put those many failures helped me to succeed. However, taking business courses helped to. Plus, I've some students that are quite successful with their own businesses, and I learned something along time ago...listen to those who know, and shut-up when you don't!

Your very welcome; I'm glad that you enjoyed the article. That small display is how a lot of schools of the MA have started their MA supply store. I too, didn't think I had much space, but after surveying the possibilities after having discussed my interests and with the space I had available to work with, I finally just dove in, and I'm glad that I did. If the space is just not doable, then that's another thing and can't be ignored. And moving to another location isn't always the answer. Even then, most dojo's and the like want nothing to do with having a retail space, this I respect and this I admire. It's a personal choice, imho.

Solid post!! Thank you for your kind words about my article. I do, shamelessly, treat my dojo as a business because it is, after all, a business. I do like what you've said about the credit card billing companies in general. Setting up every possible payment transaction before the doors are open is pretty important. Can't expect all customers to pay cash, nor can one not accept checks; being a proponent of these mindsets will not increase the bottom line. This is why, setting up checks/credit card verifications, and the means of accepting both credit cards and checks is so important. Giving customers various ways of accepting payments will attract new customers and a way to keep current customers from looking somewhere else!! Many of the big box giants that are closed now are closed because e-commerce is more accessible to the customer...right inside of their homes while sitting on their favorite recliner.

Great article across the board; I thank you for it. Shugyo has a special place in my heart because since day one, almost 50 years ago, I've had Shugyo in my MA life, in and out!! Our Dai-Soke, Takahashi Sensei, defined Shugyo to mean this... "SUCK IT UP!!" Don't complain, don't whine, don't murmur, don't try to short-cut it, and certainly, don't quit!! "...And if you do, I'll make sure that you'll never want to cry about it in the future. Karate-do is SUPPOSE to be hard; so, SUCK IT UP!!" ~ Dai-Soke Again, my eyes welled up while reading it because your article brought many emotions back to the surface. Emotions that I've tried to harness in a positive manner, but, because of your great article, I found myself emotionally challenged. I miss my Sensei, I miss my MA dad, I miss my mentor, I miss his smile, and most of all, I miss my friend!! This is a good thing because his legacy lives on inside of my heart. Thank you for your article; it means the world to me, and these aren't just idle words...I mean them with all of my heart and soul.

This post was originally published as an article in a dedicated KarateForums.com Articles section, which is no longer online. After the section was closed, this article was most to the most appropriate forum in our community. Not every school of the martial arts provides retail sales for both their students as well as the general public. I see nothing wrong with having or not having one. It is often dependent on financial costs and/or personal preference. However, adding a retail store to one's own school requires a lot of planning and tweaking, as well as some luck and paying attention to the smallest details. At first, I had nothing to offer my students in the form of martial arts supplies. My dojo was there, in my humble opinion, to provide Shindokan and nothing more. Then, in 1982, I started to offer my students martial arts supplies exclusively from Century Martial Arts Supply. However, they had to select what they wanted out of the most current Century Martial Arts Supply catalog that I kept right next to the class sign-in sheet, pay for the item(s) in full before said item(s) were ordered, and when their order arrived, I'd give them those items whenever I saw them at their next class. In 1985, I turned the lobby into a full blown retail store, but I added the retail space in such a way so that neither "spaces" dominated over another. Firstly, one space was for students and/or parents and/or visitors to gather before and after each class. Secondly, another space was for the retail store. Finally, another space was for the dojo. I had to do some minor remodeling in order to accommodate all three spaces without one dominating, but I had to achieve all of that within the same given area. The tricky part was maintaining that same consistent atmosphere in spaces that are so proximate to one another. In time, I had martial arts supplies in abundance for every martial arts enthusiast, both students and/or the general public alike. My inventory was full to the max. If it was martial arts related, I tried my best to carry it within my inventory. However, it took me just over a year to fine tune into a working on-demand inventory that drove the bottom line respectfully and positively. I had to consider the demographics within my immediate area, however, seeing that I was smack in the middle of Southern California's San Fernando Valley, my dojo was located at the corner of Sherman Way and White Oak, so in that my demographics really reached into every compass point of the valley. In this article, I want to talk about the small things that I believe most dojo based retail stores overlook for one reason or another, not just of the martial arts genre, but things in general. These small things aren't only forgotten in the small box retailers, but they are also forgotten in the big box retailers. Things that shouldn't be overlooked, and, if ignored all together, those things will start affecting ones bottom line, whereas in business, red and black are the only colors that matter. You've only one chance to make that lasting impression, so make it a good one!! Pricing Everything must have a price. EVERYTHING. Each item must be priced either on that item or in a planogrammed area that plainly denotes a price. Nothing frustrates the consumer more than not knowing the price up front. Don't let your customer ask you and, if they do ask you, be nice. Police your out-front inventory to spot where a price tag has been forgotten or has fallen off. Price changes must be addressed immediately. If an item has a price increase, and the signage denotes the old price, by law, that price must be honored. When receiving inventory, adjust your on-hand figures, put price labels upon them, and then get them out onto the sales floor immediately. Discounts If there's a discounted item, then mark the discount on that item. Whether it's been discounted by a percentage or if it's been discounted by its new low price, you want to attract consumers to it. I never used a discounted bin or shelf because I didn't want them to miss the other related item(s) found in their normal places. Don't let your imagination get away from you when doing discounts because if you discount a great deal of your inventory, then you've only a minimum of an idea as to what you're doing concerning inventory replenishing/ordering procedure(s). If items are not moving, discount them reasonably so that you receive some sort of profit, if at all possible. Breaking even is a far sight better than losing the house. Discounts will be generated by your customers whenever they start to lose and/or have already lost valued interest in any said item(s). In order to minimize discounts as well as to maximize profits across the board, watch your P&L (profit and loss) statements closely. Signage Brand management is everything here. Put your brand everywhere, but don't drown an area to the point that the consumers can't see the trees because of the forest. Your name on the most minuscule item(s) will help in getting your name out in the public eye. Place your brand on as many of your "freebies" as you can, like pencils, small calendars, business cards and soda can holders, to name just a few. Walk around a major big box one day to see just how they do their brand management; their logo is tastefully everywhere. As far as an outside sign is concerned, you don't need a gigantic outside sign, just one that's an attention getter, yet easy for the public to remember. Also, your outside sign needs to meet city ordinances while at the same time making it easy for the public to find amongst the sea of signs. Security For high priced items, one needs to keep these display types under lock and key so they don't walk away. In general, your entire inventory should be locked up as well. If you can afford it, get security tags for everything in your inventory, or at least for your high priced items. Shoplifting will happen, and you need to be proactive in keeping the thieves away. The biggest thing you can do to deter shoplifting is to not stay behind the counter. Offer assistance, but don't be intrusive while they're shopping. Eliminate all blind spots by using big spot mirrors in key places or, at least, don't put any tempting inventory in harder to monitor areas. Instead, put a plant, a decorative vase or a dressed up mannequin in those trouble spots. Lighting A well lit store, in and out, is attractive to everyone; staff/you and the general public, and not so attractive to a thief, because they don't like to be noticed. When a light bulb goes out, replace it immediately. Don't blind them with lights so bright that their retinas are burned out. Experiment with different light hues throughout the sales floor to attract customers to any given area. However, the main overhead lights probably need to remain white florescent bulbs. Appearance Everything in a place, and a place for everything. Dust. Tidy up shelves. Re-merchandise. Sweep it, vacuum it, mop it and/or wipe it up. Clean the bathroom(s), besides, thieves/burglars/rapists have been known to hide in the bathroom(s). Clean the windows. Clean glass counter tops/sides. Pick up any and all trash immediately. Empty all trash containers. Place all purchases into shopping bags as the sale is rung up on your cash register. Clean window glass fronts as well as the front door. Sweep outside. Straighten up behind the counter. Everything I have mentioned in this paragraph should be done frequently. Keeping your store neat and in order takes a lot of elbow grease, but the reward will shine through. If one doesn't tend to the store's appearance, then the dojo will suffer. A dirty and disgusting retail store will give the overall impression that areas beyond the store are more than likely just as awful. Impulse Buying Impulse buying helps to drive the bottom line. Children aren't the only ones that are drawn to these impulse areas; adults are impulse buyers as well. Anything that's small and will fit comfortably on the counter, place it there and rotate what's going to be there often. Don't bury the counter for many obvious reasons. Your customers will buy things a lot of the time on impulse, not just what's on the counter. Try putting impulse item(s) on the sales floor. Remove empty impulse strip(s) immediately until you're able to replenish them, in fact, as the impulse strip(s) starts to thin out, consolidate them onto other strips or place them on the counter. Employees Training A trained employee is an educated employee. Not all of your staff has to know anything about the martial arts, but they need to know about everything within your store. Not every customer that enters your door is a martial artist because many times, items are purchased for gifts to someone they know that is a martial artist. Those same types of customers that might only have a minimum idea of what they want, and that'll be time to suggest items to them for their consideration. They might only be able to describe what it is that they have seen on TV or a magazine advertisement. Give your staff thorough training when they're hired and when new item(s) arrive. Of course, customer service is vital. So much so, that it deserves its own section. Customer Service This simple idea is sorely missing across the U.S.A. This concept is missing from the small box all the way to the big box. Rudeness is worn like a badge of honor, all the way from the boss to the lowest level of employee. The customer doesn't need the business, but every business needs customers. When a business treats a customer ungratefully, it is appalling. Answer the Phone This means answer the phone in three rings. Don't let the phone customer wait on hold long, and don't let the customer that's shopping wait on you while you're on the phone; it's a delicate balance. Be proactive when working the phone because the goal of the phone call is to get the customer from their home to your store, and this starts with great customer service. Don't Make Promises You Can't/Won't Keep Don't lie to any customer; there's no reason to. Credibility is paramount in customer service; therefore, it shouldn't be taken lightly at anytime. If there's a problem that's beyond your control, like with a shipper, simply explain that to your customer, and then reassure that customer that their desired item(s) will be available to them and on what date/time. Follow up by calling them when the item(s) arrive. Listen to Your Customers Don't pretend that you're listening, either; that'll backfire quickly. Keep sincere eye contact with the customer. Listen, and then summarize what you've been told so that the customer knows that you're listening, and then resolve their need. I'm not saying to give the customer whatever they want because the customer isn't always right; this too is a difficult thing to balance. Deal with Complaints in the Speediest Manner Don't fall into one of the biggest traps laid out by the shrewdest of customers; arguing. Arguing to the point where the artery in the side of your neck is bulging isn't helpful and/or healthy for all concerned. Once you understand the customers' complaint, solve it as quickly as possible. It shouldn't take more than a few days at the most to resolve the complaint(s) depending on the severity of the situation. Be Helpful Even if There's No Profit Once, I replaced the connecting cords of a nunchaku. The customer asked me what he owed, and I informed him that he didn't owe me anything. He was pleasantly surprised and thankful all at the same time. Did the cord cost me? Sure it did, but with that simple gesture, I earned him as a loyal customer and then some; he recommended me to his fellow martial artists, which led to more business. Train Staff to Be Nice Across the Board Being nice doesn't cost anything and it's required of your staff if they want to still be employed. It's required of you if you still want to have a viable business. Your customers' leading complaint will be your staff not being nice and you'll have to deal with that complaint immediately once all of the facts are available. Blatant rudeness might require immediate firing of said employee(s). Constantly observe your employee's interactions with customers and the like, and then reward them, and that might just be you acknowledging their great customer service. However, you might observe an employee not being nice with a customer, and that might require counseling/retraining or showing them the door Take the Extra Step It drives me absolutely crazy when I go into a store and I ask for some assistance to find something only to be told, "it's over there somewhere" while pointing here and there. Get off the chair, and actively show the customer exactly where the item can be found. Then offer any help needed, and then thank the customer. "That isn't my department" is bad customer service. So is, "Well, do you see that thing over there by the stuffed animal display - well, that's not it - but turn right there and go about half way down, and then look down around your knees, well, that's where they are." Give Something Away Give coupons, give advice on how to put something together, open the door for the customer, help carry their purchases to their car for them, greet them and thank them genuinely, and/or just give them something. It doesn't have to be a large something, but at least show your appreciation for them shopping at your store. I know of an auto parts store that gives away a free tube of hand cleaner with every purchase. In closing, whether you are thinking about opening a martial arts retail store or not or you've already started one; I hope that I've been of some small help in pointing out some of the things that are needlessly overlooked. After all, it's the little things that can make or break any business. Good luck!

I'm saddened by his loss; he'll be missed greatly. My prayers go out to his family and friends!! I too, admired him in ways that I'll never truly understand, but appreciate!! His humor will be missed and will be hard to replace!!