Converting a Friend

[scottnshelly]

I’ve been friends with Frank since I moved to this town in second grade. We spent every day during the summers together building forts and shooting BB guns. He knew that I was in Karate, but never was too interested.

We grew apart during high school. Then, he came to work at the same place as me, and I trained him to work with me in my department. We instantly became close friends again, catching up on old times. One day he came across a katana, and instantly became interested in learning to cut things with it.

Tragedy struck in early March. He dropped a tv on his stomach while helping someone move. The fall caused his kidneys to shut down and his stomach muscles to start deteriorating. After a week of lying around hoping to get better, he finally went to the doctor. He was 48 hours from death, is what the doctor said. Unhealthy living was the primary cause of all of the problems. He never ate anything but fast food and Chinese food, stayed up all hours of the night and never elevated his heart rate.

I’m glad to report that he’s doing much better now and will be back to work on 4/18/05. He told me that while he had all that time to sit and think while he was in the hospital, he decided he wants to start taking Martial Arts. He knows that it will help him get and stay healthy. I’m going to take him to a local tournament in Kingston, OK next weekend (4/23/05) so he can see what it’s all about.

I’m really excited to introduce him to – what I hope to be – a long Martial Arts career. The only thing that I’m concerned about is a lot has changed since I’ve gone to any schools around here. All of the Instructor’s from my day have closed down and been replaced. I don’t know anything about these new guys, so I don’t know who to give my endorsement to. Maybe we’ll get a chance to meet some new Instructor’s at this tournament.

Don’t tell him, but I’m just as excited to go as him, because it’s been 4 or more years since I’ve been to one. I miss my old friends, mentors, peers, students, protégés and everyone else.

Anyway, I am just really excited to convert a long time friend to my lifestyle and I guess I wanted to share it will all of you. Thanks for reading this long and uneventful story.

[ncole_91]

Were is the tournament in Kingston, and when? sorry kind of off topic (can you give me some info on it, i would like ot watch it)

Hopefully your friend will like Martial Arts and you can train together.

[scottnshelly]

Were is the tournament in Kingston, and when? sorry kind of off topic (can you give me some info on it, i would like ot watch it)

Hopefully your friend will like Martial Arts and you can train together.

That's a mighty long commute from Canada to Oklahoma. If you can make it to Kingston, you'll make it to the tournament. There's only a couple buildings in the whole town. They usually put up flyers or balloons. Honestly, i don't even know the address, i'm just going to drive until i see a couple cars parked in the same parking lot.

[ncole_91]

i am guessing your not talking about Kingston, Onatrio lol

[scottnshelly]

i am guessing your not talking about Kingston, Onatrio lol

No, it's a small town on the border of Oklahoma and Texas, on the Oklahoma side. In other words, it's in America. But you're still welcome to come.

http://maps.yahoo.com/dd_result?ed=xTowJeV.wimQQVd6MsEKU7USFw--&csz=kingston%2C+ontario&country=ca&tcsz=kingston%2C+oklahoma&tcountry=us

Starting from: Kingston, ON

Arriving at: Kingston, OK

Distance: 1517.7 miles Approximate Travel Time: 23 hours 20 mins

[Ben Martin]

i am guessing your not talking about Kingston, Onatrio lol

or Kingston, London;)

[aefibird]

Enjoy the tourney! I hope that your friend likes it too.

[ncole_91]

Lol, enjoy the tournament, i dont think i am going to come anymore lol.

[Pacificshore]

Scott:

It's a good thing that your childhood friend has come to the decision to take up the journey into martial arts. Although it may have been long overdue(biased opinion ). At any rate, at least he has the bug, so to speak, to get started. Too bad that there have been many changes in the martial arts in your area, and many of those former instructors were lost to time. Seeing how you have the experience with you, I'm sure you will be able to weed out what mayturn out to be a belt factory. On the other hand, your friend will also have his opinions on what he would like out of his training besides staying physically healthy. So between the two of you, he may be able to find an art that suits him just fine