Another Empty Chair

[sensei8]

It is with great sadness that I must tell you, my fellow friends in the martial arts, that my Dai-Soke, Yoshinobu Takahashi, Judan, has passed away at the age of 78 years old on September 16, 2010 at 1411 at his home.

Another empty chair sits before me!

This was his second stroke. His first stroke was August 25, 2009; this stroke forced him to retire. Yoshinobu Takahashi is not only my Sensei and my Dai-Soke, but he's my best friend in all of the world. He's been like a dad to me when my mom and my dad divorced when I was very young; now he's gone.

Just a few years ago we lost our Soke, Fuyuhiko Saitou, Judan, at the age of 91 of natural causes. That was extremely sad for everyone in the Shindokan family, it took a lot out of our Dai-Soke for him to lose his Sensei, his best friend. Now for me to lose Yoshinobu, that, for me, is devastating.

My Dai-Soke was never able to return to the Hombu in any capacity, although he's made numerious visits to the place he loved the most...the Hombu and to his students! Each visit, he looked much more stronger than the last visits. Who can say each day is guaranteed to us; we can't!

I'll never forget him, I'll think about him each and everyday, with great fondness and memories.

I love you Dai-Soke...and I always will!!

I bow to you! I thank you for teaching me! I thank you for showing me myself! I thank you for believing in me! I thank you for pushing me beyond myself! I thank you for your gentleness, yet, your firmness, and at times, your strictness! I thank you for showing me that holding on to the "old ways" isn't wrong, even in todays martial arts! I thank you...I thank you...and I miss you...and I love you more than you and/or anyone might ever know!!

OSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[i normally finish my posts with a smile face emoticon, but, there's no emoticon to demonstrate how I feel, except possibly this... !!]

[evergrey]

OSU,

I bow to your Dai-Soke! I know he is proud of you. How could he not be proud of such a good man?

OSU!

[Jeffrey]

I am sorry for your loss Sense8. It sounds like he is not gone for he is very present in you as much as every student he has taught. Great teachers never leave us. Great teachers live on through students such as yourself and others.

Jeff

[KarateGeorge]

I am sorry for your loss Sense8. It sounds like he is not gone for he is very present in you as much as every student he has taught. Great teachers never leave us. Great teachers live on through students such as yourself and others.

Jeff

Well said.

[bushido_man96]

I will keep you and yours in my thoughts and prayers, Bob.

[ninjanurse]

I am sorry for your loss Sense8. It sounds like he is not gone for he is very present in you as much as every student he has taught. Great teachers never leave us. Great teachers live on through students such as yourself and others.

Jeff

Well said.

I agree...well said.

[ps1]

I'm sorry for your loss. Best Wishes

[DWx]

Sorry for your loss, thoughts go to you and every other person touched by your Dai-Soke.