a friend/mentor/colleague finally awarded his black belt

[Nidan Melbourne]

A colleague of mine at my dojo who was a 1st kyu for many years (close to 10 years from memory), has had to cease his martial arts training forever which is devastating news to hear due to his eyes and having had 16 surgeries on them (16 on each eye = 32 total) finally was awarded his Black Belt.

He was unable to grade for many years due to his eye problems, but our sensei had decided at our breakup this year (it was last wednesday - it is a Monday here currently in Melbourne) to award him his black belt.

All of us senior students in the advanced class or had trained with him knew that he was deserving of being awarded that rank.

He was rightly sad to say goodbye to karate and also to say goodbye to us. But we all were starting to get teary also to farewell him. Yet we reminded him that he is always welcome to come visit us and also to teach and share your wisdom to other students.

[sensei8]

A very moving story, I thank you for sharing it!!

Congrats to him for being awarded Shodan!! Well deserved!! I'm sad for him that he has to say goodbye to the MA. But perhaps, it's more of a, I'll see you soon!!

I bow to him, now and always!! I bow to you and your dojo for being by him all these years through all of his trials and tribulations, and I'm sure that he held a special place in his heart for all of you.

[Zaine]

Wow, great story. It's awesome when a student who is as loyal as your friend gets to see how loyal the school is to him.

[Nidan Melbourne]

A very moving story, I thank you for sharing it!!

Congrats to him for being awarded Shodan!! Well deserved!! I'm sad for him that he has to say goodbye to the MA. But perhaps, it's more of a, I'll see you soon!!

I bow to him, now and always!! I bow to you and your dojo for being by him all these years through all of his trials and tribulations, and I'm sure that he held a special place in his heart for all of you.

Unfortunately not to full shodan. Everyone at my schools (including a couple of schools I train at because I am a good friend of the head instructors) get a shodan-ho before being promoted to shodan. That includes our adults.

But he was told if he wishes to teach and work on his karate he is welcome to and may be promoted as a teacher. So my sensei would create another pathway for him.

[sensei8]

A very moving story, I thank you for sharing it!!

Congrats to him for being awarded Shodan!! Well deserved!! I'm sad for him that he has to say goodbye to the MA. But perhaps, it's more of a, I'll see you soon!!

I bow to him, now and always!! I bow to you and your dojo for being by him all these years through all of his trials and tribulations, and I'm sure that he held a special place in his heart for all of you.

Unfortunately not to full shodan. Everyone at my schools (including a couple of schools I train at because I am a good friend of the head instructors) get a shodan-ho before being promoted to shodan. That includes our adults.

But he was told if he wishes to teach and work on his karate he is welcome to and may be promoted as a teacher. So my sensei would create another pathway for him.

Still, Shodan-ho deserves my respect, and for what he's endured, and for what he's about to endure in his life, he's got it wholeheartedly from me.

The pathway is just waiting for him to accept.

[Patrick]

Thank you for sharing this with us, Nidan Melbourne.

Patrick

[Nidan Melbourne]

He came in to teach the adults class (our 'beginners' class) and everyone was glad to see him for it.

He was all teary eyed for the warm welcome back to help out