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[sensei8]

Today's my 67th birthday. 

October 18, 1964. On that date, this scrawny little kid walked into a dojo, not sure of what to expect or if he'd even stay past that initial shock of experiencing a dojo for the very first time. Whether it was fortitude or just dumb luck or a lot of many other things, that date ended up changing my life, and for the best.

That was 60 years ago, today.

Many things have transpired over those 6 decades, and I wouldn't change a thing, ever since I stepped on the floor to learn and train for what ended up being for my entire life. Only by the Grace of God, I'm still on the floor, one way or another. My training/learning and my walking in that dojo in Canoga Park, in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California, on my 7th birthday, was not an accident, for I believe that it was, in many ways, not an accident, but it was meant to be. Thank you, mom for that birthday present.

That day, and whatever happened after that day, started me on my MA journey in Shindokan. A journey that sculpted me to who and what I am as both a person and as a seriously dedicated MAist and instructor that always put his Student Body before anyone and/or anything else.

I'd be at amiss if I didn't thank those who helped me and mentored me and guided me and kicked-my-butt whenever I needed it, which was often...

I thank God for his grace and mercy. and forgiveness in my life.

I thank both our Soke, Fuyuhiko Saitou, founder of Shindokan Saitou-ryu, and Yoshinobu Takahashi, Dai-Soke and my Sensei, whom without their feverous guidance and love and the often-well-placed kick where the sun doesn't shine. Their teachings in and out of the dojo are priceless and I've never taken them lightly. I love them and will never forget them for helping me and being my surrogate dads.

I also want to thank Greg Forsythe, Ben Stevenson, Giichi Tanaka, and Yoshikazu Tanaka who were my dearest friends and dojo mates for life!! Our band formed the Weekend Warriors who traveled all up and down Southern California entering as many Open Karate Tournaments as possible, with our parent's permissions, of course, and against the wishes of both our Soke and Dai-Soke, where we formed a pretty effective group across the board. We were inseparable in and out of the dojo, and the dojo is where we found ourselves in more hot water with both of our Soke and even more so with our Dai-Soke. I will miss them forever!!

I thank every single student that I've ever had the distinguished honor and privilege to share the floor with. Their dedication to the floor, and everything that happens on the floor, where their training was unswervingly recognized and never forgotten each and every day. Without my students in my life, I'd have no reasons to darken any MA floor whatsoever. My students mean everything to me!!

I thank my wife, Linda, and our children, Nathan and Krystal for their unshakable support and faithful love. 

Lastly, I want to thank Patrick for his mentorship and friendship over these many years. KF has given me that escape that I desperately needed, especially in my days spent inside the SKKA bubble, before I felt I was on the verge to losing my mind. I want to thank Brian, bushido_man96, for being one of my dearest friend, in and out of KF, that I will cherish for the rest of my days. I want to also thank those countless members of KF that have given me many fond memories as well as their support and great discussions in and out of the MA; I value each and every one's knowledge and experience.

These past 60 years, I've been blessed endlessly these past 60 years in the MA. Had Soke and Dai-Soke keep me under their wings for as long as I did. I earned from them my Hachidan and Hanshi. Had owned and operated my Kyuodan Dojo for many decades, of which, without my many students, I'd be just a man taking a long walk all alone. I've meet so many practitioners of countless different MA disciplines during my MA journey, and I cherish each of those learning and training opportunities outside of Shindokan endlessly. 

In closing, I can never properly express my many thanks and heartfelt gratitude to everyone and everything that have provided me my most profound memories both in the MA and away from the MA. I believe that I've fought the good fight while my body cussed me out. Having been diagnosed with Afib, Diabetes Type 2, and Stage 4 Prostate Cancer, of which, as of this posting, is that I'm still in complete remission of my cancer; Praise God!! The cancer destroyed my spine's T12 and L4, which has made me handicapped where I can't stand no longer than for a few minutes and can't walk no further than a few feet and have great difficulty to raise up from a seated position. For my mobility I'm dependent of my mobility scooter for a lot of the time. Therefore, I believe that my MA training days, but not my teaching days, have come to an end, but I'm not resentful of the cards that I've been dealt, for whatever those reason might or might not be, because I've still got a lot of gas in my tank, and I will not take my many blessings very lightly whatsoever.

Thank you one and all for everything; you've all enriched my life!!

[Montana]

Well, happy birthday! Keep on kickin'!

[KarateKen]

Happy Birthday @sensei8 congratulations on making it another year, hope this one is good to you! 

[Patrick]

Hope you had a nice birthday, Bob. Thank you for the kind words.

[bushido_man96]

Happy Birthday, Bob!  I'll always cherish the time we spent on the mat together.  Keep fighting that good fight!

[sensei8]

15 hours ago, bushido_man96 said:

Happy Birthday, Bob!  I'll always cherish the time we spent on the mat together.  Keep fighting that good fight!

Thank you, Brian for being a true friend on and off the floor; means everything to me!! I too will always cherish the time we spent together those 2 days training and laughing. Fighting, that I will do to my last breath!!

Hard to imagine that I've been on the floor for 60 years, but there it is. 60 years in Shindokan!!

Edited October 23 by sensei8

[bushido_man96]

That's a long time, Bob!  I hope I can pull that off, too!

[sensei8]

Spoiler

On 10/28/2024 at 3:28 PM, bushido_man96 said:

That's a long time, Bob!  I hope I can pull that off, too!

 

You will, my friend!!

The MA, for me, especially when it comes to Shindokan, have never been a hobby or a sport; I take my training very serious. It's my life; if I'm not training, I'm teaching and if I'm not teaching, I'm training.

Will there be 70 years in the MA for me?? That's up to God!! If he grants me that, that means I'll be 77 years old. Sometimes that saddens me because my time on this earth is reaching an end, yes, I know we all die, but it still saddens me. 

[aurik]

On 10/30/2024 at 10:48 AM, sensei8 said:

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You will, my friend!!

The MA, for me, especially when it comes to Shindokan, have never been a hobby or a sport; I take my training very serious. It's my life; if I'm not training, I'm teaching and if I'm not teaching, I'm training.

Will there be 70 years in the MA for me?? That's up to God!! If he grants me that, that means I'll be 77 years old. Sometimes that saddens me because my time on this earth is reaching an end, yes, I know we all die, but it still saddens me. 

Even after you're gone, whether that be in 5, 10, 20, or even 30 more years, you will continue to have an impact on this world in everyone you've touched.  Whether that is your family, friends, students, associates, or those who you influenced on here.

[sensei8]

1 hour ago, aurik said:

Even after you're gone, whether that be in 5, 10, 20, or even 30 more years, you will continue to have an impact on this world in everyone you've touched.  Whether that is your family, friends, students, associates, or those who you influenced on here.

I appreciate what you're saying, aurik; means a lot to me. Thank you, sir!!