Always More to Learn; Always Room for Improvement

Sorry for missing a journal entry last week: I just returned from a week of training at the Zen Bei Butoku Kai International Summer Camp in Guelph, Ontario. I’ve been going to this camp, which has run annually for the last 31 years, since 1995. It’s not a vacation. It’s training, and the daily routine looks something like this:



6:00 – 7:00 Tai chi, pushing hands, and chi kung
7:00 Breakfast
9:00 – 11:30 Morning training
12:00 Lunch
2:00 – 4:30 Afternoon training5:00 Dinner
7:00 – 8:30 Evening lecture


As you can see, there’s very little down time at camp, but we still manage to have a great week, with nightly visits to the campus pub for social beverages.


Some highlights from the week:

My tai chi form has improved. In our organization, we do an offshoot of Yang style tai chi as taught by Sensei Richard Kim, who passed away back in 2001. The morning tai chi sessions at camp were led by Brian Ricci Sensei and Frank Gaviola Sensei. This year, I’m remembering the individual movements and sequences a lot better, and it takes less much concentration to flow through the entire form.

I had the pleasure of attending several training classes with Fumio Demura Sensei , who visited the camp during the week. His presence and knowledge of Okinawan history and kata bunkai (application) is amazing. I took plenty of notes. (And I iced down my thumb after he cranked me in a finger lock that I’ll never forget!)

At camp this year, I spent most of my time in the “combat room” learning jujitsu techniques from Lenore Gaviola Sensei, Rose Baldo Sensei, and Lonnie Francis Sensei, and I was promoted to yonkyu (blue belt) at the end of the week. I can’t say enough positive about my jujitsu instructors and their level of proficiency – I felt totally in awe of their effortless ability. Just goes to prove that there’s always more to learn and there’s always room for improvement.

This year, I succeeded in passing my 4th dan (4th degree Black Belt) examination. I worked hard in the months leading up to the event, so I was highly confident and in great shape when I stepped on the floor for grading. I was as prepared as I could have been, but because I missed two months of training before the test (I took an understandable break from training when my son was born back in April!), I was not as prepared as I would have liked to have been. Still we had a strong group of candidates grading for 4th and 5th dan, and it was an honor to be on the floor with them.


The most memorable highlight of the week for me was seeing five of my students grade for their shodan (first degree). Well, I didn’t actually watch them — I was grading on the floor at the same time — but to know that they all passed is a GREAT feeling!



Hats off and a deep bow of respect and thanks to my instructors Brian Ricci Sensei and Dennis Mann Sensei, who continue to teach me — on and off the mat — with patience and love. Thanks also to my family for their understanding and tolerance of my "hobby," and for all those who continue to contribute to my personal growth and development.