Aikido Posts
|
Oct 21, 2008 Hi There,
Tonight Dave DeLong is teaching class. The reason I say “semi-guest” is that Oakland Aikido Institute is really his home. You can’t be a guest in your own home.
For those who don’t know Dave, he has been a long time student, long (long, long) time uchi deshi, and is currently our ambassador to Texas. He was uke for my 6th and 5th kyu tests, largely because only he had the patience to endure my endless questions and relentless need to practice.
In the years since, he’s been a dedicated training partner and great friend to me and the dojo.
Ah, the memories … of doing kumijo in a field after midnight, of doing kumitachi in Tahoe after midnight, of doing randori in a parking lot after midnight, of … wait. We didn’t just train after midnight. I also have great memories of working on yokomen (yes, at the dojo during class) at a time when neither of us seemed to mind the repeated bashing of our forearms. POUND! He’d attack. POUND! I’d attack. I can’t bruise my forearms without thinking of Dave. Or what about hasso gaeshi? He taught me the inner life of hasso gaeshi.
And if he happens to slip in some allusion to metaphysics, entomology, architecture, world history, carpentry or Mad Magazine, well, you’ll realize what a supremely well-rounded individual he really is.
Anyway, I’m not here to gush. Just to say that he’s teaching tonight. I’ll be on the mat. And you should be too.
See you tonight.
r
|