My First Club IV

Failing sucks....but back north to resume my life.

Months later, another Big Guy came to BC. People thought I should try again, but I hadn't improved since the failure, so that seemed kinda a dead end. I did go train with him. Yamaguchi Sensei was his name.

My old instructor returned to the north, so I had a regular teacher again. He was in a neighboring town, so only about once a week. Very glad to get him back. Then we had Sakurai Sensei visit us. He asked if I wanted to test. Very polite, but when a Big Guy says that, he's actually telling you.

Did my grading, but didn't get the result for a week or so.

I had passed. Certainly felt a bit stunned to hear that. Then he said, "I'd done a lot for Karate in my area." That meant that although I was kinda good enough to pass, I wouldn't have if I'd just been Joe Blow.

Took it, though. Figured if it took me 6 months or a year to "really" be there I'd still be training, learning and improving.

Few months later, my senior students started getting Black Belts, too. I was prouder of their success than my own. Les was first, then Bernardo, Jewel, Colin and Yvonne.

And they all called me, Sensei. That is an honour beyond measure.