Karate Kid
I was reminded of life’s “full circles” when I started going to a chiropractor a few years ago. I had a flashback to the first time I was in a chiropractic clinic, at the age of 13.
Our white Subaru had been rear-ended on the way to my karate lesson. The whiplash meant that I no longer could go to karate. Those eighteen months were golden memories for me in the dojo above the municipal swimming pool in Susanville, California. I didn’t think about it much for the next 30 years because we moved after 8th grade, and I never resumed my training.
Going to chiro again made me curious about my karate training. I looked up the version I studied: “shinote kyokai” and discovered that this was a branch of karate that was pioneered by a retired soldier who had studied martial arts in Japan.
No, not that one.
This one.
My unassuming California dojo was the place where Charles Grey Sensei had started a special project, seeking to build a network of Shotokai/Shotokan centers where American students could learn karate the way that he did, via Kenjiro Kawanabe, via Gichin Funakoshi. I had been learning from a disciple of great karate masters.
https://www.kawanabekaratedo.com/
The word “Shotokan” is taken from Funakoshi’s pen name as a poet (Shoto means the sound of the wind blowing through the pines). I learned about the history of my sensei and his sensei before him, going back all the way to the first karate master on Okinawa, “Tōde” Sakugawa. Karate had given me confidence that I could protect myself from bullies, and a sense of focus. I owe a lot to karate as a mindset.
Back to the present—I remembered that Charles Grey had left the dojo to another teacher who was my last master. My most vivid memories are of sparring with Richard Sensei. I enjoyed his lessons. On a hunch I started looking through websites to see if I could locate him. I found an old photo of him in the newspaper, and a former phone number. After a few hours I was able to trace him to an email address and sent him a message.
I received a call from Richard: he’s living in Nevada. He hasn’t taught karate for a long time. He’s doing well though… he used to be really uptight about God, angry at him for existing; he became an atheist for a while. Now he’s found peace following the Way of Jesus. He was thrilled to hear from me. Over the last two years, he and I have encouraged each other with texts now and then.
It just reminds me that there are people who we meet throughout our lives that are still part of us. That kindergarten teacher; that friend in high school; that neighbor that helped you once. And some people leave a deeper impression. Maybe there’s somebody you need to call, who remembers you, and you could make their day.
Shoto-kai means “Shoto’s method”, a poet-fighter inspired by nature. May the outdoors inspire you too today, as winter exhausts itself and the earth holds its breath for spring.
I am so happy you were able to reconnect with your Sensei and that you have kept in touch with each other. Thank you for explaining the name too I like the image in my mind it created, a poet fighter inspired by nature.
Nice article :-)