There were three mats running most of the day, plus an additional classroom for subjects like massage therapy, legal aspects of teaching the arts, weapons as an extension of the body, and medical aspects of teaching martial arts. Clinics included all the basic boards (nage, yawara, shime, and oku), the advanced boards like Shinnin and Shi
nyo, and some sessions on blended arts and fighting strategies. Amy liked all the classes. For her, the highlight was the Medlin Brothers class on effective fighting techniques. For me, it was enough to learn that Roger and John had another brother! He looks a lot like them, but he talks funny.
Sunday was all about the contest in the morning, and then the banquet in the evening. Joseph Larsen entered the 5th kyu division and took First Place! Congratulations Joe. His scores were excellent. He had a good uke, though. Joe was very nervous going in, but overcame it to perform like a pro. For me, I had the privilege of a front-row seat during the Black Belt
divisions (I was judging). I love watching my art done with such expertise. It is a humbling experience.
The banquet opened with a Hawaiian show featuring music, Hula, and Bryan Stanley's stirring rendition of modern jazz dance set to sweet Hawaiian tones. I did take some video, but Bryan assures me that, if I publish it, he will face lifelong derision and humiliation befo
re his high school students. So, I won't.
The highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Dr. H. Bruce Stokes. Reverend Stokes has known Prof. Chubb for over thirty years, and recalled his path through these arts, and with these people in touching detail. It had most of us reaching for our dinner napkins to dry our eyes.
The Reunion did exactly what it was supposed to do. Joe and I got to reunite with old friends, and Amy
got to meet some new friends. I'm already looking forward to next year's Reunion in Central California.
Sensei Charlebois,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog. I was unable to attend Renuion this year. Hopefully I'll see you at the next one.
I still have your Med handout on Sensei as Atheletic Trainer in my dojo folder. I refer to it often.
Glad to read about your dojo's sucess.
Gregory Poretz
Sensei, Kenshokan Martial Arts Academy