26/Jul/09
Well, we just finished a big weekend with Ted Gambordella giving a great black belt continuing education class for our AKATO instructors. Dr. Ted was my original jujutsu teacher and one of the men largely responsible for showing me, back in the 1980s, the advantages of cross-training in the martial arts. He is still in amazing physical condition (for a man in his 60s--or any age for that matter) and his skills just continue to get better--a testament to continual training. I know he was an inspiration to all those in attendance. And speaking of continuing ed classes, let me know what kind of instructor’s classes you would like to see in the future. This is one of the advantages of being in an organization that so has many opportunities for growth.
I also attended Velmore Estillore’s celebration at his AWTC gym in Addison. Velmore started with me when he was just 15 years old and it is hard to believe he has been with me for 15 years now. As I told him on Saturday, I am very proud of him not only for his martial skills and for the man he has turned out to be, but for taking the lessons of the arts and continuing to pass them along to a new generation of students. As instructors, we should all be mindful of the responsibility we have as mentors and examples.