Aikido      Judo      Jujitsu     

Home

Class Schedule

Events

Instructors

Photos

Newsletter

Martial Arts Links

Map to Dojo

Contact Us

Voice of the Fox
The Newsletter of the Martial Arts Training Service

Kodenkan
by Alex Jovanovic
Autumn 1996

I attended the 1996 Camp Kodenkan. It was fun seeing different people teach some techniques both alien and familiar. I learned many lessons in pain, humor, sorrow and inspiration. There was enlightenment, discovery of a profound reality that has changed my life.

For those of you who have soft, cushy mats at your dojo, you must hear "arch your hips" a lot from your sensei. I know I heard it a lot as a blue belt. Fortunately, it's natural now. Unfortunately, you won't hear that much on a camp wrestling mat. Just some cringing faces that say, "Boy, that's gotta hurt." Some small advice: Do some slapping exercises before class or your palms will hurt for hours.

Almost everybody was joyful at the convention. Occasionally I'd say or do something stupid or funny to brighten someone's mood, like sticking the fortune from a fortune cookie on my forehead, when conversations led to a depressed dinner table. It certainly brought everyone's mood up.

There was a hint of sadness that surfaced occasionally, because for the first time Pat Browne wasn't there to teach a class. I must admit, I didn't feel much sorrow until I saw Jason's tape. Jason Gussman made this beautiful video tape commemorating Pat, and that's when it hit me. I remembered a small promise I made to myself after Pat came to our dojo. I would train with him in the future. I made the same promise at green belt. While watching Pat slowly jump over a sword cut, I realized it won't happen. I know that not appreciating the importance of Pat unless my interests were involved sounds selfish; it was. But that's when the inspiration came.

During the party, a gift was presented to Maureen, my sensei: a very large sheet of wood with kanji carved in it. The translation: "The commitment to a teacher lasts three generations (or through three lifetimes)." I didn't understand what that meant until I saw Jason's tape. I didn't need to train with Pat. His influence is transmitted through Maureen, to me, and through me to my future students. The way all sensei leave something in their students, like a piece of their soul. This revelation hit me hard, and left me exhausted. I went to bed.

I'm making it sound like camp was some mystical, mythical and incredible experience for me. It was. Bob Krull's blunt presence, Professor TJ's great historical class, Gary throwing me in a backwards uke otoshi by the hair, great people, and my mind opened up to a reality I should have seen while sitting next to Pat in California after Hen-O. What I realized should be the same for all judoka, aikidoka and jujitsuka. Pat, Maureen, John and all of the students at the dojo are my family.

And I love them all.

Home | Schedule | Events | Instructors | Photos | Newsletter | Links | Map