03/14/2021
It was a Saturday morning like any other. The sound of kiai filled the dojo as the students worked on kata. The seniors sat in chairs and worked on tournament preparations with the younger students. The first tournament of the year was quickly approaching and everyone was working hard to be ready. As the morning faded to afternoon the sounds turned to gloves being hit. Point sparring training was now taking place. At the end of each class and again at the end of the day, Sensei told his students he would see them on Tuesday. Just like normal. The date of that Saturday was March 14th, 2020. Those normal Tuesday classes never came. Nor did any other class that week, or the next, or the next.... today marks one year since our last class in the dojo. Senseiâs bags and equipment still sit in the exact spot they were left after those Saturday morning classes, unused. Nobody could have predicted a year later we would still not be able to be back. The dojo sits still, waiting. Although the dojo is empty, much has happened in this year. Weâve all grown. Weâve all matured. Weâve all lived through something nobody was expecting. Experiences change us. Sometimes for the better, sometimes they take more of a toll... mentally and physically. I know things will be different. On that Saturday, all of our classes were full. The dojo had its highest number of students weâd ever had. When we get back, that will be different. Weâve had some students say goodbye to us in this year of turmoil. That is not the normal though. Those of you that have stuck with us so far are doing something so incredible, just by showing up for weekly zoom classes. To you it may just be another Thursday zoom where we do our exercises, talk a bit and maybe do a bit of technique. In reality youâre all doing so much more. Youâre helping build our dojo again. Youâre helping keep the spirit of the dojo. Youâre helping keep the dojo alive. As things keep improving and vaccines continue to make their way across us all, I know weâll be back. Weâll be back in a big way. Continue to hang in there, continue to work, continue to be your best self. The end is in sight, we can see it. After-all, the only reason we fall down, is so we can get back up.
Sensei
