From Challenge to Success

The new year always brings new challenges and the opportunity to find new paths to success.

This past weekend I traveled 500 miles to Southern Penna. to visit my father. It was very good to see him and his short stay in the hospital concluded before I arrived. I only hope things continue to go well.

Now that's 18 hours driving round trip, not fun but necessary, still I was able to visit several friends and keep touch with their own lives.

Don Gladfelter (a Shotokan instructor) recently closed his school in York Penna. He lives a stone throw from my father's house and I was able to spend a few hours with him to talk about the reasons. It was a combination of factors mainly the current troubled economy causing students (and families) reconsider their needs, and several other factors. Sad after so many years to hear of his closure, but also to hear some of his students are working with him to start a much smaller program to try and continue their studies. I truly wish them success.


Then on the trip home my wife and I stopped in Dunmore and had breakfast with Tristan Sutrisno. Tristan teaches Shotokan from his father's lineage (beginning in Japan in the 1930's) , Aikido and Siliat. He literally was born in those traditions beginning his training at 4 years of age. He gave me a copy of the new Bushi No Te organization patch, discussed his current work, teaching and his upcoming 2nd book which I understand will be on Siliat. His first book "Becoming a Complete Martial Artist - Error Detection in Self-Defense and the Martial Arts" is now going into it's 2nd printing.


So if you have two hits might as well go for the third. This afternoon Charles Murray was able to drop in for a few hours. Charlie personally completed my training for my Sho-dan in Isshinryu back in the 1970's. (Charles obtained his sho-dan from my original instructor Tom Lewis) then as an airman studied in Okinawa with Shimabuku Tatsuo in 1971-1972. Today retired from the Air Force he works for Northrop Grumman Corporation. For the past 30 years fate keeps combining to make all of our visits short, but we spent a very production time reviewing Isshinryu issues, my students progress and other personal issues.


I am fortunate my fathers feeling better and my friends and instructors can share with me.