December 2004
When I was teaching in Derry, New Hampshire, I did not go for public demonstrations. As the Boys and Girls Club always had a list of individuals who wanted to join our program I did not see the need to advertise.
But one year I decided to do something different, and asked the Club to arrange for us to do a demonstration at Derryfest.
Derry fest was an annual town fail each fall, Various groups had booths to promote their services. A variety of different martial arts programs (mostly commercial ones) added to the fail providing demonstrations. Personally for the most part what the demonstrated were not my cup of tea, but for friends, family and the general public they were entertaining.
In fact after seeing the variety of martial arts demonstrations the prior year it gave the incentive to put on myself.
Other organizations, bands and the like, also gave a variety of demonstrations.
I spent about a month preparing my students for the show.
Then just about the time we were to start, President George Bush in his helicopters (there were 3 of them )flew overhead. He was called back from his summer home in Maine to the White House (for some international problem). After they flew over and the noise abated, we began our demonstration.
I announced for our presentation. Everyone lined up and rei'd. They went through various warmup exercises. Next a variety of advanced drills. They the demonstrated a variety of kata. Next they demonstrated a 2 person opposing kata drill. Finally they demonstrated how kata applications were used. When the demonstration concluded the group rei'd out.
All had a good time.
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