Homecoming by Doug Simpson
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Perhaps is sounds rather cliche', but it is trues that you never know how much you
appreciate something until it is no longer available for you to take for granted.
When I joined the Air Force and finally bowed out of Wheeler's School of Isshinryu
Karate for that last time, I had no idea it would leave a void in me that would be
so difficult to fill.
Basic Training and Tech School left very little time in a young Airman's schedule
to practice what meager skills I had acquired, but I tried to train when I could.
The thought of not being able to take Isshinryu again never crossed my mind. I had
always thought it would be easy to find a dojo once I arrived at my duty station, I
never knew how wrong I was.
I arrived in Charleston, SC in April of 1997. I had gotten settled into the dorms
and after a few weeks I was getting to know my Co-workers, new job, and the area
surrounding the base. Soon after, I picked up a phone book and began what would
prove to be a futile search. There were no Isshinryu dojos in Charleston; there
were very few dojos of any style in Charleston. I made several calls and asked
several of the instructors about Isshinryu schools or private instructors, of which
all to often I got "Isshin-what?" or "Come try us, we're pretty close" as a
response.
I did try some of those "pretty close" dojos, and found that pretty close, just
like the old line, means no cigar. After spending a few weeks in various schools
around the Low Country, I realized exactly how unique Isshinryu was. I was
constantly badgered by instructors to extend my arms and rotate when punching, to
take my thumbs off the top of my fist, and to set my hands horizontal to my belt
instead of vertical. While I will not degrade or attack the validity of any other
style (I firmly believe that all styles have a certain validity and are all related
in some form or fashion), none of these styles were Isshinryu and none of those
styles "felt right". Eventually I gave up my search and sent most of my gear back
home to my parents for storage.
Six years passed, and I had all but totally lapsed in my training. Once I had
given up, I no longer actively trained at all. It wasn't until I was almost mugged
on a temporary duty assignment to Germany that a fire inside me I thought long
burned out flared to life again. Despite a lack of training, I still remembered
enough to get myself out of the situation and to relative safety. I made a
commitment to renew martial arts training when I returned to Charleston.
I began to search for a suitable dojo shortly after my return and discovered that
the husband of a former Co-worker was a Ni Dan in Shotokan. I spoke with him on
several occasions and explained my situation to him. He agreed to take me on as a
student. I decided to search for an Isshinryu dojo one last time before committing
myself to the study of Shotokan. I did a search on the Internet and found myself
on the Isshinryu Hall of Fame web page. A dojo locator had been added since I had
last visited the page years ago. It only took seconds to click on South Carolina
and see that there was a listing for United Southern Isshinryu of Charleston. I
was ecstatic.
I called the contact number for Sensei Tim Boykin and remember being so excited
that I had found an Isshinryu dojo, that I spilled my life story on his voice mail,
and then completely forgot to leave my name! I called back later and spoke with
Sensei Boykin personally and (after finally providing my name) he invited me to
attend a class.
I had kept a couple of light gis and my belt with me in Charleston, so I did have
something to wear to class. I arrived at the dojo and fully expected to be doing
more observing than participating. Sensei Boykin had other plans. Much like a
father who teaches their child to swim by throwing them into shallow water, Sensei
Boykin ushered me into the line and before I knew it, I was training.
Six years of absence had left an unbelievable amount of rust on my kata and
technique. I discovered, however, that no matter how much time passes, the
foundation laid remains the same, perhaps covered up, but as sure and as firm as
ever. Only after a few weeks of training, I had quickly regained snap, form, and
was progressing well in kata. I found it humorous that when we were practicing
bunkai from kata, or other techniques that I was often smiling as I was getting
tossed onto the mat. When asked why, I always immediately responded with "I just
feels so good to be back".
It is true, it may be a different dojo, in a different state, but it is still
Isshinryu, and I am finally home.
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