year end musings

We are defintely approaching year's end here at Aikido of San Jose. I would just like to share some thoughts with you all. I'll probably do at least another blog before the end of the year. First, we ran dan exams Saturday, December 1st. I would like to congratulate Frank Silvey, David Eves, and Paul Heffernan for each doing a good job and each taking a fine exam. The turn out for the training was good and spirited, with about 40 people on the mat. An unexpected surprise was a visit by Tom Okamoto, who is now living out of area. Tom was one of the original students when Aikido of San Jose opened in July of 1976. A number of us went out for a late lunch at Willow Street Woodfired Pizza in Willow Glen.

A couple of days before Marianne Messina, Peter Skilj, and I did a musical performance at the Peninsula Regent in San Mateo. This was set up by Maurice Gregoire, a long time member of the dojo who runs this vast Resident Care Facility for seniors. I had never, ever done anything like this in my whole life. We are working at getting the files for one of the numbers reduced so that it can be put online. When that is done I will attach it to a future blog.

For those of you who missed Frite nite 2007 and therefore the video screening of "The Human Tarantula" I found this clip of the film onling. I hope you enjoy it. Notice how almost otherworldly calm the character of Kyoshiro is in the opening: