tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496739942189672685.post6919527371071291837..comments2008-09-06T18:21:30.203-05:00Conanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574148083679060117noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496739942189672685.post-39899180652964785832008-09-06T18:21:00.000-05:002008-09-06T18:21:00.000-05:00You're welcome, Dave. And thank you. You're one of us now.Conanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03574148083679060117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496739942189672685.post-79549380376203324022008-09-06T17:55:00.000-05:002008-09-06T17:55:00.000-05:00When I came to my first class just a couple weeks ago, I immediately felt accepted by everyone at the Dojo. Everyone gave me advice and was very kind and patient with me when doing drills and rolling. I greatly enjoy coming to the Dojo almost every day to learn the art of jiu jitsu and meet new friends. I just recently moved to Lincoln and I am beginning a new chapter in my life and it has been great to have a place like Sho Rei to go to.Thank you Conan and all of the members of the dojo.davekluthehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12994498875199624859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496739942189672685.post-71702013142056242072008-07-29T20:32:00.000-05:002008-07-29T20:32:00.000-05:00Through the times I've been in and out of the dojo my experiance has always been the same....Tradition. Ages ago when Darin was the instructor he would always tell me, "Just keep showing up". He told me that almost every class. I would go through the slumps of, "I've been coming for how long and I'm still getting smoked". Well, Darins good, and I wasen't. Phil had made that same comment to me a couple weeks ago, "I feel like my defense is good but my offense isn't there." I told him,"Just keep coming." I think that's the natural evolution for everyone, you learn to defend first, then the offense follows. Long story short Darin took me in just because I kept showing up and getting my butt kicked. He's probably the one reason I always kept coming back. Well, him and Zach. I'll never forget those days....Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171945030639221374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496739942189672685.post-14899569717644503472008-07-26T10:53:00.000-05:002008-07-26T10:53:00.000-05:00I also appreciate this writing. The nature of our jj group is truly based on commitment to the art and friendship and not competition, not on who is at the top of the food chain. I truly appreciate this aspect of our dojo. I don't see any egos. All are committed to working together in our efforts (lifelong efforts to be more accurate) to master the complex puzzle that is jiu jitsu. I truly love and appreciate the atmosphere we have here. This is the reason that when a new person comes I try to be very very polite so that they will return. I think for a beginning student, it can be very intimidating-feeling helpless, when in reality, we are all (except Shihan and Conan) helpless. This is because I don't think you can ever obtain a perfect understanding of everything in the art. I'm sure there is always more to learn-hence it becomes a lifelong journey . . . a journey that is traveled together (you cannot progress without training partners!).<BR/>BrentBrenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15739774717988426010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5496739942189672685.post-22124487887024567752008-07-25T23:43:00.000-05:002008-07-25T23:43:00.000-05:00Good write up Sensei, and I couldn't agree more. It's great to see the class growing and everyone getting better each week. I appreciate your sacrifices and preparation you put into teaching us Conan. There is a brotherhood and I enjoy being part of such a select fraternity who practice the art of jujitsu.<BR/><BR/>AndyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com