When I was growing up, my dad was in the Army, and every few years we would move to another base, often in the South. My mom is originally from Lincoln, which is how I eventually ended up here. I didn't really want to move here (two words: cold and snow). Also, like most people who live outside of Nebraska, I thought it only consisted of cows and corn (and the Huskers). Little did I know I was moving to a martial arts mecca. People come from all over the country, and the world, to train at the dojo I humbly call home.
I consider myself very lucky that I get to be taught by John Roseberry-Shihan. He is a martial arts pioneer, a legend in his own time. I won't bother extolling his virtues here, you can read that in his biographical article Quiet Force, Gentle Power. Most people will never get a chance to meet someone like him, let alone be able to train under them. Not only do I have the honor of being taught by him on the floor, I have also been granted the privilege of getting to know him as a man.
I cherish the private conversations that I am able to have with him. I don't pick his brain about martial arts, but I get to learn a lot about his philosophies. I try to remember everything he tells me, and I never share the things he doesn't want me to. This kind of opportunity, to learn from a True Teacher, doesn't come along very often. I am truly blessed, and humbled, to have the friendship and guidance of such a great man."I see and hear many talkers. I sometimes call them Kuchi Waza -mouth technicians. They're not bad people. It's just that I'm only interested in training on the floor. I have little interest in talking about it. Tradition is the cornerstone of our study. Our tradition can be found only on the floor...only through our training. We don't talk about tradition, we just train. That is our tradition."- John Roseberry-Shihan