Sandon't

Ok... so remember that beautiful metaphor about how the omelet was my grading? Well... it went just like that. I went in, did my best, was ready for the flip, and got scrambled.

Alright, now that the suspense is out of the way, lets start from the beginning. So, I ate my omelet, and left for the airport. I only got lost once and eventually made my way there more or less without incident. As per usual, my flight was delayed and left me sitting in the airport for a while. It was not a big deal. On the plane, off the plane, into the red car, and at the University.

At the time I could not find anyone I knew, and the first training session had already started, so I began my wonderful weekend with a trip to one of my favourite places: the University of Guelph's Arboretum. The arboretum must be as large as the University itself, and if I have learned anything it is that when I grow up, I would love to have one...

Travelling in the Arboretum... Alexander Style

Lost in a Swamp

No Bugs in the Swamp

Haunted!!!

Eventually I made it out of the arboretum and found one of our crew. We went out for supper and on our return found another of our comrades. Almost complete we took that evening off like a certain calm before the storm. We sat on the patio and enjoyed some Cuban delicacies. It was a great night that would lead into a great weekend, mind you, we were all super nervous, so it was extra good that we relaxed.

The training started the next morning. We got there early to warm up, and when the training started we jumped right in. There were more people at the seminar than I have ever seen and we had to be extremely cautious. After all, when training with swords in close quarters it is a recipe for disaster. There were a number of Sensei there from Japan, and we were very privileged to have them pass their knowledge to us.

Since we were grading with the sword we spent most of our time preparing for that. We did take some time to go and practice with the staff though. I was very nervous for my tests in the beginning, but I am not sure why now that I look back. The more training the better I felt. After a the first day I was no longer concerned. I felt confident that I would pass, and on the off chance that I would fail, well... that didn't seem to concern me any longer.

We went to the annual supper and fundraiser auction where I was able to acquire a piece of art that I have had my eyes on since the first time I went to the Guelph Seminar in 2005. It was not the exact piece, but similar enough. We were also very lucky to have front row seats to a very special performance. Taylor Sensei's daughter plays the violin, and since people always hear about it they wanted to hear her. She came before the Sensei table (directly beside ours) and played. I have seen violinists play professionally, but I have never been within arms reach! It was amazing. I do not think that everyone in the crowd appreciated the magnitude of her performance in skill and quality of the music, but I definitely did. I congratulated her on a spellbinding performance then, but I will write it again. Congratulations and thank you, it will be a night to always remember.

After I had what I came for we bailed out of the auction and called 'er a night.

Another day of hard training, and my fears of failure vanished completely. I was fully absorbed in what I was trying to do, and in trying to do what the Sensei instructed. We all worked hard and by the end of the day we were starting to wear out. Blisters were popped, bruises were dark and swollen, and our kneepads had ground up the backs of our knees. When the day was over I think we were all grateful for a rest. We put down our weapons and then the crew from the Ka Muso Kai went to McDonald's for a traditional pre-grading feast. The myth is that eating McDonald's the night before a grading will help pass... however... eating McDonald's immediately before a tournament will result in disaster.

Bellies full of McDonald's we retired.

The grading was the following morning. I was in one of the last rounds of grading so I had a long time to wait. I warmed up. I memorized what techniques I had to do. And, I just sat around waiting. Eventually my time came. They brought everyone going for Sandan into the grading room and had us wait. A few minutes passed and they called us to the line.

When the judges called "hajime" (start) we all moved into action. I only remember bits and pieces, but what I do remember is that I felt like my performance was one of the best I have ever done. My training was paying off and when I walked out of that room I was an omelet ready to be flipped. From my perspective I was near perfect.

After that we had to do our other gradings with the staff, and in a jumble we did that.

Gradings done we waited for the results. It did not take long when the results appeared. I looked to the sheet for Sandan and noticed that my number was not posted. I did not pass. Actually, of the five of us, only two passed. At this point I expected to feel crushed and broken like I used to when my team was defeated in soccer. I did not feel it. I was waiting and waiting, but all I felt was calmness.

I did not pass... so what? I did my best. I did all I could. What I brought to the grading was not exactly what the judges were looking for, but in stepping before the judges I agreed to be judged. I agreed to have them watch me and to point out any flaw. I agreed that even though I could feel like my performance was perfect, that I lack perspective, and that a panel of judges is a whole lotta that.

Uncrushed, the world did not stop. On the contrary, it kept spinning. The results came in for the Jodo grading, which we all passed, and immediately my brain jumped to planning mode. Looks like I get a vacation in December, I thought. I can come back do my next Jodo grading and try again for Sandan! Sounds good.

That was the end of it.

I am still half expecting me to wake up and be crushed by my failure, but more and more I think that I have grown to a point where I can accept it as is. So... Instead of ruminating on my failure it is time for me to start planning...

What's next...

Didn't Pass

p.s. A new album is up for my Arboretum Photos... Amazing!

The Omelet that Could have Been

Today I fly to Ontario to attend the Sei Do Kai's Annual May Long Weekend Iaido and Jodo Seminar. I was getting ready to go when I found my flight left an hour later than I thought this was a great opportunity for me to make some real breakfast.

I got the toast. I got the ham and cheese. And, I got the eggs. Toast was cooking, ham sliced, cheese grated, and the eggs were cooking in a fine flat that was nearly done and ready for flipping. Everything sounds great so far. I had the recovery tools at hand and was about to proceed with my flip...

This weekend will be an opportunity full of learning. It will give me a chance to show off what I can do, and hopefully pass the tests I am challenging. This weekend will be very stressful. Very.

The omelet was in the air, and then kaplah! into a pile on my pan. I tried to get in with the recovery tools but it was too late. Irrevocably scrambled.

A metaphor perhaps? Hmm... well, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade... or more accurately... when live gives you a beautiful pre-omelet in a pile... make scrambled eggs.

That being said. I will go to Guelph. I will take the tests. I hope to pass... but no matter what happens... I will do my best... and... I will be full... if that makes sense...

Sure... my eggs are not as I planned... but as worthwhile as ever...

Splinters and Seminars

The last few weeks have been a rather hectic to say the least.

It started with me showing up to work and getting an e-mail telling me that Watkin Sensei had safely arrived in Calgary. That doesn't sound so bad right? Wrong. Watkin Sensei was not supposed to be in Calgary for one more week...

I was unavailable the night before, when he was refused entry into the United States. He called the house but no one was home. Air Canada gave him some options. Fly from Toronto back to the Philippines, or fly somewhere else. Not knowing if we were even around, and not on vacation or something, he decided to fly to Calgary. He made it there and eventually got a hold of my family. They got a hold of another Club member and sent here to the airport. After 50 hours of travel Watkin Sensei made it to my house. It was then 3:00 am. I cannot express enough gratitude to the friend who went looking for him at the airport for an hour and a half in the middle of the night while knowing she had to work only a few hours later.

So, the next morning when I got to work I figured it out. A few hours later I had the whole story, had talked to Sensei, the guys in the United States (who had been freaked out when he did not arrive as planned), and was now working towards resolution.

For two days we tried to explore every possible avenue to get Sensei into the States. We were unsuccessful. His passport was issued in the UK in 2003, before they made Machine Readable Passports. Evidently in the United States you need a Machine Readable Passport to get in (depending on your customs agent). We did not catch this before because of some ambiguity in the rules for admission into the States, otherwise we would have sorted this out prior to he seminars.

Sensei and I called everyone we could think of. We looked on the Internet. We went to the Airport to speak with a US Border Agent. We went to the Consulate and found out he needed a Vise. We sent a letter to the Consulate Emergency Line, to try and get an appointment to get a Visa. And... we were turned down by the Consulate for that appointment. They said to apply for an appointment online. Sensei did. His appointment is in 8 weeks.

The two Niten Ichi Ryu Seminars in the United Sates were cancelled.

I am still trying to find if we got anything from cancelling our flights in the States, but we will probably get some credit. Insurance does not cover immigration problems.

So, Sensei was here for an extra week. Luckily we had space in the house, and when I asked for help a number of people from the Seminars offered to take Sensei around so he did not have to be stuck at our house all day.

That week passed without further issues... not that anything else could have possibly gone wrong... and the Seminars began.

The Niten Seminar was amazing. We were able to focus on the fundamentals of HNIR and Watkin Sensei generously passed some of his knowledge to us.

On the second day of the Seminar, Taylor Sensei and his family arrived, and on the Third Day of the Seminar Jodo began. At the Calgary Iaido Club we have now been practicing Jodo for one year (since the first Seminar with Taylor Sensei) and were able to learn many things to improve our training. When you only get instruction once a year it is very difficult to get everything just right, but, we try, and Taylor Sensei has pushed us further along that path.

At the end of the Third Day Yamamoto Sensei and his family arrived and the hordes from the Seminars all piled to a Japanese restaurant to greet him. It was good.

More training on the Fourth and final day for Niten and Jodo, followed by a barbecue at our house. By this time I was ready for a quick break, so on the recommendation of Taylor Sensei I let the crew take charge of the barbecue. For most it was a farewell for Watkin Sensei and because of this it was an important event. The event almost went off without any issues, and the issues that did occur need not be discussed on this media.

The next morning all of the Sensei and their respective families and I went to Invermere. It took all day to get there, but we saw about a bazillion sites through the Rockies on a route that Gilham Sensei planned. When we arrived people were pretty tired, but even then a group of us were up pretty late.

During this trip to BC I had to finish my Paper on China that was the last requirement of my Masters Degree. I must thank everyone who supported me in this through various means.

The next two days were spent relaxing. Well... most people were relaxing... I was working on my paper. I did take time however to go with the Taylor's to a movie at the Toby Theatre, the Trestle Bridge, the Whiteswan Hot Springs, and the Pool at Akiskinook.

On the Thursday... whenever that was... we left hella early to get back to Calgary in time to take Watkin Sensei to the airport. The Taylor family was generous enough to stay behind a few hours to do the laundry, and the night before everyone pitched in on the cleaning... except for me... I was writing a paper. On the way home we saw, deer, a fox, and a bear. This was good for Yamamoto Sensei and his family as this is not something they see in Japan.

Home, paper submitted, airport, farewell to Watkin Sensei for another year, G & G's, home, Iaido Seminar. Wow. The Iaido Seminar ran for three days and was an amazing opportunity for us to see the source of our Iaido knowledge. Gilham Sensei has taught us, but it was Yamamoto Sensei who taught him. I learned many things from both Yamamoto and Taylor Sensei. On the final day people who are due, or nearly due, for a grading went up and demonstrated in front of the entire group. I would have failed myself for my Sandan (Third Level Blackbelt) Grading, but I was given invaluable feedback from Yamamoto, Taylor, and Gilham Sensei.

That night we had the Club barbecue. It was a good wrap-up party and farewell to the Sensei. I had finished my Masters, but there was, and is, so much work to do that I was not really able to relax. I guess I have not really relaxed in a year and a halfish so this is not too shocking.

It was at the barbecue that I was given the most gracious and sincere thanks that I have ever received. Seemingly out of the blue Yamamoto Sensei's Wife bowed to me deeper than anyone ever has. I tried to bow lower, but it could not be done. Watkin Sensei warned us about the bows of older women in Japan; they bow, you bow back lower, then they bow back lowerer... Because of the language barrier there were no words exchanged, but words were not needed.

There was a heartfelt goodbye to Yamamoto Sensei and his family and then lots of sitting around chatting with Taylor Sensei and the rest of the Seminar participants.

The next morning the Taylor's packed up and were on their way.

Overall it was another good year of Seminars. We more or less broke even on costs for the Niten and Jodo Seminars, and for the knowledge we gained there is no price.

For pictures see: http://picasaweb.google.ca/alexander.c.cook/CalgaryIaidoClubAnnualSeminars2009?feat=directlink