Visiting the intolerant

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[Bruce Baker]

I have decided to add another hobby to my retired lifestyle ... to visit the dojo's, teachers, and train with those who are intolerant on the Aikiweb.

I have no needs to worry about, and time is reletive to my health over the next twenty years, so I thought it would nice to actually see many of you who have chosen the IGNORE feature, or have chosen hostility, or grafitti like postings.

I am very curious to see what your Aikido teachers do, how you look, and what type of people you are.

So, please be patient, I will find your dojo, talk to your teacher, and maybe even get to train with you, all in good time as I pursue this new hobbie with my interest in Aikido.

Hope to see you all ... very soon.

(Or... you may visit me at LBI Aikikai, just north of Atlantic City, about forty minutes drive at normal speeds.)

[DaveO]

(Sigh!) Well, I tried. Just leave your big long staff and stone tablets in the car, OK? You might have trouble getting them up the stairs.

Dave

[Jim ashby]

See you in Coventry Bruce, you'll be made welcome. We may argue, but that's part of being human.

Have fun.

[virginia_kyu]

I actually find you rather intolerant Bruce. I would be happy to practice with you so long as there is no hostility behind your comments, what you said could easily be taken as threatening.

[SeiserL]

Bruce,

I do not ignore you. But, please, if you are ever in Orange County, Southern California, I would enjoy inviting you to train with me.

Until again,

Lynn

[Bruce Baker]

I do have plans to go to California, Seattle, and expand my travels to visit friends in Virginia.

I think actually meeting people, outside of the Aikiweb forum, does put a human touch of humor on many of the somewhat serious posts we find annoying to each other.

But, physical practice ... gotta love it. It speaks volumes with a few simple movements, doesn't it? I would really, really like to get into a class where we have to do the entire class with either jo or bokken. Falls, throws, techniques ... everything. Someday ....

[Kevin Leavitt]

where you going in VA?

[Bruce Baker]

The children of my first teacher live outside Norfolk. I have been invited to come visit, but it might be to do some fix up work during the days to pay my way.

I have relatives in southern California, outside San Diego, and in Victorville.

As for the stone tablets, I am sure with the proper shipping they could be delivered.

As for threats ...no,no, no. I am good natured and the only threat is if you have been letting your writings wander outside of what you believe. Me? I love a good practice. Good practice makes me so happy, I often laugh at how good technique feels when done properly ... gotta love it.

So if you hear me say,"Gentle .. be gentle", it is not you I am talking to, but that beast that lurks within my gorilla body.

And yes, the purpose of this thread was to put those behind computer screens on notice, we can indeed be great friends even if we disagree, especially those who have vehiment responses and train in or act differently in their Aikido training.

Your Aikido should improve your outlook to life and meeting different people.

[SeiserL]

I have relatives in southern California, outside San Diego, and in Victorville.
Victorville is quite a ways from Westminster. But, if you get this way, please let me know. I train M/W/F from 8:00 am to 9:30 am.

Until again,

Lynn

[Bruce Baker]

You mean I might have to take a month in California to visit everyone?

Oh, baby ... I had better spread out my return dates for my return Airline ticket.

I was planning November CA trip, let me see how the next month works out, and I will get back to you Mr. Seiser. Seminars every weekend in Sept. in NJ, and my first child graduates Art Institute of Philadelphia.

Hey, if you want to see a picture of what I look like, Email me and I will either send you to my sisters page, or format some of my latest trip pictures, which is what is online anyway.

Thanks. Train well, have fun, and always learn with new eyes.

[Chuck.Gordon]

Bruce (or anyone else),

If you're planning to be near Palo Alto, Calif., around November 22-24th, you might be interested in the 5th annual Aikido-L international seminar.

Look here for info on past events: www.aikido-l.org (click on 'Seminars').

There'll be several folks from here as well as lots from the aikido-l mailing list. The teaching lineup includes folks like Dennis Hooker and Chuck Clark.

This'll be the first such aikido-l sem that I've missed and I'm hating it, but I am going to the Euro-sem in Berlin this month.

The list seminars are some of the best I've ever attended and are truly eye-openers ...

Chuck

[Brian H]

We still have room at our "two sword seminar" Saturday.

[jeda]

Bring your skis/snowboard if you are going to head out my way.

[Roy Dean]

Bruce,

If you're in the San Diego area, be sure to drop by Harris International. Directions are at royharris.com.

It's always good to put a face to a screen name. It rounds out your perspective on their opinions. Things don't always come off as well on screen as they do in person...

Roy

[Bruce Baker]

I am keeping list. Although my plans were pushed back slightly in puttin a new engine in my van, and getting a vehicle for my son ... it will happen in the next couple of years as I visit reletives, friends, and do my ancestry research as a cover to get around so my wife doesn't think I have been out partying .

Keep 'em coming, and I will add you to the list of Bruce's Travels in Aikido/ things to do. Thanks all.

[Ali B]

Bruce,

I for one love your posts. They cheer me up and I believe you put a lot of thought into them...

I hope you manage to make it to Europe too. If you I cant wait to train with you.

Love and light

Ali

[jeda]

If you're traveling for ancestry research you're got to head out to Salt Lake. Downtown boasts the largest geneology library in the world.

[happysod]

Interesting new hobby, going off the posts it looks like you're going to have some fun and meet many new friends (?), but I do have one nagging question. What did you expect/want as a reaction to this post and the way you expressed it?

I've read your original post a few times now and still have a slight problem with it's implied "old-gunslinger heads out" feel. Apologies if it's just my reading of it and not your intention, but I would still like to know what your ideal for the outcome from this forthcoming epic tour would be (and will there be a “dojo travels with Bruce and bokken” to go with it?)

[Bruce Baker]

It was to get a reaction out of those who truly like to meet the people that write on the Aikiweb, and yes, to intimidate some of the wanna be gunslingers with the "old gunfighter is coming to town."

What I really would like to do, is win the lottery so I could take any job, work for two weeks, and take another job in a differnent field. It would quite fun to work in different fields without really having to commit yourself to a lifetime.

When the boss threatens to fire you, no big deal, I don't need your money.

Now that ... would be fun..........

Along with traveling around the USA meeting everyone who does Aikido, that is.

[Bruce Baker]

By the way, I have had to put off my trip until Jan 2003.

Put a new motor in my van, got my two kids started with car and a truck .... same old, same old for dear old dad.

Hopefully, things will continue to get better and 2003 will be Aikido year for me.

People are so much different in person than they are on the Aikiweb.

[happysod]

Thanks for the reply, appreciate the sentiments ('specially regarding work).

Good luck in 2003 and if you're an aikido masochist and want to see some really bad aikido, you're welcome in London, UK (going off your posts - you'd hate us, undisciplined, noisy and the rest.. but we do drink well and know some very tacky restaurants).

[tedehara]

By the way, I have had to put off my trip until Jan 2003...
If you're traveling from east to west in the USA, you'll either go by or pass through the Chicago area. If you do, drop by (http://home.att.net/~tedehara/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html).

Right now, we only have class on Mondays.:(