Sensei's Rick, Verna, PJ and myself have started a new dojo at the Mohican Family Center. It is on the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican's Reservation near Bowler, Wisconsin. We've started off with two classes. One class for kids ages 7-11 and 12-18.We had a great turnout last week and are expecting more kids in the next few weeks. I had forgotten the great energy young kids bring to the dojo. At the Broken Bokken my kids have all grown up and four of them will be graduating high school this year.
What is really special for myself is that Sensei's Rick, Verna and PJ (Patrick) are members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Nation. They are well known and respected in the community. Our aim is to give the kids another positive activity to do after school that incorporates teaching ancient wisdom of warriorship....that is also fun. We plan on bringing in elders and warriors to talk about what real warriorship is within their culture and traditions.
It is amazing that warriors from all traditions share a remarkable similarity in teaching respect, honor, dignity and many warriors evolve into healers of the community. I am looking forward to what the elders will teach...as well as the kids. They help me reconnect with my own inner child.
Now we just need to come up with a new name for dojo....been thinking of Many Trails Dojo, as the Stockbridge-Munsee Nation has been moved on many trails from the New York Hudson Bay area to here in Wisconsin, thus their logo. However, I will leave the naming up to the students as the dojo evolves....the name will reveal itself. (A side note: Jesse Frank will be testing for his Black Belt in April...I believe it was his grandfather who designed the Many Trails logo for the tribe....and Jesse himself is quite the artist)
Wish us luck...and Jesse too (we're gonna kick the snot out of him :D),
Shinzen
