Goodbye my brother.

Hello my friend, brother and everlasting friend. Together we have lived unforgettable moments. We learned how to fight and win against men. We learned how to fight and win against ourselves. We learned how to fight and win against physical pain, hatred, and violence that surrounds us every day. We have been able to overcome the oceans and climb big mountains. We have been able to convey love, respect, esteem and technical quality in many students who have followed us everywhere in the world. But one thing we did not win, the pain of our heart before the death of a loved one.

I will never forget you as a part of you will forever remain in my heart wherever I go and in everything I’ll teach. You will always be with me,as well as the words of your last e-mail:

” I know the martial arts do not feel the same for you right now, but a warrior never quits.  Even in my condition, I close my eyes and feel the swish of my hakama.  No matter what the disease does to my body, I will always be able to be a warrior because I have the mind, I have the spirit.

It sounds to me that your spirit and your mind are not one with your body.  The best thing that you can do for me is to ensure your mind and body and your spirit are that of a warrior.  There is no greater compliment that you can give me than to carry on my heart.

When I take my place on the kamidana, I will be looking for you practicing my art.  I don’t plan on being part of the kamidana for a while.”

Good bye my brother, from where you are now  continue to look me as I guarantee you that I’ll never let you down. Now more than ever we are aware of the values that you have passed on and that make you inevitably a unique man.

I love you

Your brother