Message to Sensei Gary
by Nicholas Lauer
Message to Sensei Gary...
Hello Sensei:
So, it sucks to say, I can’t make it tonight, the final class before the Winter Nationals. I wasn’t able to tell anyone I can’t go Saturday because this weekend my high school sister is being honored in Anaheim for her work with a charity group. However, I really wanted to share this and I hope you speak it to the class tonight. You can say it before or after but I wrote this little “pep talk” as a way of showing appreciation for all you and the club have done for me. The following is for the whole class if you want to read it (And please let me know if you do!). I hope that’s okay and it doesn’t take up much of the night. So here it is:
To my Senseis and classmates,
This may shock you all, but I’m not good with people socially. Ha ha ha. But everyday I come to class, I keep too few words and not always the best ones. I speak in the language of sarcasm and often times, the language of frustration. In a sense, the enemy of Judo. While I’m early in the steps of learning what Judo is about, and applying it to my life, you all mean more to me than I let on. Whether it’s Ishmael’s experience, Noah’s intensity, CJ’s wisdom, Kevin’s chill attitude, or anyone else, you all have inspired me this year as I took control of my life after some years of feeling lost in it. So now, I speak to you what I have to offer...rousing optimism and lots of random knowledge. Which strangely I can bring everywhere else but when I’m getting thrown around. Go figure.
In many cultures, the world uses the elements of nature to define meaning. Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. In my own experiences, I have established my own meaning for each and I wish them to you as you go out this Saturday to test yourselves. Like the Earth, I hope your feet remain unmovable against resistant. Like Water, I hope you know when to go with the movement of your opponent. Like Fire, I hope each technique you use springs to life with the speed of flashes or sparks. And like Air...well...I hope you land with grace even when you’re on the opposing side of those flames.
I have a long way to go before I’m at the level of many of you. But knowing each of you this year has been an honor, even when I’m not able to show it. You are all warriors, but more than anything you are all the best of the world taking form right before the eyes of our Senseis. It is an honor to stand with you every day I come. Judo is called “The Gentle Way”. It is not a martial art defined by aggression but balance between the dynamic and the gentle. May your balance guide you. Your attacks dynamic and your falls gentle. Much as life, we’re defined by how we do both. If that’s the case, you are all already masters in your own right...but you know...don’t act that way around Sensei OJ...he’ll make you do push-ups. 😁
I’ll end on this note, and I thank Sensei for reading this if he does so. I once told my students that life is very much like a fight. Round after round we face our great obstacles. So I say to you what I said to them. Wrap your hands boys and girls...the next round is this Saturday. And you’re all already winners. So just stay hydrated and enjoy the round.
You all mean a lot more to me than I let on. I hope they get to hear it and let me know if they do. But either way, good luck to everyone there on Saturday. You have some amazing students there Sensei.
Sincerely,
Nicholas E. Lauer, 12-4-2019
You’re terrific asset to our club. I love seeing you grow. I love the way you express yourself. I think you have very good knowledge of who you are. And these are all the things that Kano had in mind about becoming a better character. It’s obvious judo is really doing a lot of good for you and you’re giving back in the true spirit of our principles. Thanks for sharing this with me.
Sensei Gary