Today was a very important day for me, as Director of Budokon Canada...after four years of working with some very passionate and devoted students I had the deep honor of watching them perform their Budokon Red Belt Kata, and break their boards (1 jab, 1 front kick) in front of my own teacher, Kancho Cameron Shayne, founder and creator of the Budokon practice.

Watching these students (now Senseis) earn their Red Belts moved me to tears. Their hard work truly embodied the virtues so important to our practice: Patience and Perseverance (osu).

I am very proud of you all.

Introducing Canada's newest Budokon Red belts:
Sensei Steve Robins, my first and most dedicated student.
Sensei Gerry Lipnowski, boss, student, colleague.

Introducing Canada's newest Budokon Red Belt Teachers:
Sensei Jennifer Horvath, fearlessness and form embodied
Sensei Ramin Salimi, his name means serenity, and so does his teaching.
Sensei Dr. Suzanna McDonald, small ferocious tigress, indeed.
Sensei Celine Shrileighlagh Burlock, determined despite the distance.

You give me all great honor, and deep joy.
And thank you Sensei Steve, for your epic poems, on all our big occasions.

Sensei Annick Robinson

The Way of the Limbic Warrior

By Sensei Steve Robins, on the occasion of the first Budokon Canada Red Belt exams.

Thought: Tao 16, Ramin
Empty your mind of all thoughts
Let your heart be at peace

Our Red Belt adventure, oh what a weekend
Stuck in a time capsule 27 hours with friends
Could have been shorter, but oh that depends
On Sensei Ramins non-stop rambling, on that I contend

So please empty your mind of thoughts, but on your own clock
And know that your heart is at peace, cause we all think you rock
Tranquil Sensei Ramin, your mind is running fast

Just stop the talking, por favor, don't leave us all aghast
Your heart is now in a peaceful place With Red Belt round your waist
Now is time to declare, you are the class ace

 
Emotions: Tao 12, Deborah
She allows things to come and go
Her heart is open to the sky

 
I sit and watch as tears go by
Sensei Deborah with no alibi
A true warrior for all to admire
Your heart is strong your soul is on fire
No excuses for her, she has mastered her fate
Allow your heart to open and know that 50s not late
With determination and will you never gave in
The sky is the limit you will always win

 
Relationships: Tao 33, Gerry
Knowing others is intelligence
Knowing yourself is true wisdom
Mastering others is strength
Mastering yourself is true power

 
Sensei Lipnowski that sounds really corny
Some would agree a Unicorn- is he
Possesses all the qualities of this majestic creature
He proved to himself that he can really feature
The fact that he has strength in more than just muscles
With emotions controlled he no longer tussles
With honesty in spirit he shows his true power
Let this wisdom be known this man does not cower
Many a friend he has made, at Budokon he has earned
It is his kindness that works, this I have learned

 
Environment: Tao 39, Dr. Suzanna
In harmony with the Tao the sky is clear and spacious
The earth is solid and full and all creatures flourish together

In our own Budo microcosm we have our own budo creature
Her Kata was remarkable a very special feature
Not a lion not a unicorn, her stripes do adorn
The small ferocious Tiger broke her boards in a storm
Dr. Suzanna your presence is a comfort to us all
If we get a booboo we know that you're on call.
 

Nutrition: Tao 35, Jennifer
The Tao gives birth to all beings
Nourishes them, maintains them, cares for them, comforts them, protects them

Our most fearless Budokon warrior has the name of Jen
She feeds us inspiration at her spa called Zazen
Nourishes our soul, and spirit, with peaceful kinds of stuff
Like detox, yoga, Pilates, massage, and that's enough
She is our well-being magnate, obsessive just a bit
Compulsive to her clients, for us she's a hit
A hit that broke two pines of wood, that they were strongly made
She is the home of Budokon and that will never fade.

 
Physical: Tao 11, Annick
We join spokes in a wheel,
But it is the center hole
That makes the wagon move

 
81 verses to choose from to describe this Sensei's presence
Each one is appropriate for this is her essence
We are the spokes that she has given form to
Our senses are humming the circle is now true
Around our center we now wear red
Her words of wisdom we were all fed
Our physical practice has made us ripe
More challenges ahead to get the next stripe
Annick is the center of our family
In dojo or in cyberspace she's reality
The wheel now rotates because of her ability to share
Her knowledge and her wisdom for her we do care
I know a man, who eyes searched for hers, after he earned red,
And once contact made it was clear no more need to be said.