Habu Sensei, Sanshin Sensei and Pottery Sensei.

Tonight was very very cool. Habu Sensei, Matsuda Sensei and Soma Sensei came to the bar. They are just the best bunch of people. 

They are everything you expect okinawan Sensei to be and more. They are so kind and down to earth, probably the nicest people on the planet and yet amazing at karate, the art of learning to fight and kill with the goal of never needing to use it.

I don't think these people will ever truly need to use their karate - simply because of the kind of people they are, but maybe they are the people they are, because of karate. 

Nagamine Sensei hit the nail on the head with: 'have a devil's fist and a saint's heart'. 

Between them, they cover all aspects of okinawan culture- Habu sensei the Habu hunter, Matsuda Sensei the Sanshin maker and Soma Sensei the pottery master- they are each very skilled at their other things - and then they all train karate together. 

What with it being a karate bar, filled with karate people, James got beaten up -again. ;) 

Habu Sensei is just something else. 

He has really given me some incredible experiences in Okinawa and is someone I really look up to. He is so kind and would do anything for anyone- he see's the good in everyone and is a true gentleman -yet his karate and his kata is out of this world- sharp, snappy, powerful, precise and more than anything- incredibly fast. Even when he is drunk. 

He really is a very special Sensei. 

Oh, and he told me it was okay to have let the snake he gave us go. I couldn't kill and eat it like he suggested, he will probably have to catch it again when it comes out and scares people again but he was okay with that, he said I have a good heart, I think he would have done the same unless he really needed the snake.