For The Record

I did NOT NOT NOT volunteer yesterday.

In fact, I hid in the corner. Behind the BOB dummy. I'd have crawled under the chairs to escape if I thought it would have helped... but being dragged out by an ankle is so undignified....

Anyway, from my perspective the Children & Young Adults course was likely to be the least directly useful to me because:

1. I only teach adults in my class (University = 18+ thank God...)
2. Having been a schoolteacher on and off since 1992, I already know all about teaching kids, right???
3. I couldn't think of anything I might learn that would add to what i could figure out from 1 and 2.

But fortunately I'm smart enough to know that just because I can't think of anything that might be there for me doesn't mean there's nothing to be learned. After all, if I could think of it then I'd already know it, so what's out there that I can't think of because I've never heard of it???

If that makes any sense.

I wasn't wrong. There WERE things I hadn't thought of and didn't know. I DID get some new ideas - and a sore patch on the side of my head. Point is, no matter how much you think you know, nobody has all the answers. Dave seems to have most of them, though, and courses like this one are well worth it, often in unexpected ways.

Beisdes, it's nice to meet up with other folks walking the same path and maybe smack a face bar on a couple of them...

Overall? I had a good day and learned stuff. Like I said this was the course least likely to be useful to me and it STILL delivered... well worth the time and two near-death experiences on the motorway...!

On an unrelated note...

Dave T gets some criticism at times. This is often to do with being seen slathering mustard on someone's sacred cow, but anyhow...

Dave is an extremely high-grade and important man, the head of a pretty large organisation. Most such people are too 'important' to worry about petty little things like what I asked a while back. But not Dave.

Y'see, one of my students was leaving (permanently) to go back to Finland, and she wanted a certificate for her grade (Yellow Belt, if it matters). Now I don't normally issue certificates before black belt, and I'm rubbish at creating them.

I asked Dave if there was one and there wasn't... so he created one for her.

Unna's farewell session was thus very special for her. We even wore gi-and-belt (Chris too...!!!!) to present the certificate and she was thrilled. It really was a big deal to her, and something nice to take home to Finland.

Point is, I don't imagine many 8th Dans or organisation heads make time for this kind of thing. But that's why people like Dave attract people like me, and Chris, and all the others.

So, that's my unsolicited testimonial thing... whatever criticism people may level at Dave, he looks after his own people. That's worth a lot.

thanks Martin .. I appreciate the posts..

Oh by the way people MJD is a very good author with some great material out on self-defence, and a NEW book on weapons.. all weapons that is .. swords, tanks, big and little 'guns' (crap word guns)..

not sure if he has a website (Martin?) or contact details (again.. Martin?) but his stuff is well worth the read

There's a semi-complete listing of my titles at
http://www.authorsites.co.uk/authorpage.php?author_id=42

We even wore gi-and-belt (Chris too...!!!!)

First time in about ten years!!

We were all so very self-conscious about the gi thing.... funny really.

You have to do these things sometimes. If she goes back home with a nice memory then that's great. More than worth it.

It now all becomes clear...
Chris's thread on dropping weight, It was to be able to fit in his old gi.

Trevor

Who has no room to talk - a quote from Neil F to my training partner one night '' you might find this take down hard to do on Trev with him being stout '' STOUT ????????

Being slapped by Dave, however lightly, is like being run over by a train.

Only not nearly as pleasant.

I just thought the world should understand that.

Any doubts about the slap as a finisher, talk to Dave. Indeed say 'Dave, please slap me a bit'. And then you'll understand.

MJD wrote:There's a semi-complete listing of my titles at
http://www.authorsites.co.uk/authorpage.php?author_id=42

Traveller now that takes me back MJD,

Yup. I don't normally admit to being a 'Gaming Industry Professional' (GIMP for short?) But yeah, we're still publishing.

I remember my Cousin introducing me to Traveller about 84ish and got hooked on it. Happy days oh Im certified Geek

[quote]'' you might find this take down hard to do on Trev with him being stout '' STOUT ????????

I always thought it was just a naturally low centre of balance Trev....

Paul

I would never have called Trev stout.

Awkward, aggressive, committed and sneaky... not stout though.

Aaawww, it's no fun if he doesn't bite...!

Still, I'm sure it will be 'mentioned' next time we train (well, you know how sensitive some of these people with a low centre of gravity can be...)

Paul