At the same time, I was excited for the chance to keep on training. I LOVED Kali Majapahit (still do!) and wanted nothing more than to just share it with everyone (yup, still do!). It went OK, not great just OK, but luckily students can be a pretty forgiving lot, and people stuck with me. I have tried hard to improve since then. Thanks for staying with me.
5 years (and a few ITA sessions in Singapore) later and we have a GREAT group in Japan. Not a good group, a GREAT GROUP. At the core are some students (now Kasamas, mostly) who have trained with me for a few years, as well as a bunch of younger students making their way through the ranks one step at a time. I love who they are as growing kalista. I love each new discovery they reach - that moment when things start coming together and it starts to make sense, the puzzle pieces falling into place.
At the same time, I love watching my kasamas teach. I love when they explain something so perfectly, with energy and passion, hitting all the right key points that make it work. I can remember when they were first learning it - now they are ready to pass it on. When my brothers and sisters from overseas come to visit I am proud to show them our Kali Family. I am proud when we attend seminars together and people comment how good our kalista are, not just as fighters, but as PEOPLE. We are a family that truly support each other and are there to help each other grow and learn. I feel so incredibly lucky to have a group like this to call home.
There have been many times when our class was the main thing that kept me going. Through a lot of tough personal times, Fridays were always "Our Time" to be together and something I looked forward to each week, sometimes the only thing I looked forward to. As much as I gave to everyone, they gave to me. They stayed committed to their training, and I knew I couldn't let them down. I had to give 100% every class because they always deserve my absolute best. Now we have even grown enough to have classes on Tuesday too, so twice I week I can do what I love most.
Every year brings new developments in Kali Majapahit. We are doing so much more than we were when I joined. I love the tradition, and the fellowship of my other instructors around the world, as well as our many brothers and sisters in so many countries. I wish I could see them all more. Many of our family have chosen to go beyond just a metaphorical warrior journey and embark on a real "warrior quest" around the world, just like Guro Fred and Guro Lila did so long ago. I am jealous. Respect to you for going all-in on your dreams.
When I reflect on my KM Journey, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction. It has been such a tremendous benefit to me and the others in my life. I am always grateful to my KM Family, especially Guro Fred and Guro Lila, for giving me the keys to make such a happy life for myself, and for creating something so good I have to share it with everyone I can. Thank you for getting me involved and for keeping me involved. Thank you for putting together something we can use to make the world a better place. I truly believe our curriculum is the very best, and has so many fantastic keys to personal development. I hope everyone can get a chance to try it and see.
To all my brothers and sisters in KM, thank you for being part of this global family. I hope you will keep spreading the message and keep on going to achieve all the goals you set - every time. Recognize that you are part of something very, very special - something precious. Treasure it and pass it on to the people you love most. Make it your own. Make every class matter. Keep growing and never stop. Become an instructor and pass it on.
To my fellow instructors, thanks for inspiring me and for giving 100% inside of class and out just like I do. We are bound together by our common experience, and you are my heroes. I can't wait to see you again. You are always welcome with us in Japan.
Warm regards,
John
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