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My absence from the forums -- The true story.

Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 1:35 pm
by Deep Sea
My absence from the forums -- The true story.

I have been ungaged in Uechi-ryu hard training for the past several months, mainly on my own, but also an advanced black belt student and instructor has been monitoring my performance as well as working out with me once a week. My immediate goal is to put myself into whatever peak position I can be in -- and then remain there by not changing my Uechi-routine.

I occasionally read some of the forums, but the practice of Uechi-ryu has replaced the internet of Uechi-ryu for me, for the mostpart, and will continue to dominate my Uechi-ryu.

My goals are to
a) Get better at what I am
b) Loose 20# by the end of the summer, and Cyber-Uechi isn't doing it for me.
c) Give something back to the organization to which I belong.

Maybe a tough issue for me, but a tough task to pull-off as well.

Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 2:07 pm
by benzocaine
Very good idea Allen :)

And it is working...

Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2004 3:06 pm
by gmattson
Allen dropped over to show me his NEW (yes, new) "tweaked" and modified Harley. He was dressed in new leathers and as he walked towards the house, I mistood him for Brad Pitt! :)

Much thinner and more muscular than before. Balance much better too. Looking forward to seeing him perform at the 21st New England Dan Test.

PS. Jay Salhanick is doing a fine job coaching Al.

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 12:28 am
by Deep Sea
Thanks for the Kudos, George.

The firstest is the mostest:

Sensei Salhanick, some years back, moved across the street for me while he was studying for his Computer Science Degree. We traded Uechi and Computer software expertises on Saturday mornings either at my place or his for some time.

Only two years ago I discovered that I had been training without a sensei for a number of years even though I regularly worked out at others' dojo and was teaching at my second Uechi-ryu dojo -- Duh!

After a number of meetings and morning coffees with Jay, Sensei took me under his wing [tutalage] after my asking, and provided sorely needed guidance as well as an additional mentor to help rid some nasty bugs from my techniques.

Secondly:

Thinner and muscular? George, you've always been known to say nice things about people, and now I'm leaning a little off balance. :oops:

Thirdly:


The bike. Plans for this one started last fall. I ordered a Low Rider to be built for me from the ground-up by Harley-Davidson through a dealer. It arrived six weeks behind schedule and then the dealer put in two more weeks to finish the customization. Several high points of the custom effort are fuel injection [Nitrous Oxide next?] a hydraulic clutch [still manual shift], heated handgrips, and a little gizmo that turns red traffic lights green -- legally -- by making the lights think the little bike is a monster semi.

Had her for only a couple of weeks, and if it were not for the weather this week, she had an appointment into the shop shortly for the 1,000 mile service routine.

Last Saturday I rode my 1200C Sportster 1/2 way home from winter storage located in the northern part of the state, pulled into a rest area, handed the keys to Dennis, and then told him it was his. We rode all weekend, met up with a group of bikers on Sunday and rode some more. My core [body] temperature must have dropped 20 degrees.

Monday, just in time for the snows, I built a Bike Barn.

If you stay tuned to this page, George, I'll work at preparing some pictures of my new ride to post here.

Here 'tis, George:
Image

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 4:09 am
by 2Green
Hi, Mr. Moulton.
I always appreciated your posts and learned a lot from them; I respect you as a senior UechiKa here.
Your personal story as I have read it here is an amazing one.
Hope you will stay with us, and hope to meet you at the Camp someday soon. I'll seek you out and introduce myself.

NM

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 6:03 am
by Deep Sea
Thank you so much, NM.

I don't get "deep" into my personal story in the public eye. However, if I did, a true hero would emerge -- my wife. All I did was stand up and then slap the dust from my jeans after I had fallen. But it was she who provided the conduit and gave me strength during the times when I began to falter. Metaphorically she extended the hand to help me pull myself up -- all I did was reach for it. Also, metaphorically she kicked me in the butt at times when I stubbornly didn't reach out for her hand. I may have been the Phoenix, but she was the crowbar.

I'm not leaving. I'm fussy and spoiled selecting Senseis because, like I am in selecting bikes, I search for the best, and refuse most along the way. Sensei Salhanick is, in my opinion, the cream of the crop. It is I who is so fortunate he accepted my offer. Now, it is Sensei who has extended the hand in the martial arts to help keep me remain active and improving. On a friendship level we are peers, but on a martial arts level we are Sempai/Kohai.

For the summer camp, I will be there. I already have been in touch with other Uechi bikers and some of us are going to meet at the camp. I'm a native of the area, so I may organize a ride for a Saturday luncheon or dinner at a famous New England restaurant in the area.

Martial arts is aa way of life for me and I practice it in my daily routine in my interaction with others even though not in the fighting mode. It's in my blood so I can't stop. The Uechi friends and collegues I have chosen are second to none. For that I al also fortnate.

If what I wrote sounds egotistical, than maybe it is. I seek the best. And I have found the best in Uechi. In that area I claim minor bragging rights and rites.

If what I wrote doesn't make sense, it's ok because the time is late, er early, and I'm waiting for some happy meds to kick in and knock me out.

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 1:24 pm
by benzocaine
Hey that's a nice Honda you have there!


Ha Ha sorry, I couldn't resist being a wise @$$

Seriously though. I am green with envy. Are you going to go to Laconia with your Harly?

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 5:48 pm
by Deep Sea
:snipersmile: :2gunfire:
Hey that's a nice Honda you have there!
OOh, OOOh! OOOHH! ARGHHHH!!! Two weeks ago I sold my prized Super-duty F250 4x4 and now drive a little Honda Civic to make the Low Rider happen so you were closer than you knew with that statemdnt. So put away the green. St. Patti's day is over.
Are you going to go to Laconia
Yup! And you?

You and your Low Rider

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:16 pm
by Alan K
Allen
congratulations to you on the acquisition of the "Low Rider"

It is beautiful!.

More important is your state of health.

I can recall recently at the "Hut" we sat on the blue tarp watching Saturday morning classes, because we both had some pysical impediments.

You were so bothered by your inability, that you jumped up and went down stairs and donned your Gi.

Your determination was amazing, and with the advent of Jay, sensei, I am most happy that you will progress.

At last, I now feel that I will commence my activity in Uechi Ryu with GEM, sensei this coming week-end, having made progress in my health status.

I also remember your support when I went up for promotion at Summer Camp.

Best to you,

Alan K

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2004 9:03 pm
by benzocaine
The great thing about that Harly is that it will retain it's value.


Never been to Laconia, and probably never will go. I'd be more likely to go South these days.. Daytona or Myrtle Beach.

Happy riding.

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 2:42 am
by Deep Sea
You were so bothered by your inability, that you jumped up and went down stairs and donned your Gi.
I remember sitting on the rolled-up tarp and conversing with you. It is always a pleasure to do so. I was also was having a bad day and in some kind of hurt [probably the weather or the cold floor], which also bent my mind a little, like the tiger with a splinter in his paw. I wasn't going to work out, fact I was contemplating leaving. But I looked at everyone lining up facing me. I looked into all their faces and said to myself "I don't belong sitting here, I belong working out with them." ...And then I got up and worked out. When class was over I felt much better both internally and externally.
Your determination was amazing, and with the advent of Jay, sensei, I am most happy that you will progress.
Before my accident I figured I was a fighter, but used all my fight to walk again, with nothing left. When I had my good legs, I used to say "You can take the dog out of the fight but you can't take the fight out of the dog." When I read words like yours or hear similar talk, I feel there might be a little fight left in this old dog, yet. Thanx.
At last, I now feel that I will commence my activity in Uechi Ryu with GEM,
I hate it when I feel challenged like that. Dang! Now I've got to get up off my butt and return to the Hut as well.
I also remember your support when I went up for promotion at Summer Camp.
I remember that your determination was right there, and you earned it.

Benzo, funny thing about Harleys retaining their value. Dennis sold his 883C last fall for almost what he paid for it. The dealer then sold it for MORE than what Dennis paid for it when he bought it new. A few weeks ago, that same dealer made the same type of offer on the 1200C that now belongs to Dennis. Go figure... I've seen, as a standard fare, older Harleys in the Want Advertisers that seem to appreciate in value. I started by looking for an old decreped Harley to rebuild over the winter, but the idea of paying more for an older bike than what it cost new didn't appeal to my senses.

My calendar is also marked for Myrtle Beach. I should be not working by then. Laconia is popular here, and a short ride. Anyway, here is another picture of the bike:

Image