the people on the bus...



We call the Saturday morning adult open ranks class at the dojo "The Short Bus." The Short Bus is the one that used to bring the special needs kids to school, remember? The way we figure it, any adult who gets up on Saturday morning for a 9 am class and lets other half-asleep people throw them around must have a special need or two. I know it's not PC, but hey, it's our joke. You don't like it, don't laugh at it.

Mike: Second Degree Black Belt
"Mike-o Psycho," the first member of the Black Belt Club to be booted for getting his black belt, is currently attending college in Rhode Island, but comes back to terrorize us -- oops, I mean attend classes -- at vacations and holidays.
TJ: Second Degree Black Belt
TJ moves trees for a living. TJ is big. TJ is big and fast. TJ is big and fast and moves trees for a living. TJ is going for his black belt in December. Need I say more?
TJ received his Black Belt on Dec. 4th, 1998! Way to go, TJ!
Eric: Black Belt
The Driver of the Bus, Eric leads stretches and warmups on Saturday mornings. He has more excruciating ways to hurt a bad guy than anyone I know. I'm glad he's on my side.
Eric received his Black Belt on June 4, 1999!
Diane: First Degree Brown Belt
This is me!!
Chuck: Second Degree Brown Belt
Chuck says he's the oldest of us, but I don't buy it. He's another big 'un, with a heart the size of the rest of him. (Not really a member of the Short Bus, but he's my friend and this is my page. So there.)
Ken: First Degree Brown Belt
Ken is one of the newer passengers on the Short Bus. You could call him the Class Clown, but basically... well, Ken's got issues.
Joe: Second Degree Brown Belt
We met standing in line for the heavy bag at Sport Karate. He's one of my very best friends, and I'd trust him at my back any day of the week.
Joe was nominated to the Black Belt Club at the beginning of December, 1998. Woo hoo!!

Author's Note: Black Belt Club Members' names are in italics

The Black Belt Club

Currently, the Black Belt Club is made up of the top ten percent of the student body of the school. We are asked to make a deeper committment to attaining the rank of black belt, and are trained in leadership and teaching techniques as well as given extra training in our own material. I can't speak for the kids, but we adults are pretty tight-knit. It's a good feeling.
It's interesting to note that this is one of the few clubs you can join where you get kicked out for doing something good -- getting your Black Belt.


Sport Karate

Sport Karate is an extra class attended by almost all the members of the Short Bus. There we concentrate on forms and sparring, which are events in which we may compete if we attend tournaments. Competing in tournaments is by no means required to attend Sport Karate, but it is encouraged and we always do really well. I got first place in forms at my last tournament, and I hope to do as well at my next one.... we'll see.

We hope to have a Sport Karate team soon, and we'll be attending some open tournaments. I'm told that the Villari patch is like a target; that they'll be out to get us because we're from Villari's and have such a great tradition. Let 'em come -- we'll be ready.


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