2005 Workout #99: The Return of the Queen…

I promise you all that it would upset him greatly if he knew the general perception of him. Derek still considers me a friend, so I would appreciate it if elements of this post do not get back around to him (talking to you, ). I thought it was important to share what Derek’s feelings were on the tonights events and provide my candid thoughts. I have restricted this post to only black belts and spouses from our dojo and non-karate related friends.

Tonight was interesting. Olar-san showed up again after many years of absence, causing a lukewarm reception followed by the most balls kicking basics workout the world has ever seen. It was the karate equivalent of an abortion. And not the “take a pill” kind. The kind that gets plastered on the side of trucks to shock people.

Oedewaldt made a minor transgression by letting him lead warmups. I wouldn’t have let him, however Oedewaldt is well aware of the bad feelings that swirl around the fact that Olar did not pass his Nidan at the same time as he did. I think he was purely thinking of trying to mend fences, and I suppose he can’t be faulted for that.

During The Great Asskicking, Olar ran out for a drink of water. Apparently, he was “waylaid” by Sensei Brewer who took the opportunity to ask whether or not Derek had paid up his dues. He said he was merely here to get a sweat up or something, and tried to laugh it off, however Sensei then told him he couldn’t work out if he hadn’t paid.

Rightly so, thought as we all did that Olar had just gotten fed up with the hard workout and bailed ten minutes into it. That lead to a very warranted and well put speech on what respect is and what it means.

We were informed of the happenings in a black belt meeting after class. We were told that he wasn’t asked directly to leave, but he was asked that his dues be paid. The topic of his national dues was also brought up, citing that his national membership was lapsed and that meant that he did not get teaching duties in the dojo.

I had the opportunity to chat with Derek after class, and he views this take as complete and utter BS, citing the fact that nobody else was required to pay for a “just visiting” class. He cited specific cases… Quinn, Dirst, Beeney, and me when I was at college and just dropping by. He’s mad because he is able to see the very thinly veiled “get the fuck out” message, however he just wanted someone to be direct with him about it. This, coupled with the aforementioned Odie thing, has really degraded his faith and respect for the dojo.

His attitude is REALLY bad. He doesn’t think that anyone has been direct with him about why he didn’t pass, why he was being taken out of the teaching “rotation” and why he was not given the standard courtesy of a visiting black belt. He thinks that by our not questioning Sensei, it makes us brainless “yes men” that blindly follow the rules so long as they don’t inconvience us. He also mentioned something that happened with Brackney-san, but I wasn’t here for that so I didn’t have much to say.

I tried to tell him that Sensei has been more approachable lately and maybe he should try to talk to him directly, but he said he’d just get his questions evaded. I told him to talk to if he wanted straight answers but he considers him as the “head of the yes men.” At this point, my brain shut off completely and I stopped seriously responding to his chat.

You can do a little of certain things like rag on Sensei for being a little evasive or hard to talk to. You can bitch about people getting ranks they may not have 100% of the skill for. But calling Sensei Hartman a yes man about blew my stack. I’ve known Jim for over half my life and a yes man he is NOT. I promise you all that this will not go unnoticed if the situation arises that I spar with Olar.

Derek apparently has many issues about Oedewaldt passing his test ahead of him. I think he has guessed the truth that his attitude and arrogance is what holds him back. I don’t understand his sense of entitlement to directly addressing personality issues… that’s something that noone has ever gotten in our dojo. I imagine there have been times that things I do piss people off, but do I expect someone to come and directly dress me down because of it? No. Because its never happened that way except for very specific circumstances.

He doesn’t think he has EVER done anything wrong and that’s the most troubling thing of all. Its quite sad, really. I just hope that the Ghost of Karate Past will drift away into the ether like so many others have.