I found this message on a 7-Habits of Highly Effective People calendar given to me as a holiday gift ... It struck me as aikido-relevant. <p>

"To focus on techniques is like cramming your way through school. You sometimes get by, perhaps even get good grades, but if you don't pay the price day in and day out, you never achieve true mastery of the subjects you study or develop an educated mind." <p>

There remains much study ahead.

The popularity of my last seminar resulted in being invited to give it again. Aspiring club leaders were asked to "Re-Visit a Toastmasters Dojo." And, this time around I focused on the theme: Surrender to the Discipline. To underscore the point of taking a risk when speaking in public, a backward "ukemi" illustrated that one can take a fall yet gracefully recover from any hostile "push" from a heckler in the audience. At the end of the seminar, a women came up to me and promised to visit a real aikido dojo where she's likely to start her practice.

I agree with John. For some time now, I have noticed that fewer people are routinely showing up for any of the classes. If there is a problem with the Center, schedule, teachers, students, fees, etc. please let me know about it. We can correct anything we know about.