Celebrating My Dojo’s 5-Year Anniversary
Jan. 18, 2011 By: Filed in: News & Reviews
Five years ago, on Jan. 16, 2006, I ran my first class for West Coast Jiu-jitsu. Since then, I’ve operated the dojo out of 5 different locations and have run 1023 training sessions. On this occasion, I took the time to remember the dojo’s history and think about how far it has come over the years.
My first class (photo above) was kind of funny in retrospect. Steve Hiscoe Shihan drove out to our dojo with a handful of students to support us for our first class. I started running 2 classes a week. I only had 3 actual students on the mat at that first class, two of which were personal friends of mine. But the dojo grew from that. The one legitimate student brought in his girlfriend. A week later I signed on one of my contract marketing clients. The rest is history.
Now the dojo has about 30 students and we run 6 classes a week with open training twice a month on Sundays. I also promoted one of my first students, Doctor Jenny, to blue belt on the day of our 5-year anniversary. We also have our own space leased rather than renting space a couple of night a week. The dojo has grown into the type of dojo I wanted to run. It’s a friendly place where people can feel welcome. Students can take their training seriously without taking themselves too seriously. Students can pursue their training goals at their own pace and can rely on their instructors and fellow students to help them progress. This isn’t out of any formal sense of obligation, but because we’re all friends. And while we may not be the biggest dojo around, but I like to think we’re able to impact lives in a more meaningful way.
Last night we celebrated at the dojo with a special class followed by a slide show of memories. We then went to a local restaurant to have drinks and enjoy the massive cake I bought for the dojo. As I looked around at all the faces of students both new and those I’ve known for years, I couldn’t help but feel very grateful for the dojo and what it has become. Thanks to all the students that have made the dojo what it is today. Here’s to another 5 years!
We're proud to announce that Lori O'Connell Sensei's new book, When the Fight Goes to the Ground: Jiu-jitsu Strategies & Tactics for Self-Defense, published through international martial arts publisher Tuttle Publishing, is now available in major book stores and online. More about it & where to buy it.
Congratulations Sensei! I know you're getting a lot out of this, but your students benefit more than you know. I celebrate with you!
Good one. My dojo just hit 5 years as well.
Congratulations, I hope to accomplish what you accomplished someday. It's always rewarding to see others benefit from your efforts and knowledge. I think the most rewarding thing must be to train your first black belt, that is someone who started from scratch and whom you can train as you see fit. Anyone with a certain skill level, intelligence and a knack for teaching (springing from genuinly caring about people) should become an instructor one day otherwise the art will decline and die out someday. Still it takes time to become truly skillful (the great majority of people never even get to shodan which is only the beginning) and some people just aren't cut out to be teachers, that is why there are so few genuinly skillful people out there who are also willing and able to teach properly and pass on the art to future generations. This reminds me of a story I read about Edgar Sulite (founder of the Lameco style of escrima) speaking about his own training experiences, he said there are three categories of masters: there are those who are great teachers, there are those who are great fighters and there are those who are both. Obviously the last category is the most desirable and ideally you should study with such a master although it's not very likely you'll find such individual easily.
In about two years our dojo will exist for five years too, we'll probably host a seminar with the best teachers available from the several styles my teacher studies. Hopefully by then we'll have more students and especially some higher ranking ones. Lets hope my old sensei will still be in good health then and willing to give a demonstration, it would be nice to see and speak with him again.
Zara
Félicitation Lori! Congrats!
5 years!
That's fantastic. No dojo can survive without quality instruction, sacrifice, and love of what you teach. The fact that your dojo has prospered over the years is a testament to your character (and that of your students). It's always nice to see that it can be done. So many schools don't make it. I wish you continued success.
Thank you for the congrats, Sylvie and Journeyman! 🙂