Doc
Senior Master
Most recently, I had the opportunity to meet one of our MartialTalk regular participants. Mr. Kevin Kilroe, (who posts under his own name) was in the state for an event in Northern California. Mr. Kilroe took the time and energy to actually come through Southern California to say hello. He called me on the phone and after we had the opportunity to talk for a while, I invited him to come by the school while I was teaching a class. He came by with his lovely wife, and I finally had a chance to put a face to the name I knew so well from our many on-line debates.
He was an absolute gentleman and I felt I had a new friend almost instantaneously. His wife was gracious, and like most Kenpo wives, patient as we hashed back and forth and exchanged ideas and concepts. Ultimately she too got into the act, and it was clear to me then, that she also trained in Kenpo with the best neutral bow in "heels" I had ever seen. The three of us were so involved that class time flew by and they stayed until we finished. Afterwards we took a few pictures to mark the occasion.
Mr. & Mrs. Kilroe are not the only great people I have met through this forum. Dr. David Crouch, Jason Bugg, Andrew King, Rich Mathews, also comes to mind most recently.
The point is a simple one. MartialTalk has been a tremendous vehicle for all of us to expand our knowledge, and reach out and make friends with people we probably would have never met otherwise. Then to actually get together face-to-face and converse reminded me how important in-person communications is to a cordial exchange of ideas. Facial expressions, body language, the rhythm we utilize when we talk, etc all contribute to the communication process.
Mr. Kilroe is a soft-spoken gentleman and his wife is an absolute jewel. I am so glad I had the opportunity to add these two lovely people to my world of people I can say, I know them personally. I look forward to the next time they are in California or I am in their neighborhood.
I also attended and participated in a seminar in San Diego over the weekend, and got my first in-person look at some internet regulars.
It was a great group and everyone was gracious and polite. I was reunited when some of the old school guys I watched come up, and trained with. There was Tom Post, Dan Laxson, Frank Trejo, Willy Steele, Rick Hughes, along with Darrin Philips and his lovely daughter Desi who I met for the first time. The gracious host school owner Mr. Gary Wilson and his lovely fiancé, Robert Nabors, Mike Jenkins, John LaTurno, etc. There was even a rumor that Clyde OBriant was there thumping on people.
As much fun as the seminar was, the dinner conversation was even better and I felt, once again, This really old fat guy made some more friends. And the best part was, Dennis Conatser didn't show up which meant there was enough food left at the Chinese Buffet for the rest of us.
Isnt MartialTalk great.
He was an absolute gentleman and I felt I had a new friend almost instantaneously. His wife was gracious, and like most Kenpo wives, patient as we hashed back and forth and exchanged ideas and concepts. Ultimately she too got into the act, and it was clear to me then, that she also trained in Kenpo with the best neutral bow in "heels" I had ever seen. The three of us were so involved that class time flew by and they stayed until we finished. Afterwards we took a few pictures to mark the occasion.
Mr. & Mrs. Kilroe are not the only great people I have met through this forum. Dr. David Crouch, Jason Bugg, Andrew King, Rich Mathews, also comes to mind most recently.
The point is a simple one. MartialTalk has been a tremendous vehicle for all of us to expand our knowledge, and reach out and make friends with people we probably would have never met otherwise. Then to actually get together face-to-face and converse reminded me how important in-person communications is to a cordial exchange of ideas. Facial expressions, body language, the rhythm we utilize when we talk, etc all contribute to the communication process.
Mr. Kilroe is a soft-spoken gentleman and his wife is an absolute jewel. I am so glad I had the opportunity to add these two lovely people to my world of people I can say, I know them personally. I look forward to the next time they are in California or I am in their neighborhood.
I also attended and participated in a seminar in San Diego over the weekend, and got my first in-person look at some internet regulars.
It was a great group and everyone was gracious and polite. I was reunited when some of the old school guys I watched come up, and trained with. There was Tom Post, Dan Laxson, Frank Trejo, Willy Steele, Rick Hughes, along with Darrin Philips and his lovely daughter Desi who I met for the first time. The gracious host school owner Mr. Gary Wilson and his lovely fiancé, Robert Nabors, Mike Jenkins, John LaTurno, etc. There was even a rumor that Clyde OBriant was there thumping on people.
As much fun as the seminar was, the dinner conversation was even better and I felt, once again, This really old fat guy made some more friends. And the best part was, Dennis Conatser didn't show up which meant there was enough food left at the Chinese Buffet for the rest of us.
Isnt MartialTalk great.
