Rule Number One

LOOK AT THE LIGHT

I was up in my other bedroom, and saw this LIGHT hitting my Judo Gi, and yeah, that was THAT!

Photo-Op.

My Judo Gi was just sitting right there ... Too easy.

Took a "few shots", you know me!

Shoot, Adjust, Shoot, Adjust, Shoot, Adjust, then Shoot, Shoot, Shoot!

Got MY SHOT!

That easy.

It was all RIGHT THERE in front of me!

Done.

LOOK AT THE LIGHT!

Like, in your face!

Easy.

And yes! I've had that Gi for YEARS!

Like, over in Japan, 1977.

Still have it, but yeah, haven't practiced for YEARS!

Got my BROWN belt over in Japan, and then taught Judo back at my "Home School" at night for some, Summer Program thing, while going to Junior college ...

Then, after planning on going to Cortland State for college ( a few girls I knew went there!), once I graduated from my Junior College, yeah, I was back home that summer hanging out at my friend's Body Shop one day, when a younger brother of one of our friends, mentioned he was going to another State College that I applied to, that had a Judo Club ...

Say what?

Done deal! I changed "over" that day! See, I had been accepted there anyways, so yeah, just like that, I went to "The Judo School" to finish up on my Bachelor's Degree in History.

Made sense to me.

That quick, that easy!

BROCKPORT STATE COLLEGE had a former Japanese, WWII fighter pilot, that taught something way out of my realm, but, he also taught Judo! Perfect.

Felt like I was right back in Japan once again! We had quite the "CLUB"! Even took 3rd place at The Eastern Collegian Judo Championships that was held down at West Point that year, what? Like 1982, yeah, that sounds about right!

All the "BIG" Schools! The Naval Academy, West Point, Syracuse, Penn State, Colgate, Indiana, you name 'em! Oh, and yeah, BROCKPORT STATE, of course!

Our team placed third overall, and yeah, I also placed THIRD in my weight class ... I got beat by a Cuban, that went to some Community College down in Florida ... He was LEFT handed, and yeah, that was different!

My FIRST, and only time, fighting a left-handed opponent in Judo!

DIFFERENT!

But wait! There I go again ... What image got me off on Judo?

Duh? For once, one that actually MAKES SENSE!

Yeah, that light! That RED circle (from the Japanese flag), and then HESSELL on the left, and my instructor's name on the right in Japanese ...

Those were the days!

I bet not too many people pick their college because of a Judo Club, which was not even a, you know, "real" college sport!

Worked for me!

I loved it!

And yeah, because Dr. Ashida was one of the highest ranking Japanese Black Belts in America, yeah, he sent everything back to Japan, and the :Headquarters of Judo, and I got the "REAL DEAL" as far as Black Belts go in America!

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

I won't mention that he was also a young, Kamikaze Pilot, ahh, "in training", back in 1945 ... Ahh, anyway!

Brockport State College, right there next to the old Eire Canal, in Central New York.

Go figure.

Good Judo Club.

Well back, you know, "in the day"!

Enjoy your "JOURNEY" in life, you never know ...

Well, at least I didn't!

And still don't.

Good luck with that!

Just keep your eye out for, say it with me ... "GOOD LIGHT"!

Anywhere at anytime.

Just GET OUT THERE!