Tonight, I was graced with a most heart-felt gesture. The senior sensei is a wonderful elderly German man. He is second Dan and this year he is 76, marking 62 years, at least, of judo. I had recently rediscovered my judo books and mentioned to my sensei that if there were any books he didn't want or considered selling, I am interested in acquiring them. He then took off to the storage cupboard and pulled out four books, one of which I had started planning on acquiring from America. This particular book is not the easiest to get and can be particularly pricey. Along with three other books, one of which was in German, he handed them to me. After discussing how he had to learn all his martial arts from books as practice was forbidden after the Second World War, and translating a judo comic from the German book, I asked him when he would like them back. He told me they were mine. He wanted me to have them.
As I was supervising the younger judoka as my sensei was searching for something, he returned with another book, roughly A4 sized. He told me he paid roughly 20 pounds for it at the time he bought it, and it has gone out of print for some years. He told me he would prefer to see me with his books than try to give them to anyone else because he feels they would not be appreciated properly. He wants someone to use them, and that he won't be around forever, at which point he promptly said he would leave the rest of his library to me in his will. All said with a light-hearted smile.
This sensei of mine is more than just a judo instructor: he has become like a grandfather to me. He always looks out for me and took me under his wing from the the first few lessons all those years back. I ingest everything he says, and not just because it is delivered in a delightful German accent.
My future judo practice will be tribute to his nurturing.
The elusive book that was kindly given to me. There are two books, and I already had one. This completes my set. Greater than that, it is filled with incredible instruction, and best of all, it was given to me by someone who has earned a dear place in my heart.
