I got all excited reading about the Aussie program on XFamily, and, while readng the posts, along with humor about Vegamite, etc., I got a call-back from another Aussie on a new job as a "Self Defense Instructor" at a couple of Karate dojos headed up by two Aussies, in a Karate style headed up by an (originally) Adelaide Aussie; Go-Kan-Ryu's Kancho (Founding Teacher) Robert Sullivan (see http://www.gkr-karate.org/Formal/Official_History.htm)!
Cool! Now, I am very excited!
My 2nd interview was a GRUELING workout (for me, anyway, the only middle-aged guy there, except for the two top instructors) 2 days ago, and there's a presentation tomorrow, at the "last workout of the year".
I'll get to meet everyone, and there'll be food--maybe even a vegamite sandwich?! WHat's that stuff taste like; any way (I've heard horror stories)? :)
The school is very "Japanese traditional", i.e. no-contact, forms, and "contract sparring" (also mostly no-contact), and the empasis is on whole families joining, self-defense, recreation, the art itself, and healthy discipline! Yay!
When I joined TF in '71, I had been competing at a national level in Tae Kwon Do, which became one of the ways I got my head back together after leaving the cult. It can be a pretty healthy environment.
Any other pre- &/or post-TF other martial artists out there?
I understand that Ricky Rodriguez had done some, to try to focus and calm his anger--breaks my heart--I wish he'd stuck with it--it can be a community of strong and very welcoming people; depending.
