Rose School of Karate 2009 Disciple Retreat


I held my 2009 Disciple Retreat again at my home in Dover, NH this year, but only a single day. Due to the unknown pending H1N1 flu I didn't want anyone traveling by air, and because of the economy I felt it important to keep everyone's expenses to a minimum - net cost to them was distributing the cost of the morning's coffee and donut holes and subs for lunch.

Current Picture

Everyone met at my home Saturday morning at 7:30am for coffee and donuts, and I bagan my opening remarks by 7:45am. We took about a half hour break around noon for delivered subs from Kendall Pond, and worked straight through until about 7:00pm for dinner, though I brought out some cinnamon spiced hot apple cider with cheese and turkey kielbassa during the mid-afternoon sessions.

Again, to keep expenses down, I just fixed a Barilla spaghetti and Tuscan garlic bread feast with apple crisp and ice cream for desert. Marvelous and quick. It was a long day; almost 15 hours of pretty intense work.

But I did close the retreat at 10:00pm as I had promised everyone I would. Unfortunately, I had forgotten about the apple crisp until Yondan Tim House reminded me. So, some stayed and had that and we chatted a little more. But everyone was out the door by 10:30pm, so that was good. I didn't get to bed until after mid-night so just slept in until 9:00am Sunday morning. Hope everyone enjoyed the challenges of once again trying to keep up with me!



Current Picture
Gathering for morning coffee. 4th Degree Black Belt Yondan Russ Jones, 4th Degree Black Belt Yondan Tim House, 2nd Degree Black Belt Nidan Scott Williams, 3rd Degree Black Belt Sandan Jim Nancarrow, and 2nd Degree Black Belt Nidan Rick Downs just out of camera range to the right, but he's there!

Current Picture
2nd Degree Black Belt Nidan Rick Downs and 4th Degree Black Belt Yondan Russ Jones wondering if it's over yet. No, guys. I've just gotten started and you'll be pleased to know that it won't stop for another 13 hours....

Current Picture
I'm only smiling because I know what's coming and no one else does. It became 'the question of the day' and we were only a few hours into it at this point.

Current Picture
3rd Degree Black Belt Sandan Jim Nancarrow, and 2nd Degree Black Belt Nidan Scott Williams wondering, I'm sure, if there are any more donut holes left. At that point in the day, it was all anyone could focus on.

Current Picture
4th Degree Black Belt Yondan Tim House just taking it all in and glad that, for once, he's not at the center of some shit-storm.

Current Picture
15 hours later and no one wanted to stand next to the old guy with the knife in his hand. But it was just for the purposes of cutting up the apple crisp....

Current Picture
2nd Degree Black Belt Nidan Scott Williams, 3rd Degree Black Belt Sandan Jim Nancarrow standing clear of the old guy with the knife.

Current Picture
Our cameraman for the day, 4th Degree Black Belt Yondan Tim House, could not resist taking another shot of 2nd Degree Black Belt Nidan Scott Williams lurking in the background and encouraging 3rd Degree Black Belt Sandan Jim Nancarrow forward to get his piece of apple crisp first to be sure it was safe. I'm certain that was the case; no? Good apple crisp, by the way, and all in good fun and friendship after a long day of intense work.

Back to Rose School of Karate Home Page