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1. How did you get the idea for this
trip?
Originally I was only going to visit the USA
for one month, but after announcing it on a Discussion Forum –
several people invited me to come and visit them. Then,
coinciding with my plans, some events occurred which meant I
could attend those. It included the Middfest – a festival
promoting South Africa, the US Kyokushin Championships and a US
National Taekwondo Hanmadang. Later I could also attend a JKF
Goju Kai Kata seminar.
2. Did you have to save money
for it?
I save all the time for overseas trips ...;-)
But what I did was to take along some South African t-shirts
which I sold at the Middfest as I knew several expats would be
attending. I also took along copies of two instructional video’s
which I could sell to augment my income.
3. You said
in your book that the total traveling cost were 3433$. How >much
did you spend in living? Total costs around..?
That
was only transport cost including bus and plane tickets and a bit
for small hops on bus or train. My other cost was for food –
this was mostly on the road as most times I was looked after by
whoever I was visiting. I would say maybe another $1000 for food.
I probably spent far more on the purchasing of Martial Arts
books. (my biggest vice)
4. Did you always overnight
on someones home? Did you stay at the hotels at all?
In
the USA, I slept at a hotel only once – that was when I
visited someone in Pittsburgh, and he had to go somewhere for a
conference and I went with and we stayed over one night in a
hotel. The other time I stayed in a hotel was in Panama and Costa
Rica – maybe a total of 7 days. In Panama and Costa Rica –
that was with my branch reps and they were apprehensive –
so they put me in a hotel – soon, soon I got to stay with
them.
5. How many dojo´s did you visit?
I
visited over 70 different dojo.
6. How many sensei did
you visit?
I stayed with at least 70.
7.
Which were the worst moments of your trip?
Yep,
a couple of times – one when the bus drove away with my
luggage, another when the bus broke down, but probably the worst
was the “racial” incident at the bus terminus in
Kingman when the lady at the counter refused to sell me the
ticket I wanted. What was probably the “highlight”
was the bus crash – but that I consider as a eye opener and
not a worst moment. That bus crash made me realise the importance
of enjoying life to its fullest.
8.
How did other sensei´s take you to their dojo?
Due
to announcing on the list where I was going next, people invited
me to visit and most times were waiting for me at the various bus
depots. I would then not only visit their dojo, but also live
with them. The hospitality accorded me was phenomenal.
9.
Did you have a change to show your style to all dojo´s
visited?
Yes, I was fortunate
that in all the dojo, they would allocate time for me to teach.
Most times after the first class, I was asked to teach other
classes if I stayed longer. >10. Did you feel friendship among
budoka on this trip?
Definitely – the warmth
displayed still remains with me.
11.
No one tried to show and wipe your nose? ;)
At
one dojo only. The instructor tried to kill us with exercises
which he wasn’t doing himself. Afterwards his students
tried that and a few that were actually black belts wore white
belts. What was sad is that the dojo was one that use to belong
to Ashihara Japan. (I don’t mention the dojo name in the
book)
12. Any bad memories/bad
feelings?
Nothing really –
other than feeling disappointed when I met Tadashi Nakamura –
the chief of Seido Juku. He was the total opposite of their motto
– “Love, Obedience, Respect”. He was rather
aloof.
13.What are the best things
you got from this trip?
The
friendship created. All the places I could see.
14.
Did you learn something?
I
learned some things here and there. The most important was that I
could further appreciate what I had learned and to be able to
effectively explain and demonstrate it better. I also learnt much
about America in person. However, the most important was to
appreciate what one has and not just think that America is the
land of milk and honey.
15. You
had only your rugsag with you - so not that much you can carry
with you. What did you take with you - and what you did not?
The essentials –
toiletries, some clothes, sleeping bag and backpack – most
times the sleeping bag was unnecessary as I slept in a bed. The
toiletries I could buy and replenish as needed. Some luxuries
like dried fruits from South Africa which was handy to have but
soon disappeared and then I had to make do with local stuff.
My
bags actually grew with all the books that I bought.
I
had a small day pack with for walking around or keeping in the
bus with some foodstuff as needed. Due to being Muslim I had to
be aware that I could not eat everything – so most times I
went vegetarian. I also had a bag with my laptop and then another
for my camera and video camera – lots of stuff – but
I tried to fit them into the rugsag (backpack) and then one for
the laptop and camera’s so that when I had to walk
anywhere, that I didn’t have too many bags to carry or even
to watch. In America I bought some “winter” jackets
for the cold. Also got several t-shirts of different dojo as I
went along, so I didn’t have a problem with clothes.
16.
Do you think you´re going to do it again?
I’ve
done several other trips since then. In 2004, my wife and I did a
two months karate tour of Australia and New Zealand. I took
several notes of that trip, but would like to redo it at some
stage. Also did Europe several times, but not as detailed as with
My Odyssey. However, the three of us (wife Aysha and daughter
Rabia) would like to redo the USA in 2011 – but for at
least a one year period. Hopefully we can revisit all those that
I met then as well as the many others I’ve come to befriend
via the Internet since then.
17.
If you are: What things you´re going to do in a different
way?
With the 2011 trip I would
like to get a mobile camper and then travel around by road
myself. In that way, I (we) can explore some of the places that I
just passed by or did not get a chance to visit in detail. The
USA is such a big country and with the next trip, I would love to
visit all 52 states, especially Hawaii and Alaska. We would like
to visit as much of Canada as well and not forgetting Central
America. This time around I will have to visit Puerto Rico also.
18. What are your hints to someone
who would like to do same kind of trip?
The
most important is that you must commit yourself to do it and to
persevere. It’s the qualities that is found in the Martial
Arts that can make anyone do it.
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