I opened my first Kenpo School in Anchorage, Alaska, in early 1981. By May of that year I had about thirty students; I was a karate teacher, I was living the dream, I was living on top of the world. Since that day there's never been a down-side. Every day has since then has been a learning experience that I wouldn't trade for anything. This is a small tribute to my earliest students, who helped make the dream come true.
The first thing I noticed, when we started hiking, was how everyone was so focused on getting to the top of the mountain. The hike itself seemed to be nothing more than a struggle that each of the students were willing to endure, all because they knew they were eventually going to be standing on top of the mountain.
So I definitely surprised everyone, when about twenty feet from the top, I stopped and said we were as far as we need to go. Then I nestled down into the grass, ready for a nap.
Of course I was met with immediate disagreement. "But Mr. Hale we're only a few feet from the top. We can't quit now!"
But I insisted we were done and that we need not go any further. The looks on their faces were amazing. They wanted nothing more than to reach the top, but they dare not disobey my instructions to stop. Not that they stopped complaining by any means, as they were unrelenting with their requests to stand on top the mountain.
Eventually I did give in, but with one condition. I said you can go to the top, but only if you stay there for ten minutes.
Looking at me like I was nuts, they readily agreed. (Most likely thinking that after such a grueling hike, an hour at the top would be more like it.)
So, with my permission, everyone dashed to the top, where they could bask in the glory of their achievement. When they reached the top they were ecstatic. They thrust their fists into the air shouted out how great it was to be on top of the mountain.
Only I had been on top of that mountain before - many times in fact and I knew something they didn't know . . . continued
McHugh Creek, AK - May 23, 1981
Being an avid hiker since I was little kid, I've always included hiking with my karate training. These picture are from a hike I did with a small group of students fairly soon after I opened my school in Anchorage.
The location was McHugh Creek, just outside of town. The hike took about four hours of good hard hiking to get to the top, but when I got about twenty feet from the top I stopped, nestled down into the grass, told my students I had gone far enough, and took a nap. Why?
