Okina kashi no ryu

Within the last 10 years I've gone through quite a bit of loss in my life, not only did l  loose both of my parents but in 2018 I lost my wife of 23 years to Cancer. I also lost both of my original Sensei and some very dear friends. As you can imagine the loss of so many people in such a short period of time is devastating physically, emotionally, spiritually and psychologically.  If you haven't been through these life events I can tell you that you feel like the floor is always unstable and you find yourself trying to figure out what it all means. Loss of family you find yourself wondering what your place is in the world. Loss of your mentors finds you asking where I am going and who do I turn to. I began by asking myself the question; "What am I doing for the rest of my life?" but those words sounded hollow and trite. Eventually I came to the conclusion that the real question is, "What is life calling me to do." 

The answer isn't simple... So I had to stop what I was doing...I took a long breath made some tea and thought...really thought about what that meant. "World Peace" is out "Though curing Cancer is big" I'm not a young man. Then when I least expected it as I was teaching Karate Class the answer came to me. The words Soke Bonacci, Soke Ciscell and everyone I every trained with and the ideas I was trying to teach my students to realize that only through Self-Discipline, Self-Control, Self-Reliance and Self -Actualization can you make a change in your life.  I consulted my contemporaries and other Senior ranks and the only path that was clear before me was to move forward and do my own thing. 

Eventually my students and others began calling me Soke' and taking the nickname my friend and contemporary Martial Artist Hanshi James DelGarbino was calling me 

"The Great Oak". At his suggestion I began calling what I was doing the "Great Oak Style". So in the tradition of the early martial arts fighting systems I accepted what was inevitable and usually someone says, "the rest is history"...but in this case let's say "The rest is our Future...

Welcome to the site and all the best to all...Be Safe.

Your's in the Spirit of Karate...

Soke' Donald Palko