This email touched my heart so deeply that I broke into tears.  Last night Uyen-san gave her all to her nikyu (1st level brown belt) test.  I am not easy on our brown belt candidates.  Her test was long and challenging.  The examining board was impressed by her fortitude, presence and her growth since her last exam.  I have chosen to not edit her email, her message is clear. Thank you Uyen-san for sharing in such a heart-full way!  And... congratulations on your promotion!

Dear Sunny Sensei,

Please allow me to post this to our website, if you think it’s appropriate. You can edit it if you think my English is so lousy, and I don’t know how to find a finer word to say what I would like to say.

Finally, an important chapter in my Aikido journey is start. This test is the hardest test I ever have. Succeed or not, I still wait for the feedback from Sunny Sensei, but that is only a small part about my performance. The big part is I feel so overwhelm about the support I have from everyone in Dojo, from regular students to senior students. I know I am not a bright, fast learner. I am still appreciate, even if anyone give up on helping me, but no one did that, I have support from everyone. I don’t know how to say good thank you in writing, so, in short sentence. Thank you for giving me an opportunity to be a part of a great community.

Specially thank you to Derek San, for being a greatest Sambai (sempai). From the first day when Derek San accept to be my Sambai , he is always there every Wednesday, from 6:00pm to 7:00pm, tutoring, helping me to improve all Aikido techniques. His commitment, patient, compassionate, and understanding went beyond any word that can express, as I was describe above, I am not a bright person. He was always consulted; encourage me when I was frustrating with me progress.

Here is an example of Derek San commitment and seriousness. One day, we were practiced suwariwaza techniques, because on knees techniques are my most weakness, we had to do a lot of correction, after almost 45 minutes long on knees. I complain that my knees were hurt, with the hope that Derek would move to tachiwaza. I showed him my red knees due to the friction between gi and mat. Derek San just told me: “How about this!”, then showed me his knees, where skin peeled off, raw red, bleeding. Of course, I was quiet, not dare to complain or whining anymore, and we continue suwariwaza session until tutoring time was over. From that day on, I was rarely complain anything about the difficulty, because I understand that, we both went through the same thing, and Derek would always be there to support me without asking for anything to return back beside my seriousness same as him. And yes, Derek San continue patiently with me for 8 months, every Wednesday evening, uninterrupted, with smile on his face. Derek San, Domo Arigato Gozaimasta.

I also would like to say Domo Arigato Gozaimasta to Martin Sensei for step in side by side with Derek San in the process of helping me be ready for my test, help in evaluation my readiness. His relaxing techniques, wisdom, help me to build up the sense of center in my body movement, my mind. Show me the way of control the body center. Martin Sensei, may I thank you, with all my heart.

And thank you, Sunny Sensei, for giving me a great honor to be your student. I will try my best not to disappoint you.

Sorry for a long letter, but I think I should write this, because I am very proud of our Dojo.

Regards,