Shifu Nugent

Hello Everyone:

I am new to this site, my name is Shifu Steve Nugent. I am a student from the Rancho Cordova School, so I guess that makes me a oldtimer. I started Shou Shu after I saw a commerical on channel 40 about Moores Karate, I think it was November 1981. I called and setup an appointment for the next day. The first guy I saw was tall guy about 25 he had a black belt with two small circular patches at the end of his belt, he said he name was Shifu Young. I watch him for a few minutes as he was kicking the heavy bag. Each time he kick the bag it flew back 5 or 6 feet, to say I was impressed was an understatement. A few minutes later a very nice lady came out an introduce herself as Marilyn. She shown me where I could change and get ready for my first lesson. As I went to the locker room I saw an Old guy in coveralls working on the hot tub, he was reaching for a pipe wrench that was just out of reach so I bend down and hand it to him, he smiled and said thanks, I went in changed into gi pants and got on the mat waiting for my first lesson. Five minutes later a man came out the office in this cool looking black gi, ( I had never seen a black gi before) with a black belt with a gold stripe and a bunch of circular patches at the end of his belt. He smiled and introduce himself as Da Shifu. He looked very familar but I just could not place where I had seen him before. Da Shifu taught me Raising Knee, and a wheel kick that first lesson. After the lesson was over he stuck out his hand an shook mine hand and said thank you again for handing me the pipe wrench. It was just then that I realize that I just got my first lesson from the hot tub repairman. That was almost 28 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. Later on after I had tested for by Black belt Da Shifu said to me something like this " I remember the day when you walk into the school I bet at that time you never thought you would learn so much from the maintenance man".