My Story
Hello, my name is Michael Veesart. I have been actively involved with karate and martial arts for fifteen of the last 35 years. Frequent moves, work, home-dadding for my daughter kept me very busy. So at 62, relieved of previous duties, I reflected on the past activities that gave me the most joy; karate and martial arts.
I joined Soke Bob Hill’s East Bremerton dojo in 1980 while I was a sailor aboard the USS Enterprise. Violence was not unheard of in enlisted military life and I needed to prepare how “not to lose” when inevitable throw-downs occurred. Sensei’s classes were hard, rough and fun. I can’t remember all those I worked out with, but I trained with quality folks like Dave Leonard, Doug Johnson, Dave Smith, Mike Eigner, Marv and Yvonne Tolf, Dave Burrows, Margaret McGregor, Steve Argyle, Doug Ganz, Paige Fouche, Todd Thorson, Tim Milovich, Dan Holt, and the McCoullough brothers. At tournaments, I met luminaries like Steve Armstrong, Robert Edwards, Mel Cherry and others. I transferred to Dave Leonard’s dojo in Silverdale as a green belt and tested for brown belt later. Nineteen eighty-five was a significant year as I got married in March (Sensei Leonard, Best Man) and tested for Shodan in September (Sensei Leonard, Tester). October, my wife commissioned into the Air Force and we left Bremerton for Dayton, OH.
During my time in Ohio, California and Colorado I participated in different styles, different martial arts and in tournaments. This included two schools of Shotokan, Shorin Ryu, Goju Ryu, and AKKA. I also trained in Judo, Kendo and Iaido. While earning a degree at Wright State University, I ran the WSU Karate Club for two years.
Thirty years later, I attended a martial arts demonstration featuring Albuquerque’s different martial arts schools at University of New Mexico where I met Sensei Randy Sanders (SKIF, FSKA [7th] and MeibukanGoju Ryu [5th]). Curious about Okinawan karate, I joined his school. I have been with Randy over 6 years and attained Shodan in Meibukan Goju-Ryu (way overdue for Nidan, thank you COVID-19) and Sandan in Shotokan. I also learn and practice Yamanni Ryu Kobudo and still work at Iaido. I teach twice a week at a community center, learn and teach at our dojo 3 days a week and give private lessons.
The periodic zooms with Soke have been great for renewing acquaintances and friendships, meeting Butokukan’s newer dan generations and continuing education. Butokukan is a comprehensive martial system and I’m really pleased its teachers work so hard to improve, promote, and keep this style relevant. The lessons I learned many years ago from Soke and Senseis remain and serve me well.