My key memories of the past three days:
1. Receiving praise from Dogzilla for something he thought I did well during our fight
2. Receiving a suggestion from Dogzilla about something he thought I needed to improve from what he saw during our fight.
3. Surviving my fight with Dogzilla
4. Getting Guro Lonely into a camel toe, only to have him reverse it a few moments later, take me down, and hit me with a beautiful (but very controlled) elbow
5. Having been there to see Pappy Dog and Red Dog's inspirational stick and knife fight
6. Dirt, horse poo, and dirt mixed with horse poo
7. Not wearing sun screen on the first day.
8. Reflecting on how far some folks (Pennsylvania, Canada, Europe, Tahiti!) came to be part of the event.
9. Feeling great the first day, feeling terrible the second day, feeling transformed the third day
10. Amazing drumming that helped provide energy from places hidden in the spirit
11. Watching Sled Dog, who was there at the beginning, and who was there two decades later, step out again and again and later having him honor me with a fight (which turned out to be one of my favorite DB fights I have ever had)
12. Hearing about how martial arts saved one of our brother's life
13. Watching Poi Dog work. There's classical stuff there mixed with raw power, speed, tactics, and strategy. He's a damned fine stickfighter.
14. Watching Pappy Dog work. There's classical stuff there mixed with raw power, speed, tactics, and strategy. He's a damned fine stickfighter.
15. My wife arriving at the fight site for day two, right as "Dog" Eric beat the tar out of me. (Eric, again, your level of aggression is something I have to aspire to. You bring it!)
16. Fighting two fights on day two in those terrible suede gloves that I bought when my wife drove off with my gear. I only did it because I said (on camera) that I would fight in them. Again, my hands are swollen, but I honestly don't think anything is broken.
Lastly, the experience as a whole was amazing. I enjoyed having three days to REALLY get to know some of the people that I have seen here and there at the Gatherings over the past couple years. The one word that rally stands out to me about the event is: RESEARCH. The group was out there to research in a nonjudgmental environment, what might actually have a chance of working in high pressure. The group was out there to research just where the Tribe is at in this given moment. The group was out there to research a greater world of expanded consciousness that seems to lie just beyond the world of getting up and working our 9 to 5's. As I drove home, I was glad to have survived the three days, but I was in a state of disbelief. I was glad that I didn't have to fight again but it was hard to believe what had just transpired. While I was on the 15 freeway, I kept having this sense that I was outside of myself, watching.
I never played football in high school. I've never been in a real (thank God) fight. The city that I live in with my wife and 11 month old son is rated as one of the safest in the country. I don't consider myself a "tough guy".
For those who were there: HOW DID WE DO THAT?
What strikes me is that DBMA is there for everyone who wants it. If I can be a DB, anyone can. I have written a lot on this forum about using martial arts to change the world, and I really mean it. I am scared that someday soon, my boy is going to look around at the world and then look back at me and ask, "What the &%$ did you guys do?", meaning that I could have done more to pass on a world that makes sense. While changing the world might be a big leap from what happened this weekend, I don't think it has to be so big. If we continue to find like-minded people who are willing to travel (some from GREAT distances) to evaluate the nature of aggression and we experience one tenth of the feeling of transcendence that seemed to come over the group on Sunday, then we are on the right track.
I know I've rambled, but I only have one more question, and I hope I'm not jumping the gun:
Do we REALLY have to wait 20 more years to do that again? I don't mean this weekend, but...