Old Bill was my first teacher. I was 15 years old and my dad took me down to see the school because my Grandmother bought me a Black Belt magazine. It was twilight and I don't think we turned the lights on and there was one other student in the place. I just wanted to watch, but Bill encouraged me to try it out. What he showed me was simple and practical and by the end of class I had decided. This old man had bones like stone and tied me up in knots with little effort. I knew at that point I could do it and it was something that could be taught, so I had to learn. I went to every beginning class without missing one class till I was a brown belt.
Bill was teaching the class while Griff and Willie were out on vacation. I got to meet them a few weeks later. It was always great to have Bill in the class. I remember him telling me a story about having to change to a safety razor from a strait razor because he almost cut his nose off one day.
Anyway, if it were not for Bill I may not have ever met any of you or continued on with the martial arts. My life would be a very different place. Karate instilled in me a purpose and a way to live. It led me to be a Chiropractor and brought me to my wife. As I have taught over the years I can not tell you how many lives I have touched and changed for the better. You never know who or how you help someone. Bill helped set the course and tone for my life.
##imported-begin##Robert Haberkorn DC##imported-end##