Sensei’s Corner (01 Sep 07)
Aloha from Las Vegas!!!! This Sensei's corner is well
overdue. A lot has happened since leaving Hawaii in Jan. of 2007. We went
to Florida in hopes of helping my brother Victor (who has been promoted to
6th Dan on 7/13/07) with his dojo in Naples and also to spend some time
with my mother, brothers and the rest of my family in Florida. What we
didn't realize at the time of our move was how difficult and expensive it
would be to visit our daughter Cheryl and her family Jerome, Caleb (my
grandson) and our friends and as well as with our dojo still running with
the help of Eddie Crisostomo and his team. Our stay in Florida was very
exciting and full of adventure. We got to spend great memories with my
mom Gloria and my brothers as well with my niece Erin and nephew Garrett.
We got to visit Universal Studios, The Adventures Park and Busch Gardens
in Orlando. With my brother Victor Ortino running for Sheriff in 2008, and
our attempt to keep the Dharma Dojo strong in Naples as well as keeping
our family together, it was non-stop. One day, after having a family
meeting, we all decided that Las Vegas would give us the best of both
worlds. We would be able to visit Hawaii and Florida much easier and we
would be able to spend time with our family already in Las Vegas.
We would like to take this time to say thank you to
all the people who made our stay in FL a memorable one especially Sensei
Vic, his wife Ginny and his dojo; however, we believe it is God's will for
us to be here now in Vegas. Also, our wonderful church (Fisherman's Home
Church ) which gave us great support while we were there and of course my
mother, brothers and special friends we made while we were there. May God
bless all of you.
I also didn't mention that by moving to Las Vegas,
we would be closer to Sensei Rodney's dojo in San Diego, our good friend
Sensei Dave Flores and Brad Andersohn. Plus living in Las Vegas makes it
easier for our branch dojos to visit us.
So, I say Aloha to Fl (we will be back to visit) and
a new Aloha to Las Vegas. Life is short and we believe that being near to
family is very important to us. Too many times we have seen people seek
joy outside their lives instead of appreciating what they already have. In
our recent travels, we have seen other families as well as our own
experience internal challenges. We have witnessed brothers not talking to
each other, children disrespecting their parents and sisters quarrelling
among themselves. Having a father who passed away not to long ago and a
mother who is not in the best of health as well as brothers who are too
far away to have a cup of coffee with , I have learned to cherish each
moment that we have together . I have learned it is better to forgive
than to hold a grudge for the one who has the grudge has the pain. I have
learned that sometimes it's better to be kind than it is to be right and
that it's ok to lose a battle to win the war.
I have watched my son find such great pleasures in
the little things in life and I have seen people who seem to have
everything seem to miss the simple things. I have found that when things
don't seem too good in your life, that to do an act of kindness for
another brings great joy to yourself. I also have found that even if you
don't have blood family around, you can find brothers and sisters in the
dojo that will do things for you that many times your own family might
not. (Thank you to my special black belts who have truly shown their
loyalty - you know who you are). There is so much joy to be found in being
grateful for what you have instead of always searching for what you don't
have.
I did not discover all these things by leaving HI
(which I might add). I truly loved the people and my time I had spent
there. I will always consider it my home but I will say; when you leave
your normal surroundings you see things in a different perspective. For
those of you with children take the time to spend Quality time with them
for one day you will wish you did. For those children out there don't
forget " honor thy father and thy mother" for when they are gone it will
be too late, and for those of you without any family, you can always find
one in the dojo with the students or with the Sensei. Cherish your Sensei
for he or she won't always be around.
Before I close, I would like to take this time to say
thank you to my wife Daisy and children Sherry, Shanelle and Angelo for
being supportive to our adventures in Florida and our final destination
?? --- Las Vegas. All of you have been great, thanks for being so
understanding as we continue to grow together.
Osu,
Paul Ortino Jr.
SENSEI'S CORNER (29 MAY 2006)
This will be a little different Sensei’s corner than some of the others
although it will still be based on gratitude. My wife Daisy and I are
proud parents of our newborn son named Angelo Paul Armani Ortino, born
May 21, 2006
. We both thank God for allowing us this opportunity to raise a child at
this time in our lives. We have three girls Cheryl, Sherry and Shanelle
and have been blessed with the way they all turned out.
This is our first boy and as tiring as it is to keep up with him
(he is only a week old), we are having the time of our lives.
We would like to take this time to thank our Lord for
this gift from heaven, as well as our family, our friends and our students
for their generous gifts and kindness. I
would also like to thank my black belts: Keiv, Dennis, Eddie ,Chris, Chico
and
Luther for being there for me when I was not able to make class. I
couldn’t do it without you and my students for their understanding at
this time. You Guys are Great!!!!
Thanks goes to Chris Martin for keeping this website
updated, to Eddie Crisostomo for helping me fix up my home, to the
Beninati’s for their help with the Vol. III DVD coming out soon and to
all my students and friends in the mainland for their well wishes.
Our prayers go out to Sensei John Cox who has
recently lost his father. You have our deepest sympathy, he is in Heaven
now and free of pain and discomfort.
Every day children are being born and loved ones are
leaving us. Life is passing by very fast. Shihan
Al Smith just told me tonight (May 29, 2006 visiting
Hawaii
from PA) that his best friend was (I mean is) his son Alick III who is
there for him whenever he needs him. He calls him every day and even puts
on a tournament on for him in his honor. His son is an 8th Dan
and in his forties. To this day, I call my own mother almost every day and
she lives in FL (6 hour difference) just to say hi. I would only hope that
my children would consider me their best friend one day. My best friend is
my wife Daisy who has been there for me when no one else was. To watch her
give birth was truly witnessing a miracle. We men need to acknowledge our
wives more. I tell you this; I couldn’t take that pain for that amount
of time.
So I end saying “this is the day the Lord Hath
Made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it”. It’s not my own quote but it
works. God is Good. It is hard to understand why things happen the way
they do but this is where it pays to have faith in God. If you can’t
Believe in him, then who can you believe in? It
was him that brought me my wife, my children, my students, my friends, and
of course my family. It was him that brought you to this website today.
Take time and thank somebody who has done something nice to you today.
Take time to do something nice for your parents or your brother or sister.
Maybe just do something nice for a stranger today and don’t expect
anything in exchange. Take time to thank God for being alive and for the
lessons he gave you for this day. Do you want to know a secret? He
is truly your best friend because he is there whether you realize it or
not. He is just waiting for you to realize it.
Osu,
Sensei Paul
BABY PICTURES
ARCHIVES:
19
FEB 06 12
APR 06
29 MAY 2006
Sensei Ortino can be contacted at
paulortino@yahoo.com or (239)
273-5186.
