I'm just back from a seminar, to which Mr. Jeff Prather, head of Yamaneko, invited his colleague (also a Shihan), Mr. Bud Maelstrom. Bud, as he insists on being addressed by students, headed a dojo in Atlanta that he took over when Stephen K. Hayes moved on.
After the meeting, I heard Shinans reminiscing about training in Japan with Japanese Shinans under Soke. It included stuff like "being hit by Nagato is like being hit with a rebar". Bud is excellently controlled, however. Senior instructors of Tucson dojo were too, so I excaped with minor damage and a lot of practice time.
Not sure if I left a good impression about ABQ dojo. There was quite a bit to incorporate and improve before from the subject matter of the seminar. I should've expected it, but I am still too shallow, for instance. Thought I fixed it, but apparently not.
