This photo was taken when I was leaving Japan and traveled alone to Australia for the first time.
It was 1993, and I was 25 years old.
My friends from the dojo came to see me off at the airport.
I arrived in Australia and didn’t even have any ability to speak English, I didn’t have much money, and knew absolutely no one, but I had a goal and a sense of mission to teach martial arts and open a SAW dojo in Australia.
I felt sad to leave Japan and be separated from my family and friends, but more than that, I was excited about the new challenge of seeing what I could do in this situation.
To give you an idea of how poorly I could speak English, on the air plane to Australia I asked the flight attendant “Water please” but she brought some kind of alcoholic drink instead (Probably “Vodka”). Then I said “Water please” again and she brought me a “Towel” instead.
I had to drink the “Vodka” and wipe my sweat with the towel she brought because I couldn’t say anything else.
About a month after arriving in Australia, I was already able to open the SAW Australian branch and start teaching.
I will write how I managed to start a SAW class in just one month in my situation (no English, no money, and knew absolutely no one), another time.
