Hatsu Bon Poem For Sensei Paul Recchia, R.I.P.

Nine years ago today, Sensei Paul Recchia was taken from us. Today’s training and the following Hatsu Bon Poem (used in the traditional memorial training ceremony) are offered to his spirit. Should today’s readers so desire, please join us and perform a kata of your choice in memory not only of Sensei Paul but also a fallen comrade you may wish to remember. May Sensei’s spirit find our training and poem worthy.

HATSU BON POEM

Please don’t cry before my grave
That’s not where I am
Nor am I sleeping for eternity

SEE!!

I am already part of the breezes
numbering a thousand

I am part of the light
that brightens this world

Like a diamond glittering in the snow
Like the sun that coaxes seeds to sprout

And in the Fall I become the gentle rain
that nurtures all.

When you open the window in the morning
I am the breeze
That causes your hair to flutter;

And at night, I am the star
That watches over your sleep.

So, please . . . don’t cry before my grave

That’s not where I am.
I am not dead.
I have been born anew.

Sensei Paul’s last visit to the Issho Dojo, East Rutherford, NJ (January, 2000)

Left to Right: Sensei Byrne, Sensei K. Szmitkowski, Sensei J. Szmitkowski, Sensei DiMicelli & Sensei Gumowski

From all of us that walk the path of Goshin-Do, “Sincerity in sweat”, rest in peace, Sensei.

Tags: DeFelice-Ryu, Goshin-Do Karate-Do, Karate memorial Training, Memorial Ceremony, Memorial For A Sensei, Memorial Poem, Sensei Paul Recchia, Shihan Thomas DeFelice