Martial arts instructors pay for the privilege of having the title "Sensei". We certainly pay far more than the dollars which represent a mere handful of rice. It matters little which style of martial arts you master. In the end, we become part of an elite family with genealogical roots spanning hundreds of years in the past and into eternity. As we grow older and our physical bodies become frail and die, we who have paid our dues remain strong in spirit and memory of those whom we precede, until the end of time.

Part of the dues we pay is in the classes we teach and the students that come to us as we did to our sensei. I recall my early days as an instructor and thinking that I'd rather have been beaten unconscious by my sensei (again!) than to face another room full of white belt beginners looking to "do karate". As the years went by I became somewhat wiser and realized that the thing I'd disliked most was indeed the thing that was most important. Those little faces standing in front of you are your children. They are blank slates on which you will write a message about who you are and what your style of martial arts is about. They are your living legacy, a message that you are sending forward in time to a place that you will never live to see ..

Of the many students that pass through our dojo, their is always one that has the look. This student usually stands in the back of the class, never asks questions, and will go unnoticed for several years. He or she is the one still doing laborious exercises when the rest of the class is exhausted. He is always the first to arrive and last to leave. He is the one that shows up when the dojo is suffocating from the summer heat and when it's blistering cold in mid winter. He is the one that cleans the dojo without having to be asked. He is the one that quietly helps the beginners, not to show off, but to simply assist his sensei. As this student quietly progresses through the ranks, growing ever stronger with each passing season, you realize that he is the one. The one who always volunteers to be your punching bag during demonstrations. The one who assimilates every one of your best techniques until you realize that he can do them as good as you! The one whose bow is of genuine respect and humility, rather than a reflexive meaningless gesture. The one who has vision beyond his years and knows that his art transcends the mere winning of tournaments and a case full of trophies.

For me, this student was Bob Thivierge (top photo, left). When this photo was taken in the early ‘70s, karate was nowhere near as glamorous or sophisticated as it has now become.  Protective equipment was unavailable and it was simply assumed that sparring would end up in blood to some extent, regardless of the strict “no contact” rules applied. I recall a trip to Madison Square Garden in New York where we were among the first Connecticut-based dojos to compete in a semi professional sparring type tournament at that time. After a day filled with epic battles through out our ranks, we limped on back to Connecticut, much wiser in the ways of the world.

Bob, a green belt at the time, was the highest finisher in our entourage. But he'd paid for it dearly. Had any lesser man taken the pounding he did that day, they'd have called it quits mentally and/or physically. I recall Bob spittering through swollen bloody lips; "..quitting is never an option.."

Throughout his life Bob Thivierge has never quit. To say that he stood tall when faced with adversity that would wither the strongest man, is a gross understatement. Of course, he took his rightful place among us, the instructors. It was my greatest privilege and honor to see him elevated to this plateau by my sensei. I later gave Bob the tattered black belt that I'd worn for years, my undying respect, and the keys to my dojo.

As my life’s path led me away from the study of martial arts, Sensei Bob remained. He has become what most would consider an instructor’s instructor.  He is the essence of the classic martial artist.  He embodies what Rocky’s trainer referred to as “..  the eye of the tiger..” Being a lasting part of his dojo is a challenge in itself. He asks each student to do no more than he has dedicated his life to: Either perform 110% or go home. It’s that simple.  And if you do survive within this environment, you too may someday join the family of martial arts instructors.

It's easy to say this, but thank God only a few will have to live this.
Fewer yet will have the strength, mentally or physically to survive the
ultimate test. Sensei Bob Thivierge and his family are one of the very few.
The following is a true story..

From 1978 through 1981, Sensei Thivierge was very fortunate to continue to train and to teach with fellow instructor, Sensei Arvo Laats, as they came up the ladder of karate together. To train with a host of other martial artists/fighters such as Sensei David Viera, Sam Murallo and Tom Champagne, Sensei Thivierge continued to learn so much, not only about the fight game but also about himself. He found that limits were only those imaginary walls we placed in front of ourselves when we refused to accept challenge.

He remembered how he hated running in P.E. in high school and all of a sudden he found himself running up to four miles a day plus wind sprints. He recalls how Sam was in his ear at first, saying stuff like "just a little ways to go" or " just around the bend" or "how hard do you think the other guy is training?"  Little did he know that he was instilling within himself a mindset to set goals. He remembers vividly, "Sensei James always had us throw that extra kick or punch and go that extra "so called minute" of kumite. I was blessed to have so many good role models."

He became his own coach. He increased the tempo, distance or duration of his training. This ability to drive one’s self was a matter of individual testing. After a while he really believed that he could set almost any goal and achieve it. Little did he know how really important this would be.

"We formed the first PKA team from CT." He managed the team and set up several bouts against Dan Zarbos’, Rhode Island Thunderbolts. “It was quite an experience, but there always seemed like there was more to do”.

"I’ve had the pleasure of training some of the most dedicated and hard working students an instructor could ever want. Always training hard but finding that extra special time to gather around and just talk, joke and see that bond that only martial arts can develop. Now that I look back it was the same with Sensei James."

It was very near Easter in 1982, when Sensei Thivierge, with the reassurance of his wife, Valeen, left his employer of nine years to accept a new job offer in Port St. Lucie, FL.  On July 13th,1982,all of Sensei Bob Thivierge’s world would change.  More to do, would be cut short or what turned out to be temporarily delayed.

Approximately 3 months after starting his new job, he found himself just beginning to fight the ultimate fight of his life. On that day, Bob Thivierge suffered a spinal cord injury while swimming. Yes, swimming and not diving headfirst into a pile of rocks, because that he would’ve walked away from!  Adding to this devastating irony, he was told by doctors in three major hospitals, “Well, you didn’t break your neck but you’re never going to move anything from your neck down again. Telling this to a trained semi-professional athlete, within 48 hrs of a catastrophic injury of this nature can certainly ruin your day.

Countless years of playing football (linebacker), nine years at Electric Boat, building nuclear submarines and running a hard hat into pieces of steel and pipes while hustling full steam to get nowhere fast, years of full-contact karate without an injury. All comes to a final end in what Bob humorously describes as; "..the Nestea plunge!". In an interview Bob stated: "..That’s right, I just flopped back into the ocean and the next thing you know, my butt is the only thing visible above four feet of water. You know I couldn’t quite believe it either!"

He suffered an injury to his spinal cord, leaving him totally paralyzed from the neck down. After a brief return of poor to fair muscle movements, the proper diagnosis was made and an operation to relieve severe pain throughout his body was the only choice.

After therapy in another rehab center, Bob Thivierge went home to his family and wondered about his and his family’s future. The questions of, how and where do we go from here constantly entered his mind.

His ability to take charge were all but taken away. Self-pity and huge open-ended drug prescriptions looked like his future. It could’ve been a no option situation but that’s not what he chose.

He continued to believe that all things are possible and that his faith, his family, especially his wife, Valeen and the martial arts mentality to accept the spirit of challenge, would keep him motivated". The one question he never asked was "Why me?" While consulting with his spiritual advisor, the question was asked "Why not me? What makes me so special that this situation should pass me by?" He looked around at those less fortunate than himself and concluded he would take the new path that was to be traveled. Always there was the spirit of martial arts.

In 1983, he was requested to teach again by students that seemed to be awaiting his return. "I really didn’t know if I could teach again, especially not being able to physically demonstrate techniques. But, with the students’ patience and some help from upper ranking students, I verbally described and critiqued all techniques." This was the first step back to a true belief in himself. His karate training, the warrior spirit, showed itself.

He would continue to teach his small bunch of hardcore karateka. He would even walk several times with the aid of his wife and therapists. What he lacked for physically, he would compensate for mentally and spiritually. Two lines in the Enshin Karate dojo kun read, "We will develop the mind and body to enhance the spirit" and "We will accept the spirit of challenge". Sensei Thivierge lived by the training hall oath before he became part of the Enshin family. This only reinforces his belief in karate and his trust in Kancho Ninomiya.

Today he oversees the beginning of his long time dream to open his karate dojo to the public. He truly hopes that a new crop of students can gain as much from karate as he has. He is proud to have several of his long time students to help him in his endeavor. As previously mentioned, there is always one that has the look. He is the one that is always there and never having to be asked or told what to do. He is always willing to be first, never wavering no matter what the task at hand may be. He is the one. He follows in Sensei Thivierge’s footsteps. Yes, footsteps! Mr. Robert Wagner sees no wheelchair and never has. When need be, he holds open every door, clears every path and adjusts Sensei’s legs, clothing or even drives him to class with no question, no excuse.

Robert Wagner is also a major reason this branch dojo exists. His partnership is invaluable. His training regiment is only matched by his desire to be a Sabaki champion. In Sensei Thivierge’s own words, "Robby is already a champion in life. He has nothing to prove to anyone. If he desires to test his metal, then I must be right behind him all the way." Mr. Wagner’s energy, enthusiasm, spirit and his dedication to Enshin Karate and it’s future is indomitable. He and those like him are the future.