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Dojos Memorial Hall
A place where we remember and honor those who came before us, taught us and made us who we are today. If you have a past master or a teacher who has made a major contribution to the arts that you would like to honor here, please contact me.

Rembering My Friend
Shuseki Shihan William Oliver 7th Dan Yudansha:
By David Washington

Osu, my friend. As November 20, approaches my feelings are the same as they were yesterday and the day before. I miss you deeply and there is pain, but more joy in the memories that I have. I choose to focus on how you lived.

I would like individuals to know there was "another" Shuseki William Oliver other than the formidable karate kata, kumite and kobudo practioner. Warm, intelligent and possesive of a great sense of humor. A lover of music and reading. Shuseki was well versed in many things. He felt that as Budo ka that education was crtical to one's development. He loved Japanese, Korean, Spanish and of course Soul Food. He loved to eat, talk and drink "barew" (beer) and sake after workouts.

Shuseki loved to "work out" and talk of Karate do. He would always reflect on that getting up and being able to put his key in the door of "his" dojo was something that he relished. "People go to work, I go do Karate everyday and even derive an income from this endeavor".

His own training would start with meditation and then a riorous workout of push ups, sit ups, strecthching. Kihon (basics), Kata, Ko Budo then bag work. People would often ask me if they should go work out with Shuseki, I would laugh and tell them you are going to sweat and push youself like you have never done in your life. I remember one August, about 30 Black belts were working out. Shihan Leighton Barber, Shihan Grant Campbell, Kyoshi Sookdar and Terrence Postell. I after about an hour(and 100 kicks, elbows, blocks etc) went "unconcious" throwing" my 200th reverse punch. I was taken to the bathhroom by two 3rd dans and was revived. We went out to dinner and laughed all night. Sitting right next to Shuseki, he kept patting my leg and saying Osu, good Ko Ko Ro (strong spirit) yo knew you were going out and you thru the last punch".He kept watching me the night , with the look , Osu are you ok ?.

We would talk about life: marriage, children, finances, politics etc. He would always say it took a special woman to be with a "legitimate Budo ka". She had to understand the "way". I have seen bust a gut laughing and cry deeply. I remeber when my son was born, Shuseki came to my house in Bronxville NY. I opened the door, he bowed deeply and said Osu Shihan ( he never called me David, and I never called him anything other than either Shuseki or Shihan) "I have come to see your son". I still have the picture of him holding my son. he then looked at me with tears of joy and Osu.

Our Karate Group: Shihan Monte Allen, Shihan Leighton Barker, Shihan Grant Campbell, Errol Bennett Sensei, Georges Aschkar Jr. Shihan, Cleve Baxter Sensei , Walter Eddie Sa Bum Nim and Sheldon Wilkins. It took a long time for some of those individuals to "warm" up to each other. You must remember they had fought each other(knocked out) for many years. There was no communicating other than Osu. But they became close. Every year they and others: Thomas Boddie, John Mullin, Thomas La Puppett, Tony Archival,Derrick Williams, Leon Wallace would meet at my house and eat and talk to the wee hours of the morning.

The three "Budo Brothers" Shuseki Oliver, Shihan Grant Campbell and myself. Now there are only two left. Shihan Campbell and I meet/workout and tell Shihan Oliver stories until we laugh and cry.

Why was Shuseki so good at "all facets of karate": simple he worked harder than 99% of the Budo ka I know. He "detested quietly" sensei/sa bum nim/sifu who got fat and became counters and dictators. I an era when individuals are claiming high rank, that was not earned or from a "legitimate" organization" he wpould quietly burn inside. Someone asked me once, Mr. Washington does Shuseki Olver, Bennett Sensei talk about rank ? I said no, they do karate. But he was proud of his 7th degree that he recieved from Kaicho Nakamura. I was present when he got it. Later that night someone asked him when he was last promoted he stated "15 years ago".

Toughest fights: Mike Warren, Errol Bennett, Louis Delgado, Ron Van Clief, George Aschkar Jr, Charles Martin. He thought Joe Hayes was just outright one of the best he had ever seen. Dwight Hawk Fraizer he said was so very powerful, you would need an A plus spiriy.

Shuseki felt very strongly that we all need to look to our seniors like: GM Al Gotay, S Henry CHo, Wai Hong, William CC Chen, Gary Alexander, Anthony Mirakin, William Dometrich, Rusty Kanakogi and Harry Rosenstien. He felt if anyone was going to lead he/she had to go thru the "fire".

My last conversation with Shuseki was on thursday night. His last words were, Shihan, I love you, do you hear me Osu.

David Washington, Friend of Shuseki Shihan William Oliver

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