Once Ron had the Bainbridge Island dojo going, it was time to consider exchange practices, so that people from the area could see others who were also training hard. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, these practices played a particularly important role in the development of karate in the Northwest. Whether at Island Center, in Vancouver, or at another location, people from surprisingly far places came to learn from the spirit of exchange.
"I can't describe how beautiful it was there. Lush and green and uncrowded... We were all pleased to see so many serious students; there were Jim Christopher and friends from Idaho, Danny Shaffer and 
Buddy Baily and many Oregonians. There was Norman Welch and Don Gee and a crazy bunch from Canada. There were four of us from Oakland and other places, along with the hometown boys.
The first practice was a collage of basics, with each leader explaining and leading his/her favorite basic. Ron Thom emphasized that is was not a special training, but the non-stop two-hour and twenty minute practice had many of us wondering. The following two practices were divided up into in-depth technical discussion/practice from the high ranking seniors...
It was a weekend of learning and sharing, of giving and taking. A really good weekend."
-- Mike Merlander, quoted from the Dec.-Jan. 1981-1982 Shotokan
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Copyright © 1996 by John Gosink