Shisei Ryu Aiki Budo

Gary Ducote, Kaiso was a person whose persona was shared with me by the now Soke-Jeff Lane who at the time was one of Gary's Shodans of the Keichu-do system when I started my martial arts journey in 1987. Years ago,  Jeff would always talk about him reverently and admirably. Years later, I was researching and trying to find a replacement instruction manual for Keichu-Do when I was pointed in his direction. A couple of phone calls later, I was having a conversation with Master Ducote, whom I had fondly heard about when I was younger.  Gary was engaging and very knowledgeable. We discussed what I had been doing martial arts-wise, and he listened and interjected questions as the conversation progressed. I listened to him discuss martial arts and the Shisei Ryu Aikibudo system. After talking for nearly an hour, Gary said to me, "You need to come down here.", meaning to DeRidder, LA, for a Blackbelt seminar. I did not expect him to induct me into the Shisei Ryu Aikibudo Kai as a Black Belt and make me a part of his system.  I am deeply honored and have tremendous respect for the man. His interest in developing me as a Sensei was genuine; it impacted and moved me emotionally. We had a handful of conversations and he took the time to give me quality time. He gave me a gift and a legitimate opportunity to give back what was freely given to me.  I can only hope that my expression of Budo and what I teach brings honor to him.

Gary Ducote Quotes of things he imparted to me:

• -“There are those who come into the dojo to say they want to learn budo. After that, they get comfortable they forget why they are there.”

• -“Every once in a while, you will get a student who is not only cooperative and does what they are supposed to do while you are looking, but then they do something else the minute you divert your attention away. This student is passively non-compliant.”

• -“In the dojo, the Sensei is the student.”

• -“The Sensei can do whatever the Sensei wants, it’s the Sensei's dojo. After that, you find out what you can do.”

• -“The absent-minded members of the dojo only see who is there, they struggle to see what is there.”

• -“Anyone who pursues Budo is progressing, it’s when they have arrived at some pinnacle that they become useless.”