Greetings my friend,
Congratulations on your current endeavor, the reforming of the World Budo Alliance. As you know, creating and growing the WBA was a massive passion of mine, back 23 years ago when I first launched it.
I met many great, and dedicated martial arts brothers and sisters, from so many backgrounds. What started out as an idea, eventually grew to an organization with members in 22 countries. Our membership consisted of folks who practiced alone in their basements, right up to folks who had worked in Hollywood, and were featured on the covers of all the leading martial arts publications such as Black Belt Magazine, Taekwondo Times, and more. What always impressed me the most, was the WBA truly offered a degree of fraternity, learning, sharing, and friendship in the arts, that appealed to many.
Why did it take off like it did? Because of the people involved. Many key people, one that certainly comes to mind, is you old friend. I remember in the earliest of days of the WBA, we only had a few members, you were one of those founding few. I will always remember most fondly, the first WBA seminar....which was cancelled due to low registration. What else could have happened, as there were hardly any members yet, and the few we had, were scattered very far apart.......but that didn't stop you and your senior students, driving across the country, to come meet and train with this nut from Eastern Canada, who was trying to present a new idea in the world of martial arts organizations.....and I was so young. But you didn't care. you didn't see the sparseness of the membership, or the youth in this new group's leader. You only saw the ideals, and the value, of this new concept called the World Budo Alliance. What a great weekend that was, training and teaching together, capped off with the 4th Dan promotion of your son Curt.
This is why, I knew I had found the person who I knew I could stand shoulder to shoulder with, and forge this idea ahead. And didn't we do just that my friend! We accomplished so much together, I could write a book on it.
I am thrilled, that you have decided to resurrect the WBA. Who better, as you and I built it together. It used to be led by one hand, not it will be led by the other.
I fully endorse this endeavor my old friend and brother in the arts. After all these years, fate still brings us together. I look forward to the great things you will build.
My most respectful bow in eternal thanks and respect,
Kyoshi Dave DeGrouchie
Canada.