Farewell, sensei

I have read with sadness the stories about the death of Robert Halliburton, who was known as "sensei" or teacher to generations of Fresno karate students. Were you one of his students or did you send your kids to his classes? Share!

I didn't know Mr. Halliburton well personally, but I first started hearing about him a long time ago because one of my colleagues, Chuck McCarthy, was taking karate lessons from him. I loved hearing Chuck's stories about the karate classes, the feats of strength he was learning and I really admired people who were good at martial arts.

As a young, working mother, there was no time for me to take classes, so I did what all frustrated moms do -- I enrolled my son, Scott, into sensei's karate classes two days a week after school. He liked them and soon our house was echo-ing with the shout, "keeeaiiiii! Keeeeaiiii!" He karate-chopped all the furniture for practice and drop kicked my throw pillows until there was nothing left of them. (Better than practicing on me!) And still later, when Scott was in college, I finally took a few lessons at Way of Japan before quickly realizing karate was yet another sport that was not my gift. (I am still trying to figure out which sport is my gift!)

Chuck and I were talking with affection about sensei the other day. Chuck was always full of "sensei" stories, and he still is. He has always spoken of him with only the greatest respect and awe.

One memory he shared with me was during the time when sensei was instructing the Fresno police on how to use their wooden nightsticks effectively... One night in sensei's dojo, Way of Japan, Chuck asked what he was teaching the officers. Sensei walked over to a box and took out a wooden police nightstick. He handed it to Chuck, bared his stomach and ribs and said, "Hit me with it.".. Chuck hit him several times, and sensei just stood there and looked at him.

"One more time," he said, "like you really mean it." Chuck said he really put his strength into it. Then, unaffected, sensei just yanked the stick away from him like he was taking it from a child... Impressive.

Another time, Chuck was practicing hitting the big punching bags on the wall. He felt a tap, then just watched as sensei hit that bag and knocked it right through the wall of his own dojo… Though he was not a big man, Chuck said he had an awesome strength and focus... But he said he always taught his students the right time and place to use their skills.

He was a gift to many families in our community and a lot of people will miss him...

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