Ura & Omote archive - the end
Ura & Omote began in 1995 because of a long-distance telephone conversation
with my friend David Sink. We were both green belts at the time and were discussing
a kata over the phone. He had to drive 12 hours or so to get to a teacher, whereas
I could train with any one of 8 black belts who were a ten minute walk away from my
apartment. It was then and there that I decided to help others who didn't have
easy access to a teacher, or to the information they needed to further their development
in this art.
Since then, I've worked at keeping the newsletter and website going, although over the past year the updates have been getting fewer and farther between. I have not had the time to devote myself fully to the newsletter and the quality of it has lessened over time. Producing the newsletter and updating the web site have ceased to be a love for me and have become a chore. I've decided to close down shop, a decision which has taken me the better part of three months to come to.
My decision to close the web site and stop publishing is based on many personal reasons among which are my desire to physically train more and to devote more time to my career. Training is still a great love for me and I enjoyed being able to help spread the love and joy of this art around the world.
However, I feel that the newsletter served its purpose in connecting and opening up new communication channels. This newsletter started at about the same time that the web was beginning to take off. Now, with so many websites out there, information is easier to obtain and seek out.
I wish for Ura & Omote to rest in peace. I don't want anyone to continue Ura & Omote. I would much rather see someone start a new newsletter that continues with the spirit I started, but is their own thing. I feel that a lot of Ura & Omote was built on my personality, my drives, desires and self-professed 'open-mindedness'. Therefore a fresh outlook from someone else would be welcome. A new newsletter, with a new name, driven by someone elses desires, intents, personality and persistence of vision would be most welcome.
This page is all that remains of the Ura & Omote web site. For those of you who have articles, archives, etc., on your web sites feel free to keep them up but please give credit where credit is due, and don't add anything to the articles or archives. Anyone linking to this site should remove their links to avoid errors, as this page will only be up for a short time. Finally, articles from Ura & Omote written by Hô Shin dojo members will continue to appear on the Ho-o Shin dojo site http://www.hoshindojo.com.
Over the years, I have received many notes of support and kudos regarding Ura & Omote and I thank you all for your support and encouragement. You have made this endeavor a pleasure and I hope that I have enriched others lives with this effort.
Anyone wishing to e-mail me can continue to do so at: ashidome at usa dot net
Keep training, I know I will!
Liz maryland
member, Hô Shin Dojo