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Family • Photo Restoration • 64 • Dusil • 50th Anniversary of our Emigration

• Today commemorates the 50th anniversary of our family’s emigration from former Czechoslovakia. It would also have been Taci’s 77th birthday. On this day in 1969, over a year had passed when the Soviet Union and members of the Warsaw Pact illegal occupied of Czechoslovakia. Our departure would have been immediately after the invasion, but with my mother being eight months pregnant, my parents…

Martial Arts • Fighting Science • 4 • Yin ☯ Yang of Technique vs. Instinct

As discussed in lasy week’s post, combat training is about learning new degrees of freedom – adding new maneuvers or techniques that have never been tried before. But how to learn a new move well enough that it becomes natural, or instinctive? Enter the 100-1000-10000 rule:

Mechanics• If you do a technique 100 times you will understand its mechanics. Your brain will comprehend how to do it…

Martial Arts • Fighting Science • 3 • Yin ☯ Yang of Fighting Styles

Each martial art has a set of pre-defined techniques. These are typically defined by the founder as a collection of traditional moves. In progressive styles, these techniques evolve over time.

I like to refer to a fighter’s portfolio of movements as “degrees of freedom”. New degrees of freedom adds to a student’s portfolio. For example, a boxer has two basic striking tools: their fists. Although…

Family • Photo Restoration • 59 • Taci & Gabičko

I Remember Taci

  I remember when Taci would drive me to school in the morning, and sometimes I’d be late because of the train tracks.

I remember when Taci walked up the stairs and his ankles would crack.

I remember when Taci shared his grapefruit with me, and when he peeled me a big piece it was a ‘horsie bite’. If it was bigger than that, it was an ‘elephant bite’, and the biggest was a…

Family • Photo Restoration • 58 • Taci

Diary • 31st December 1993

• I arrived in Košice on the morning of December 23rd. The train ride was ten hours, and not relaxing in the least. I initially bought a second class ticket, but ended up exchanging it for first class after seeing the uncomfortable seating arrangements. Even in first class our cabin soon filled to its six person capacity. Sleeping in a sitting position was terrible, but…

Family • Photo Restoration • 57 • Dusil • Canada

Diary • 22nd October 1993

• I was four when we left Brampton. I still refer to that apartment complex as the “red buildings”. My cousin Roman and friend Laco Dobis lived in the twin building next door. Taci worked in the local Veterinary office while mom was studying at Guelph University. At night Taci and I would go to Judo. As a second degree he would teach the students, and as a white belt I…

• In elementary school, I wasn’t overly bothered by the physical nature of bullying. What really got under my skin was the hatred in their eyes. Ally Kennelfry*, Jell Ruleimi*, and their leader, Jean Hopenix* – this trio were Holy Rosary’s mean girls in my day.  I still remember seeing the disgust in their eyes when I would catch their stare. Following their lead was the class alpha-male, Canon…

• Introduction by Eva Dusil • Editing by Gabriel Dusil • 2014 November

• My family didn’t share my fascination with animals. My parents didn’t understand how the odor of animals and farmland could fill me with delight. Whenever we traveled through the countryside I’d bath in the smell of freshly fertilized land. My mom found it funny that I liked the smell of manure. As I’d breathe in, my…