Ok, maybe more than a week ago? Crazy how time gets distorted when you are on the road, and then back home, many time zones away. In any case, my family and I were fortunate enough to visit Oahu recently. Our time was mostly spent with family, some with work, and some with enjoying the beauty of the island, but I was able to sneak away a few times for some training. One of those times was a private lesson with Burton, and I just can't say enough positive things about it.
I knew our time was limited, so I chose one topic for our session, a position that I feel fairly strong in but was looking to make stronger. That said, while I had a lot of questions, I thought that I would probably pick up two or three new details or ideas, most of it would be confirming things that I already had a grasp of. I couldn't have been more wrong. I got
blasted with an hour's worth of almost entirely new material on something I thought I knew a lot about; some were small details, some were big concepts, but all were game changing.
I have trained and rolled with many world class competitors and teachers, and it was really cool to feel that same amazing, highest level of technical precision, sensitivity and pressure when moving with Burton. We didn't really get to roll (due to the fact that he had so much to show me) but I'm quite sure it would have been very smooth and very painful losing to him if we had.
Anyway, I am just writing this as a big MAHALO to Burton for teaching me so much, and as a shout out to all the guys there who are lucky enough to train with him. I'm sure you ALL know this, but you have a true master leading you for sure.
Obrigado Mestre Burton!
Jeff
PS I have been drilling what you showed me and am giving guys fits with it already, even the ones that know my game.
