Dear Christiane, Magali, Ilyana, Nour, Kheylane and Louisa,
Dear Friends,
It is an honour for me to be among you and participate to this tribute to an exceptional man. Jean-Pierre was, please allow me to say this, first and foremost a practitioner of “BUDO”, before being one of “KYU-DO”.
He had understood for a very long time the full dimension of “BUDO” and “KYU-DO” in particular, of which he was one of the best heirs and certainly an indisputable representative at international level.
Close to his students and close to his family, whom he adored, Jean-Pierre was a man of principles and challenges, a man of deep culture.
When, long ago, we met for the first time, a great mutual understanding sparked. I immediately knew that I was facing a loyal man, a man of principles, a man for whom the Martial Values were essential to the progress of any practitioner, a man who was simply FANTASTIC!
These same Martial Values make us “grow” as a person, they allow us to blossom spiritually, they make us better after each training throughout our life…
Jean-Pierre has taught many practitioners from all over the world and the echoes that I still hear today are unanimous as to the quality and purity of his teaching, which is rivalled only by the best Japanese Sensei.
Taïsen DESHIMARU, ZEN Master, but also a practitioner of Martial Arts, used in his teaching the expression “I SHIN DEN SHIN” translated by “FROM HEART TO HEART”.
This noble and pure expression is ideally applied in the teacher-student transmission.
And, in absolute terms, it goes far beyond this context to be applied without limit in our daily life, in our friendly and family relationships.
During our last telephone conversations, we left each other with the hope of a future meeting and being able to discuss themes that were close to our hearts, sharing without a doubt the same Principles, the same Values… Unfortunately, fate decided otherwise.
Jean-Pierre will remain in my heart. He will forever inspire my research in other BUDO disciplines such as KENDO and IAÏDO.
The harmony and unity between the arrow and the target, considered as “one’s own ego that must be pierced” are identical to the spirit of “combat with the Katana”.
The memory of Jean-Pierre and the teachings he passed on to us must remain alive, it is the best expression of gratitude that we owe him and the future that lies ahead of us to prove it, belongs to us…
Good luck to all, GANBATTE!
Thank you for listening,
Emilio Gomez
Kyoshi 7th Dan Kendo – Kyoshi 7th Dan Iaïdo
November 7, 2021