Buffalo Grove HS. My funny high school story. Karate and Candy bar Paul

I don't really know how much more I will be able to post in this blog. Right now as I'm typing, my arm is killing me. I fear I might have carpal tunnel or something to that effect. I'm not sure if I'm getting this arm problem because of working heavy with thimble manipulation, typing or karate. Perhaps it's all three. All I can say is I have a magic competition coming up and I can barely do my manipulations without having a little pain and my arm feeling stiff. I notice that when I don't type, it's more tolerable and I can perform my thimble routine.


I guess I have to wait to see what the doc says or have the Great Fakini help me out. I saw Frank Glab recently at the Aces magic competition 2014 and he recommended that I not get surgery and that he may be able to help with a more holistic approach. Sounds good to me! I'm tired of people having to be slaves and bond to medication. I often wonder how much people really need to be medicated. I guess it keeps the medical salaries flowing in.

I recently signed up for karate. I signed my son up for karate at about the age of 4. Ever since then he's been begging me to join. After about seven years I finally gave in. I called the karate teacher and told him that I was going to join and to please put a gi uniform to the side. I don't want my son to know I'm joining. So later that day it was like any other day. I would take him to karate, I would sit on the bench at the dojo, watch my son or read a book. Today was different. When we got to the dojo I told my son that I had to go to the rest room. I went and got my gi, changed and then walked out to where my son was sitting as if nothing was wrong. At first he just looked at me as if he didn't know me. Then a smile burst from his face followed by a sparkle in his eyes. He was ecstatic.

Yes! a middle aged man taking karate. I was a bit nervous. I really don't like sports. I tried karate in high school, but I didn't stick with it. I have a little challenge remembering things. It was difficult to remember all the moves, but for some reason I feel I had to join karate to help face some of my setbacks and challenges. I knew it would be a challenge and struggle, but I pressed on. The first few weeks were a little stressful for me. I had to learn the kata. For those of you that don't know what a kata is. Think of it as a dance routine. It's a series of moves that I have to do to qualify for the next belt. I'm a white belt. The next belt after that is yellow, but in order to get the yellow I must do a series of tests. If I pass the first test the Master puts a colored stripe on my belt. Usually the striped tape is the color of the next color belt. When you get tested you can get anywhere from one stripe to three stripes. It all depends on how well you do in the testing. After the first test you then get tested again, but this time you have to do your kata in front of the whole dojo. I had my work cut out for me. My big problem is I get so messed up on my footing and which way to turn, punch, turn again. I'm a little dyslexic so anything after a set of two, I'm lost.


I decided to look up a few youtube vids so I can be ahead of the game and learn my kata. This was one of the first videos I saw. I must of had to replay it 50 times just to keep up. A watched the video and copied the moves. I was practicing the kata anywhere I could when I had free time. Such places as a boiler room, back alley, hallway, gym and sometimes the trampoline when I'm out playing with my son.


The day now came when I had to get tested for my stripes. The Master called me up. I took my stance and announced my kata. "Taikyoku Shodan Shotokan" I unfocussed on everything I was supposed to do. I think I did pretty well. After my kata Master Murphy called me up. Usually people get 1 or 2 stripes, but I managed to get 3. It was a triumphing day. Now all I have to do is do the final test and it's off to yellow. For the next few weeks I did the same thing. Practiced wherever I could. 

After about 12 weeks of karate it was now time to do the final test. I passed with flying colors. My son gave me a high five. He also passed his test and he has now moved onto a purple belt. I don't know if I can keep up with him. LOL! 


I noticed that every now and then while taking karate, I'll have a flashback memory of high school.
I think the year was 1985 or 86 I went to Buffalo Grove high school and I would sometimes sell candy to raise money for my Junior Achievement class. One day a kid or should I say boy, because that was pretty much is brain maturity level capacity. I think his name was Paul Byrnes and his side kick Mike Mayer. They both wanted a candy bar, but didn't want to pay. I denied their demands. Well that pissed off the little pricks and next thing you know they are throwing rocks at my apartment window. I called the apartment office to report them. Paul, I'll call him Candy Bar Paul, happened to live in the same apartment building. I guess the apartment office called the police. Now those tow were really pissed. What does this have to do with having a flashback in karate? I'm getting there! Please bare with me.

If I can recall, I remember Candy Bar Paul bragging about knowing karate. One day Candy Bar Paul decided he wanted to fight me. I think he must of been very distraught over the candy bar. He must of really wanted that candy. Poor little fellow. Anyway he decided to convince another kid to pick a fight. His name was Kevin Nicholson. I'm not sure if the spellings right. I was really confused as to why Candy Bar Paul would do such a thing. Why wouldn't he fight someone himself? By the way I really hate fighting. I don't like a thing about it. I really was a quite, outgoing kid. I didn't get into too much trouble, I tried to be respectful and kind to classmates, but somehow I often found myself in these unwanted situations. I really didn't know much about fighting, but I really didn't have a choice.

It was on a spring school day afternoon. I was with a few friends off campus for our lunch hour. We used to hang out at this little hot dog stand called Dappers. The restaurant is no longer there, but I'm sure for many BG students the memories are very much alive.

One day after eating at Dappers, I was approached by Candy Bar Paul. He was with this guy Kevin Nicholsan. Apparently Candy Bar Paul gave Kevin the que and the next thing I know I see fists coming at my face. As I'm getting hit in the face and my head is slightly tilted. I see Candy Bar Paul with a stupid smirk on his face. All I could think of is "Why isn't he fighting? what a coward"
It was like a "My Body Guard" moment. 

I really didn't like being in a position to be forced to fight, but here I was fighting. I clenched my fist like George McFly and punched Kevin right in the face. Blood was gushing out and that was the end of the fight. My friends that I was with headed back to the high school. This is where it gets better. As I'm walking down the hall I hear people whispering and cheering saying "That's the guy who kicked Kevin's ass." It was one of my better memories, but like I said. I really don't like fighting, but there comes a time in your life when you have to say "Enough is enough!" and you have to stick up for yourself.


For quite awhile I was pondering the thought? "Why didn't Candy Bar Paul" fight me? I would of preferred it much! much! more. I later hypothesized that maybe because Candy Bar Paul was a black belt that he couldn't fight. If I'm not mistaken, in the martial arts world if you fight you could get your belt taken away. In the martial arts you are taught to respect one another and refrain from violence. If his master knew about this I'm sure he wouldn't of been happy. I guess Candy Bar Paul didn't believe in respect and morals. Looking back I think "What a week and cowardly human being. So this story was how joining karate sparked a high school memory. It's kind of funny how certain things stick with us.

Sometimes we have to go through great challenges and obstacles to better ourselves. Thanks Candy Bar Paul for giving me such great knowledge. I now know how not to be a coward.

Maybe one day we can settle up. There will be a huge boxing ring. We'll have the Bison cheerleaders cheering. "Candy Bar Paul, he's all right! he didn't get his candy bar and now he wants to fight!" as the  cheerleaders are cheering we could have spud walking around with one of the air guns that shoot t-shirts. The t-shirts will say "Spud Aid 2020 Fight for Candy!" It's a funny thought.

Writing in this blog about my trials have actually been very therapeutic for me. I'm able to express it in writing for the whole internet world to see. It's like burying bad memories and then having a unbelievable and spiritual energy to put it behind and move on.The karate has helped a great deal with confidence, concentration as well as my art for magic.


I'm am very thankful that I went to high school in a time that was more honest and straight forward. If someone didn't like you they would tell you and then kick your ass. if your lucky you would both become best friends afterwards. I wouldn't want to be in school these day. Now if the don't like you they bring a gun. It's so sad what children have to endure these days. it's just sad and horrific. 

For some of you readers you may be pondering why I talk about such personnel stuff. After all I'm an adult now right? The thing is, when it comes to bullying and not having such a great educational experience due to jerks. It's sticks with you. So I decided to go public and to maybe let others that may be going through the same thing and are now adults themselves some encouragement and hope.

A few years ago I had to see a therapist due to a bully worker that I had to put up with for seven years. After seven years of bullying and it wsn't just me I couldn't take it anymore and so I started documenting the bullies behavior and incidents and reported it to HR. Within one year he was fired. My therapist told me I should talk and write about it to help me let it go. It's like releasing a demon. I am now feeling better then ever.
If there happens to be any reunion organizer alumni reading this. I'll save you some time. Please don't exert the energy into contacting me for the next reunion . I went to the last reunion and with the exception of a few people it was just as cliquey and plastic as the days I entered the doors of that high school. 

Over the years I have run into a few alumni who have had not so pleasant experiences with our school and class as well. It's almost like certain class members realize that maybe they weren't so nice and so they are trying to cover it up. Sorry class! but for the ones that had to experience the immature, childish behavior it's nothing but a memory that we want to bury. So while the ones that you were bullying, belittling and so forth. The nerds, the math and science geeks, the fine arts people. While you were running around being stupid. We had a plan. That plan was succeeding, being the best at whatever we do, some of us may now be your boss. other went on to do great things like me, inventing magic effects. Some of you may still be stuck in those high school days. Still looking and searching for a CANDY BAR! This article is dedicated to the ones that had to endure such hardships. WE ARE THE RENEGADES! WE ARE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT LOVE AND RESPECT SHOULD BE. LIFE IS SWEET! ENJOY THOSE CANDY BARS.
Well! I have to go now. My arm hurts and it's not from punching! It's from typing.

-iMAGINATOR-