Yesterday afternoon (Wednesday April 16) Robert Halliburton, long-time proprietor and sensei of Way of Japan Karate in Fresno, California, passed away at his home. Sensei Halliburton, as he was known to his many students, was an accomplished competitor in karate during the peak years of tournament karate. He has been a prominent figure in the martial arts of the Central Valley of California since he began operating his Shotokan dojo in the mid-60's. He has taught literally generations of karateka, as his students grew and brought in their children to study.

I personally remember Sensei Halliburton as a powerful, stoic, tough man with a dry sense of humor. He was an amazing teacher, especially with children. I remember beginning karate at age 11 and being in awe of him. His dojo was very traditional in many ways, but there was also an element of tough-guy realism when it came to fighting. I have taken what I learned of tamashi, kiai, kime, gambare, and rei from him and earnestly applied it to my life.

There are many people out there who studied with Sensei Halliburton, competed with him, or even fought with him, and he touched many people in his life. In true budo fashion, he never profited much from his livelihood, offering his teaching at well below its value, and he struggled to make ends meet. He nevertheless dies a rich man, as all good teachers do, with a wealth of thankful students.

Sad to hear of the passing of someone passionate and dedicated to their art.

Best wishes to friends and family affected by this loss.

Sorry to hear of his passing. I grew up in Fresno and as a child trained Karate with one of Halliburton's former students, Stuart Quan. I've heard nothing but good of Halliburton and his school.

Sadly, Stuart Quan passed away a short time ago, very unexpectedly at a young age, while returining to Fresno from a ski trip. Stuart Quan, besides being a forms champion, also had appeared in several films, including Big Trouble in Little China, and was well admired. Two local karate figures gone before their time. Alas.

Sensei Halliburton's funeral was very well attended and well done, and I found myself crying through most of it. I wasn't the only one. The sentiment, I think, was not so much a sadness because he would not longer be in our lives, but from the reflection that he put so many of us on the path of "do." (As in Karate-do.) Testament to the fact that a good sensei has the ability to really affect his students and touch their lives.

Fortunately, the area still has many good sensei's remaining, not the least of which are Sensei Wong, who succeeds Sensei Halliburton at Way of Japan; Sensei Imamura, of Judo fame (Fresno Judo Club and CSUF); and Sensei Takeda, of the West Clovis Judo Club, all of whom I have had the good fortune to train under. There are many other good teachers here, in many other different martial arts, so we are lucky.