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19 of January was the last day of the workshop and the culmination of all participants efforts to finish the training successfully. On this day 10 brothers and sisters receive the yellow belt award while two others received the blue one and the green one. Through hard training and sincere efforts almost everybody could successfully perform the forms Sawi Gidae Eui Bon, Pyung Hwa Eui Bon and Wonhwa Eui Bon. Also we could perform basic self defense forms as well as one step sparring techniques.
All through the way of the workshop we received 13 IEF lectures by Master Don Harbour along with important internal guidance. The internal was very well and naturally combined with the external. During the first days some minor incidents happened that forced one brother to retreat but many others endured the pain and finished the mission. The most important day was 18 January, one day before the end. We had the physical test from 10 - 12:30 AM and a special performance for some 70 people including members from 7:30 PM. We worked very hard and seriously during the second week to achieve victory on both events. After the test Master Don Harbour shared: "when I compare you with the beginning of the training, I see a change like that between night and day."
The evening performance was a real success. We performed in teams and individually what we learned plus some simple compositions for the event. The culmination of the evening was the performance of "Eye of the Tiger", by instructor Valerian Griu (Moldova) and Mernand Shehu (student from Albania).
During the graduation ceremony Mater Kensaku Takahashi said that: "I am very happy with the performance. I couldn't not believe my eyes. Looks like the spirit world has supported us very much. Please believe in miracles and the spirit world." while sharing his last words for this workshop tears of happiness and joy fell from Master Harbour's eyes. "When I came in the beginning I did not know what to do. What should I teach these people? But watching your determination, enthusiasm and progress my optimism started to grow and now I am proud to give today these Graduation Certificates to you."
Many of the students thanked the three instructors coming from far away to teach Albanian about TIMD. "I want to thank the instructors not only for what they taught us but because they did it with their heart," said one participant during the Graduation Ceremony.
All agreed that IEF lectures combined with TIMD training is the best we can offer to young people of Albania. All this enthusiasm brought in the idea of a second workshop in August 2005. Until that we will hold each month three day training for new TIMD participants and will prepare minimum 40 candidates for 40 days workshop.
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