Jerry went to college upstate at Rochester Institute of Technology for six years. During that time he did internships in Oregon and Boston, and did a semester overseas in Paris. After getting his Masters degree, he came back to Long Island for almost a year. His job search included Long Island and NYC, but he accepted a job in Boston that lasted four years. He did come back from college and work occasionally, and he always looked sharp. Jerry returned to Long Island last May for a month before departing on a cross-country bicycle trip that would last four months. Jerry’s trek finished in October, and he trained with us regularly right up until last night.
Statistics show that students who go away to college, who intern in different parts of the country, who study abroad are much less likely to settle down in their hometown. I knew each return would probably be short-lived before Jerry would leave again. I was talking to a coworker late last night and she asked me why his leaving hit me the way it did, especially since he left a few times before. Diligence, dedicated training, apt at teaching others, a gentlemanly manner while sparring, a tournament champion, all make him a pleasure to teach. His day-to-day energy, personality, quirky sense of humor, and frequent chuckling make him a pleasure to be around. His birth date is in January 1986; Dō Gakuin was founded in January 1986. I’ve watched the boy grow and mature into a fine man, and see his life as representative of our dojo. Most Black Belts have their own way of performing techniques depending on their body types, abilities, and personal preferences. Jerry Saravia’s form comes closest to ‘textbook’ Dō Gakuin.
Am I showing favoritism? Our dojo has several fine Black Belts, and a couple would be considered ‘elite’; Jerry Saravia is definitely among the elite. Best wishes on your new job, Jerry, and come back to visit often. You will be missed.
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