My Memories of Sensei Peter Urban
My Memories of Sensei Peter Urban
by Tracy Warrener
Growing up in the Martial arts I had had many opportunities to meet and train with some world
renowned martial artists. At least 2-3 times per year someone was at our dojo to teach a
seminar or at our house staying with us. I consider myself very fortunate to have met some
amazing people. One of which was a regular visiter and mentor- Sensei Peter Urban.
Sensei Peter Urban first came to stay with us while he was up teaching seminars at our dojos. I
was only 13 or 14 years old when he first came up. Though I was a bit too young to participate
in his first seminar at our dojo, I remember he was truly someone like I had never met before.
The first morning I met him, I came into the kitchen to have breakfast before going to school
and there he was dressed in black track pants, white undershirt, red suspenders, glasses with
tape at the nose and a towel wrapped around his neck making my sister and I breakfast. I didn’t
know what to make of him, but thought he was funny for sure. He introduced himself and
instructed us to sit down and eat. Then off he went to get ready for his day. A some point during
that particular stay Sensei Urban learned about my fascination with Michael Jackson. I
collected every book, magazine or Michael Jackson cards I could find. I was always bugging my
mom for money for something. It was one particular night after dinner that Sensei Urban
decided to help me out. However- there was a lesson in it first. That lesson was that he taught
my sister and I that evening how to play poker. I remember sitting at our kitchen table and him
talking about reading people’s faces and saying some words of insight I am sure that went right
over my head for a girl of 13yrs old. But I do remember him teaching us about eye contact and
he had that stare. That kind of stare in which he was almost telepathically trying to download
information directly to your brain. I remember it well and just sat there and listened to his stories
as he taught us. Of course he would let us win and after a few games, I had enough money to
go and purchase this soft covered book on Michael Jackson.
The next time I remember him coming up, I was about 16yrs old. I can remember coming home
from school and he was in the garage working on something. I went out to see what he was
doing only to find him with a broom handle, shoe laces, and a toy of mine ( a small stick with two
rubber balls on either end) and he had sawed it in half! I was both shocked, confused and a bit
miffed at him for taking my toy. I remember my mom was a bit surprised that he had taken her
broom apart as well. When I asked him why he did this, he said, “I am making my creation, now
go away..” I was upset but soon got over it. He came into the house and asked me to come
outside. He unveiled to me THE PICASSO STICK.... Using those items, he had designed
himself a Picasso Stick. This stick would serve as a prop to teach his seminars. Very creative
indeed!
The following year my mom, sister and I were invited down to his home in New Jersey to stay
with him and his wife. This trip proved to be memorable as well. From his ‘Soul food’ cooking as
he called it, to a large clock in his hallway that had a large picture of an eyeball taped to the
pendulum. It watched you as you walked by it. It literally FREAKED me out! One night, in the
middle of the night, I went to use the washroom. I flicked on the light and on came marching
music loudly playing! Scared the hell out of me! The purpose for this was to always be on guard.
The stay with Sensei and his wife was definitely one for the record books and it was when I
realized how cool he truly was.
It would be another year or so before we saw Sensei Urban. The next time he came to stay with
us was when I was 18 yrs old. I remember this visit well because I was training hard for my
Shodan grading. I remember the pressure I felt getting ready for my grading. The pressure of
being Sensei Warrener’s daughter grading, but also, the pressure that both Sensei Peter Urban
and O’Sensei Richard Kim were sitting in on this grading. The pressure to perform well was
huge for me. Sensei Urban once again was staying with us. He realized my stress I am sure. I
would be outside every evening with my Bo Staff, and Tong Fa practicing my weapons katas in
the back yard. A couple of times he would be peaking out the kitchen window and would watch
me. The night before my grading I was having a huge nervous spell about the next day. He
came outside while I was practicing. It was pitch dark and I was still going.. “Miss.
Warrener,come here!”, I heard him call out. I heard him, but wanted to finished my kata. He
called me again and I finally came. He then said something to me that instantly put my mind at
ease. It wasn’t some huge advice, he had been giving me some pointers along the way already.
But all he said to me was “Miss. Warrener, put the bo down. Go inside the house and GO TO
BED!” I was afraid to stop practicing and he must have seen the look in my eyes and he then
added. “ You did well, now go to sleep”. I did as he asked. The next day I did my grading and
saw him up at the head table with my dad and Sensei Kim and he just stared at me with that
knowing look that he had, nodded his head and I knew that was his way of saying good luck.
That was probably one of the last times I remember seeing Sensei Urban. Its a memory that will
always stay with me. He was truly an unique and intelligent man. I will always be grateful to
him for his subtle lessons. Whether he was teaching me how to play poker and read someone’s
face, to thinking outside of the box to teach a unique idea or to know when enough is enough
and to rest. He was never afraid of being looked at differently, in fact I think he liked the
confused looks he got from people sometimes. Sensei Urban was passionate whenever he
taught someone something. Whether it was on or off the dojo floor. For a man who was the God
Father of American Goju Ryu Karate, to this young Canadian girl he made quite an impact on
and I am forever grateful to have known him.
Tracy Warrener has been fortunate to have been raised within the Martial Arts since the age of 4 years old and is a 4th Degree Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate. She has had the opportunity to study with some amazing Martial Artists. Sensei Richard Kim, Sensei Peter Urban, Professor Don Jacob, Sensei Jim Wilson, Professor Wally Jay, just to name several. Of course her main Sensei is her father, Sensei Don Warrener. Throughout the 40 plus years of her involvement in the Martial Arts, she has worked her way from being a student of the martial arts to a Martial Arts Sensei ,teaching hundreds of students. She has ran and managed martial arts schools teaching students of all ages, worked within the community teaching at fitness centres, schools, businesses and Women’s Shelters, the benefits of Karate. One the causes close to her heart is teaching and empowering young girls and women the importance of self defence and awareness. Her program called Look Strong! Act Strong! Be Strong! focuses on easy self defence techniques and mind self defence techniques. In 2013 she was awarded The Silver Lifetime Achievement Award in the Masters of the Martial Arts Hall of Fame in California for her contribution to Women in the Martial Arts. She is also a Certified Reflexologist and Reiki Master. She has starred in three of her own DVDs produced by Rising Sun Productions on Reiki, Reflexology and her Look Strong, Act Strong, Be Strong Self Defence Program. tracy.warrenerentertainment@gmail.com
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