John Wimberly, a member of The Hut Combat Arts Club and the Ellis School of Traditional Aikido died in an auto accident this past weekend.

Wimberly, who was living in Colorado, had practiced at the Hut in Alamogordo, New Mexico for two years, attaining the rank of 3rd Kyu. He was known by club members for his positive attitude, clean technique and beautiful ukime.

I met John when he was 15-years-old. He was introduced to me by his mother, who was having some degree of trouble with her developing teenage son. Of course, with his quick wit and good sense of humor, he fit in well with the lads at The Hut.

My memories of him range from some of the crazy demonstrations I had the good fortune to participate in with him? to my last visit with him in the final weeks we were practicing at the old feed store outside of Alamogordo. He spoke to me then of his dreams? the things he most wanted to do as he was looking up the hill of his life. He said he wanted to study alternative medicine? become a healer; a therapist. I agreed with him that this would be a good course to follow and I remember having mixed feelings about his moving on.

The thing I most remember about John, though was his great potential. That day in the back room of The Hut, I asked him if he was happy. He said he was, and we shook hands for the last time.

I'm not sure how I feel now that he's passed on? I'm sad for the loss of all the good I know he would have done on this Earth. But I also know that we'll meet again; and if heaven or valhalla allows, we'll also practice together again on some other mat, in some other place.