Saying goodbye to a true karateka

[Paul Bedard]

Don`t know if it`s appropriate. You folks don`t know him. But in British Columbia Canada we just lost a senior member of ISKFBC, my good friend Jan Stepan godan. I started with the ISKF in 1986 & have known Jan since then. We have been to camps & numerous seminars together. A very nice man, who didn`t smoke, seldom drank, ate healthy, stayed fit & damned cancer took him anyway!
50 years of age, too damn young! He had been fighting stomach cancer for at least 1 & 1/2 yrs & we watched him wither away to nothing, but he stayed hopeful & gracious right to the end. I`m really going to miss him. It`s kind of appropriate that his memorial service will be held on the first day of our Master Yaguchi seminar next week. I`m testing so when I `kiai`, I know that he will be with me. If there is a god, I hope that he is doing right by you Jan `OSU`
Paul B

[fujicolt]

hey paul

very sad news indeed. but if it is any consolation it appears he died with real friends and that means he died a wealthy man! sincere thoughts and good wishes to his family and friends.

Osu!

[Paul Bedard]

Thanks Steve! Just this last january , Jan Stepan went on a provincial dojo tour with sensei Joe Dixon who is our technical director, he was week but of course showed great spirit. He trained last with us during the master Yaguchi seminar in april. He brought his daughter with him who took all sorts of pictures. We knew then that he was saying goodbye & collecting memorabilia for his family. It was touching that in his time of taking care of his affairs, that he valued spending time with us.. A prime example of `budo`.. I`m proud to have known him.
Osu
Paul B

[fujicolt]

The way I look at it Paul, when i think of my karate friends and other key people that are, or have been, in my life, i know one thing - i am wiser, stronger and a much better person in so many ways because of them and that is such a personal experience that it is priceless and no one and no thing can ever take that away from me - even when they are gone. It seems to me that the guy wanted, right to the end, to savour not only his beloved karate, the feeling, sights, sounds and scent of it - but also the real essence of it all - the people who have been his training partners, students and teachers throughout his journey along the way.

i can imagine his last thoughts being of the joys his family have brought him, his achievements in life and the fact that he is now going to a place where he can go up to Funakoshi Gichin and say, 'Sensei, can i ask you a few questions about some things that have been troubling me for several decades?'

and Funakoshi answering 'of course you can, we have an eternity to discuss it. It would be my pleasure'

I say that cos i know i am gonna chew his ears off when tis my time

[Paul Bedard]

Yes Steve, that is what I`m thinking also. Jan has also trained under masters Nakayama & Asai so I`m sure that he is in good company.
Osu
Paul B

[tomobrien]

Paul,

My condolences & good luck.

Thanks,
Tom

[Paul Bedard]

The memorial for Jan was a very nice celebration of his life. It was well attended of course by family & friends, but what I was really pleased to see, was how many karateka came to pay their respects.
It was interesting timing that it worked out that his memorial was the first day of our master Yaguchi seminar. It was like Jan planned to be with us one more time ( perfect ). Master Yaguchi was there, as was sensei Gary Swain, also sensei Cathy Cline had driven over from Seattle Washington to be with us. I should mention that, this is a 3hr drive each way & she had to go home right away ( after joining us for a quick meal ), as she had to work the next day. Also not only many active karateka, but also a number of people who were but no longer train. When they opened up the floor for people to share their experience with Jan, I had the priviledge of going first, followed by sensei Joe Dixon.
I had been mistaken about Jan`s rank, he actually was a `Yondan`, however when master Yaguchi heard of Jan`s passing away, he contacted master Okazaki & due to the very honourable way that Jan spent his last 2 yrs, never giving up & fighting with courage & dignity, he recommended that Jan be made `Godan`. This request was honoured. I`m actually crying right now, with pride as I`m re-living the moment when sensei Dixon announced this at the memorial. So as it turns out, I was not mistaken on Jan`s rank. His contribution to karate has been acknowledged, as it should be. I`m sure that he will be remembered. He has been a part of so many of us. I had said that he will be with me when I `kiai` & when I needed that during my examination, he was with me.. So long Jan, rest in peace.` Domo Arigato Sempai`
Osu
Paul B

[fujicolt]

neat way of remembering him Paul. I should imagine your KiAi's will reach him in the afterlife and probably wake him up when he and Funakoshi are having a nap in the Sun by the swimming Paul!

Nice thought -

He wakes up startled.
Funakoshi Says - 'are you OK?'
He Says
'tis fine just Paul kiai-ing in the wrong place in Bassai Dai again!'

8-)

[Paul Bedard]

But the third `yama zuki` feels like a `kiai`. Yes I`m sure that he & GF will be looking down & having a good chuckle at my version of:
`Spirit first, technique second`
Osu
Paul B

[garret]

I just found out that Jan Stepan passed away. His memory will remain with me for years. My deepest prayers to his family and may the Lord have a place with him

Garret James

[Paul Bedard]

You knew Jan did you Garret? Thanks for your thoughts..
Osu
Paul B

[jstefano]

Hi Guys,

My name is Jan as well. I knew sensei Jan Stepan personally. I was born in the same country like Jan, we worked for the same company for few years, even my last name is very similar to Jan's last name. After I left the company we both worked for, we kept in touch via email, he even become my job reference once, we were occasionally sending jokes to each other, some karate news, pictures (I am practicing GojuRyu on and off for last 30 years).

Few months ago I asked Jan if he still wants me to send him jokes. I knew he was battling cancer and was not sure if he had time (was in the mood) to read those emails. He replied to keep jokes coming as those emails makes him laugh. I invited him for a trip with my boat anytime he wanted, unfortunately he did not feel well enough.

Then he stopped sending emails back, I asked few times how is he doing, no answer. I hoped he's in the middle of the fight, but was worried... what if?
Today I tried to Google Jan to find out his phone number and found this thread

Good bye, sensei, Osu!!!

your friend Jan Stefanovic

[guyakuzuki]

sad to hear this.My deepest sympathy goes to his friends and family.Osu!

[fujicolt]

Jan 29, 2011 6:01:29 GMT jstefano said:

Hi Guys,

My name is Jan as well. I knew sensei Jan Stepan personally. I was born in the same country like Jan, we worked for the same company for few years, even my last name is very similar to Jan's last name. After I left the company we both worked for, we kept in touch via email, he even become my job reference once, we were occasionally sending jokes to each other, some karate news, pictures (I am practicing GojuRyu on and off for last 30 years).

Few months ago I asked Jan if he still wants me to send him jokes. I knew he was battling cancer and was not sure if he had time (was in the mood) to read those emails. He replied to keep jokes coming as those emails makes him laugh. I invited him for a trip with my boat anytime he wanted, unfortunately he did not feel well enough.

Then he stopped sending emails back, I asked few times how is he doing, no answer. I hoped he's in the middle of the fight, but was worried... what if?
Today I tried to Google Jan to find out his phone number and found this thread

Good bye, sensei, Osu!!!

your friend Jan Stefanovic

jan stefanic

i send my sympathy to you for your loss but am glad you found news here. contact paul bedard - he also new him and will give you any info you need. you can private message paul from here

OSS

[Paul Bedard]

Hello Jan Stefanovic;
Thank you for sharing with us, a glimpse of your reference with my friend & sempai. He was truly one of the good ones! He touched us more than he would ever have believed.
Osu
Paul B