12/01/2022
Dear all,
As most of you know, I had a number of operations on my ankle/foot last year. The reason was a deformed foot as a result of a nerve disorder, an old fracture due to frequent sprains in my youth and an ankle that could hardly bend. By training and forcing all these years, severe osteoarthritis has developed in the ankle. Over the years I have presented my complaints to various doctors, but unfortunately I have never been taken seriously. Even six months before the operation, after much discussion, I still had to visit the podiatrist again to have orthotics measured. After, of course, it turned out that these could mean nothing more, luckily I came into contact with a surgeon in Antwerp through the podiatrist.
After serious research and various scans, it turned out that it was not well and that the next step would be for most doctors to lock the joint. Fortunately, this specialist agreed to perform a complicated operation so that I could go a while further. Without going into detail, one of the goals of the surgery was to use the cartilage that is still there by straightening the foot and ankle joint. This was successful, only bending was not yet possible. A second operation might have solved that, unfortunately this was only the case to a small extent.
Until a month ago it seemed to be going well, in addition to my inspiring new position at work, I was able to teach again and pick up my own training. Not optimal, but there was still progress. Unfortunately it went downhill after that and now there is daily pain. It is clear to me that even if there would be improvement I will have to be very careful with my ankle/foot. For these reasons, I had to decide with a heavy heart to stop teaching, actively participate in training and I see no other option than to close Budo-Fieret.
My father, Dick Fieret started teaching 50 years ago. He did this with the support of my mother Emmy. We taught together, but unfortunately I had to take up the baton much too early in 2007. But by continuing with the passion we shared together, I always felt the connection and therefore often thought of him. Even though I know I have no other choice, closing our club is the hardest decision of my life.
Over the years I have had a lot of support and assistance from several members who helped me with teaching. Martin van Hove, Steven Poppe, Léon Remery, Ashwin Visser, Joyce Kimenai and Cees de Putter, among others. I would like to thank these people for their help. In particular, I would like to mention and thank Raoul Verschoor. He was there all those years as a teacher and as a loyal training partner, we walked the path together and I can't say how important this was to me. I would like to thank my wife Lianne for her help with the administrative part of the club. A serious budoka spends a lot of time on his passion in addition to his daily activities, his loved ones also have to do without him at these moments. This support that the budoka receives is the most important of all and certainly not always self-evident, which is also why I want to thank my wife.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to train with many karate and kobujutsu sensei and they have all contributed to my knowledge and skills. Two sensei have always been particularly important to me, Dirk Heene and Julian Mead, I have always considered them my sensei. Their personality, knowledge and abilities have always inspired, influenced and motivated me to better understand my martial arts and to work harder. I thank them for their patience and for accepting me as their student.
Unfortunately, my career ends too soon. I'd be lying if I said they're all great memories, but there are an incredible number of them to look back to. In the meantime, I do have some other interests to delve into, although these will probably never fill the gap. I realize that I will probably never see some of you again, I wish these persons the best and a long healthy time on the path called budo. Some of you I will certainly meet again, to them I say see you soon. To all who I met and trained with over the years thank you for the great memories.
Sincerely, Gertjan Fieret.
