The late Sensei Nantambu Camara BomaniBy Sensei Charles Da Cosata
A long time ago I was told that the dead often remain here to help and guide us.
When I met Sensei Bomani, I had left home at the age of 15. I spent the 10th and 11th grades hanging out and making a bigger mess of my life. I was even supposed to repeat the 11th grade.
I moved to Ithaca New York in 1977. There I began training under Sensei. After a year, all of the sempais want me kick out of the club, but Sensei felt it was the schools responsibility to help guide me. So they all suffered a little longer. I think my problem was that sometimes I just wanted to fight someone. Also, I watched Sensei’s most devoted two students progress from white to Black belts. I believed, I could beat everybody in the club so it should have been me wearing a black belt. I guess I was a little jealous.
Sensei seeing something in me introduced me to a kung fu teacher and suggested that maybe I can find the origins of Goju in Chinese martial Arts. So I trained both.
I progressed in kung fu but remain a thorn in the sides of my Sempais, to the extent that one day, they all set me down to hear their complaints. They wanted me kicked out. I was so lost that I did not care. However, feeling compassion, Sensei requested of them even more patience and of me more discipline and respect for the others. I had to agree, but then I realized maybe I should really concentrate on Kung fu since I was progressing extremely fast in it.
One day, a year or so later, I return to the dojo, Sensei had already moved away and all that was left were my two Sempais, the ones that have been there from the beginning. The youngest asked me, “Have you come to train?” I bowed and said, “Yes.” He said, “You will have to set up the dojo by yourself first, that could take a long time.” I did not care, so I went to work and then started training. No one else came so I set up the dojo and trained alone. Both Sempais stayed in the office until the time had come for class to end. I had not even noticed that I had just trained by my self for two hours.
At the end of class the youngest Sempai came in the dojo, I respectfully bowed, I think I even said, “Hei Sempai” to something he said. This can’t be true, I had a reputation as being a problem. But anyway Sempai Bruce looked around and said, “You only made one mistake …” {in setting up the dojo} I thanked him and went to correct the problem, then I was told, "let us take down the dojo." (My reputation seemed gone).
Later that year, both Sempais, Ed Savage and Bruce, visited me at the Kung fu school. We talked, and then they concluded, “Ours prayers have been answered.” Then they left; that was the last time I saw them.
The last time I remember seeing Sensai, we were sitting in a restaurant, and they were discussing the clubs future (it was unimportant to me so I was just eating as usual), then Sempai Bruce said, “What about Charles, …?” confused, I lifted my head and stop chewing. Sensei said, “… then we put him in the single belt system …” Later I learned the meaning behind this single belt system and Sensai’s plans for me.
Years after this I have run into Black belts in Goju at different times in my life, each time I was given a video tape or other media with all the katas on it. This even happened last year. It was then, the first time in years I had felt Sensei’s presence. This made the DVDs feel like a very special gift. I knew I had to learn this. It represented something inside me.
I could still remember Sensei saying, “The Universe in Breathing, Hard and Soft.” When I got home I began to search the Internet and ask friends and family, “Has anybody seen or know where Nantambu is?” No one seemed to know. So I had promised myself that I would learn all the Katas and teach their principles in honor of the memory of one of my great Teachers (The Silent One).
When I met Sensei Bomani, I had left home at the age of 15. I spent the 10th and 11th grades hanging out and making a bigger mess of my life. I was even supposed to repeat the 11th grade.
I moved to Ithaca New York in 1977. There I began training under Sensei. After a year, all of the sempais want me kick out of the club, but Sensei felt it was the schools responsibility to help guide me. So they all suffered a little longer. I think my problem was that sometimes I just wanted to fight someone. Also, I watched Sensei’s most devoted two students progress from white to Black belts. I believed, I could beat everybody in the club so it should have been me wearing a black belt. I guess I was a little jealous.
Sensei seeing something in me introduced me to a kung fu teacher and suggested that maybe I can find the origins of Goju in Chinese martial Arts. So I trained both.
I progressed in kung fu but remain a thorn in the sides of my Sempais, to the extent that one day, they all set me down to hear their complaints. They wanted me kicked out. I was so lost that I did not care. However, feeling compassion, Sensei requested of them even more patience and of me more discipline and respect for the others. I had to agree, but then I realized maybe I should really concentrate on Kung fu since I was progressing extremely fast in it.
One day, a year or so later, I return to the dojo, Sensei had already moved away and all that was left were my two Sempais, the ones that have been there from the beginning. The youngest asked me, “Have you come to train?” I bowed and said, “Yes.” He said, “You will have to set up the dojo by yourself first, that could take a long time.” I did not care, so I went to work and then started training. No one else came so I set up the dojo and trained alone. Both Sempais stayed in the office until the time had come for class to end. I had not even noticed that I had just trained by my self for two hours.
At the end of class the youngest Sempai came in the dojo, I respectfully bowed, I think I even said, “Hei Sempai” to something he said. This can’t be true, I had a reputation as being a problem. But anyway Sempai Bruce looked around and said, “You only made one mistake …” {in setting up the dojo} I thanked him and went to correct the problem, then I was told, "let us take down the dojo." (My reputation seemed gone).
Later that year, both Sempais, Ed Savage and Bruce, visited me at the Kung fu school. We talked, and then they concluded, “Ours prayers have been answered.” Then they left; that was the last time I saw them.
The last time I remember seeing Sensai, we were sitting in a restaurant, and they were discussing the clubs future (it was unimportant to me so I was just eating as usual), then Sempai Bruce said, “What about Charles, …?” confused, I lifted my head and stop chewing. Sensei said, “… then we put him in the single belt system …” Later I learned the meaning behind this single belt system and Sensai’s plans for me.
Years after this I have run into Black belts in Goju at different times in my life, each time I was given a video tape or other media with all the katas on it. This even happened last year. It was then, the first time in years I had felt Sensei’s presence. This made the DVDs feel like a very special gift. I knew I had to learn this. It represented something inside me.
I could still remember Sensei saying, “The Universe in Breathing, Hard and Soft.” When I got home I began to search the Internet and ask friends and family, “Has anybody seen or know where Nantambu is?” No one seemed to know. So I had promised myself that I would learn all the Katas and teach their principles in honor of the memory of one of my great Teachers (The Silent One).
And now I have heard that he is dead.
This explains why I can feel his presence again.
And I pray that this time, I will not be such a challenge!
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Hi Sensei Charles Da Cosata,i have read your sad memorial story about Nantambu Camara Bomani,real its hurts and mourning, i have no idea about you and your lost friend and teacher ,Mr Bomani.Very sorry to Charles and Mr.Bomani's family,the late.
ReplyDeleteMr Charles,am very much touched with the story of his lifetime for Mr Bomani,please assist me to answer the following question to clear my doubts
1.Was Mr Bomani a Tanzanian or?
2.Where he was burried?
3.What is the meaning of Sensei?
4.Whats your origin?
5.What talents he had which were unique from other teacher?
email me via ftewele@yahoo.com
thanks,
rgds
Kisenga
habari za kizungu sizipendi mimi... basi tu
ReplyDeleteKaka Muheshimiwa Ftewele, kwanza pole.Labda hukuwahi kusoma Historia ya Nantambu kwenye blogu hii huko nyuma.
ReplyDeleteNantambu hakuwa Mbongo ila alipenda Uafrika, alikuwa ni Mmarekani mwenye asili ya weusi na alichukua Majina haya Camara Bomani ili ajione ni mwafrika sana
Pia kwenYE kIINGLISHI UNGEULIZA HIVI
Was Mr.Bomani Tanzania National?
Where was he buried na sio where he was buried hapa una make a statment na sio swali swali ni where was he...
What is your origin?hapa unamuuliza kama vile yeye ni mweusi au mweupe au kitu gani, asili ya swali ni rude ungesema what is your nationality atleast ingemake sense
what was his talents that distinguish him from other?
Na wewe anon Wed May 12, 02:26:00 PM, acha kumkosoa mwenzio huku na wewe ukijichanganya. Usiulize "what was his talents that distinguish him from other?" Kwanza umekosea kiingereza na pili swali limekuwa refu kuliko inavyotakiwa. Badala yake uliza "what unique talents did he possess?". Neno "unique" linatosha kumaanisha "tofauti na wengine." Upo hapo?
ReplyDeleteAnother question, please?
Mwl. Komba.