Translated by John
Stevens
Minegishi’s 40th
13 more from Japan
10 from Russia
6 from Taiwan
5 from Hong Kong
Anniversary in
Guam Aikikai
Aikido
E-News
International
March, 2012 (No.3)
Seminar on Guam
September 28-30, 2012
Guam Aikikai home
page renewed
Guam Aikikai Home
Page is constantly
renewed. Please refresh
it often to see the updated
information and
announcements.
Venue: International
Sports Center in Hagatna
Celebration Dinner:
Guests and Guam
Aikikai Members and
families
Sept.29（Sat）Mariott
Hotel
www.guamaikikai.org
O’sensei’s teaching
“In the Art of Peace
(Aikido), we never attack.
An attack is proof that
one is out of control.
Never run away from any
kind of challenge, but do
not try to suppress or
control an opponent
unnaturally. Let
attackers come any way
they like and then blend
with them. Never chase
after opponents.
Redirect each attack and
get firmly behind it.”
Dinner with Guests:
(adult only): Sept. 30
（Sunday）
Details will be announced
on Guam Aikikai Home
Page. Please check often
to obtain the necessary
information.
Home Stay Offers
For the oversea guests, I
am looking for some
families who will host
them.
Kenny Rekdahl: 1 guest
The new Dojo
started
March 5 (M), 2012
Internationa Sports
Center Dojo
Aikido classes have
started at our new
location at the
International Sports
Center in Hagatna next
to KFC.
Confirmed oversea
guests as of March 31,
Guest Instructors:
Katsuyuki Shimamoto
Sensei, 8th dan
Ikuhiro Kubota Sensei,
7th dan
Mitsuo Funakoshi Sensei,
7th dan
From the Art of Peace
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Starting members:
Austin Castro
Hayden Blas
Skyler Blas
Robert Blas
Corina blas
Roy Hanes
Kristine Bakdat
Derrick Kuo
Ivy Lin
Makoto Blas
Victoria Blas
Darian Blas
Allen Torre
Aria Torre
Leonardo Cunha
Akio Tachibana
The class schedule is as
follows:
Children:
MWF 6:00-7:00PM
Adults:
MWF: 7:15-8:30PM
Takumi was in a suit and
tie with leather shoes. He
was proud, but at times,
he was in tears.
There are many Aikido
children in this school,
and they are very happy
for their graduation.
Takumi Ito on the left
Rio Aoki on the left
International Sports
Center, LLC
484 W. Soledad Ave.
Hagatna, GU 96910
Tel:477-9885
Diane Bachelder
diane@iscguam.com
Congratulations
Takumi Ito
rio Aoki
Takumi Ito graduated
from the Japanese
Elementary School and
Rio Aoki from the
Secondary School on
March 15.
Japanese school is a very
small school and there
were only three in the
sixth grade, and four in
the 9th grade.
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Yamato and Haruto
Mai, Rio and Yamato
March 31, 2012
Full Yellow:
Promotions in March
March 1, 2012
Half Yellow
Austin Castro
Hayden Blas
Michael Burgess
Samantha Burgess
Shosenji Dojo,
Shimamoto sensei,
50th anniversary
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seminar with Doshu
September 9 (Sunday)
Tentative participants:
Richard Chan
Kai Rekdahl
Kenny Rekdahl
Ryan Harrison
Mutsuko Minegishi
Anyone else interested?
Internatinal Aikido
Federation Seminar
in Tokyo,
September 17-22, 2012
at Tokyo Olympic Center
Detailed information will
be forthcoming.
Hombu Dojo 80th
anniversary party
September 23(S),
in Tokyo
Art & Crafts Fair
March 10, Saturday from
10-4 at Nikko Hotel
Two Aikido
Demonstrations and
Guam Aikikai booth
Small children:
11:30-11:50
There were 25 children
on the stage. They were
happy and energetic.
Many of the children
performed for the first
time, but they were not
shy or hesitant at all.
They all chose their
favorite techniques.
Older children:
2:40-3:00
As usual, our youth gave
a fantastic demonstration.
Minegishi’s annual
New Members
Barrigada Dojo
Sirena Rayphand
Brent M. Dana
tour to Europe in
Spring, 2012
Guests from Japan
Mr. Hamada from Osaka
April 18: leaving Guam
April 20-22: Holland
April 23-28: Monaco
April 29-May 12: Croatia
May 13-20: Russia
(International seminar in
Russia from May 16-20.)
May 23: arriving Guam
Saturday, children
Ryan Harrison will be
going to the seminar in
Russia.
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Saturday, youth & adults
Sunday, adults
Sunday, adults
Sunday, children
Both Mr. Hamada and
Mr. Harada were deeply
impressed by the
children’s cheerfulness,
warmth and energy.
Sunday, children
Mr. Kenya Harada
Thank you letter from
Mr. Kenya Harada
I received a very long
and nice hand-written
letter from Mr. Harada.
“Dear Minegishi sensei,
……I have learned three
things.
Saturday, Children
Saturday, youth & adults
Regarding the body
movements: Be mindful
of the center of the body,
the height of both arms,
… rather than moving
the opponent with the
strength of the arms,
enter your own body,
keep the distance out of
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reach of the opponent,
keep the axel of the body
when taking uke, put the
minds to the fingertips
and extend KI….Nikyo
pin should not be done to
jam the opponent’s
shoulders, but to give
good stretch to them.
I did not follow the
movement of the
opponent. Instead, I
moved with my own
selfishness probably
because I was afraid.
With such learning, I
watched your way of
practice in class in your
Home Page, and I started
seeing the movements
that had never been in
my consciousness. More
than the technical aspect,
I learned more about the
mind. I am the one who
makes the opponent stiff.
With the lack of my trust
in the opponent, I
thought that I was the
one who was doing
everything correct.
On the second day, I
tried to open my mind.
Then, I could enjoy
practice with children.
What surprised me most
were the smile and the
enthusiasm of the
children: their joy in
games, willingness to take
ukemi and their almost
competitive eagerness to
telling the names of
techniques, etc.
Especially when two
children ran into each
other and fell down, the
whole class rushed to
them and asked them if
they were ok. To me,
that was the most
impressive moment.
You told me that children
have straightforward
body and mind, therefore
they are fit for Aikido.
I strongly felt that I
wanted to enjoy Aikido
like them and to enjoy
my life……”
I was really surprised to
hear from him that
within four hours of
practice, he learned so
much from us!!!
Aikido and children
It is said that at age 60,
we go back to our
childhood. I am now 71,
and I am 11 years old.
No wonder why I like
children so much. They
are my pier friends!!!
I do not have my own
children. I did not have
happy childhood because it
was right after the WWII
and we were all very, very
poor. Pebbles were our
toys. Empty cans were our
balls to kick. The river
behind the house was the
playground.
I was the third girl in the
family, and my clothes were
all third hand. I was a very
active girl, so it was easy to
wear out the third hand
clothes.
We could not say what we
liked and disliked at the
meal tables. We never had
pocket money to buy what
we liked. We did not have
birthday cakes or presents.
We were happy if we were
all healthy.
So, I am surely curious how
the children nowadays are
growing. How are their
parents treating them?
What do they want to be in
the future? What kind of
relationships do they have
at home, among their
siblings and with the
parents?
Many children come to
Aikido. There are many
who stop even before they
pay the next month fee.
Sometimes, their parents
take them away because the
children do not seem to be
learning what they expect.
On the other hand, some
continue for more than ten
years and grow from a
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child to youth, and some
from youth to adult.
Some children like
competitive sports, but
some do not even like
moving their bodies. Some
have introverted nature
and some extroverted.
Aikido can provide a very
comfortable atmosphere to
both types. At first,
introverted ones cry or hide
behind the parents, but
gradually, they start taking
interest in the cheerful and
joyful activities in class, and
they start smiling and join
the crowd. Extroverted
ones are first rather wild,
but gradually they learn
that the class does not
appreciate their wild and
violent behavior. Everyone
in class offers his/her
helping hands to each other.
Children are good teachers.
The younger they are, the
better to start. Some come
with diapers on. Some can
hardly walk, but they can
crowl.
Children are not as
incapable as the parents
think. I take any age. An
18 month old child can do
Shomenuchi Ikkyo. They
like to roll and they like
throwing their papas. They
understand almost
everything, and they follow
others. They like to be
released to a large space
with tatami mats.
If the children cannot be on
the mats alone, parents can
join in and be with them.
After a few classes, children
will find their partners to
hold each other and make
friends. Parents can also
share with other parents.
They have good
opportunities to exchange
being with someone else’s
children to learn about the
children other than their
own.
Happy Birthday to
Logan Dana, 9 yrs
Logan, right in front
His parents brought two
cases of doughnuts to the
Saturday class.
I strongly believe that
children should be raised
with a group effort because
they all become members of
a community.
Therefore, I am enjoying
having children and
parents in the same class.
Especially when children
are showing how to do some
moves to adult members,
my happiness escalates.
The parents are my
children to me, and their
children are all my
grandchildren. My
children should be trained
first to become good
parents to my
grandchildren. That is
what I always wish.
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