June 1st, 2009
AHAN Nippon Kan Mindanao Coordinator, Instructor Ava Yancha
From the Philippines, AHAN Mindanao Coordinator, Ava Yancha sent a report to Nippon Kan Headquarters this past June that focused on the many activities that AVA and AHAN Mindanao have been involved with in the past few months. Ava lives in Illigan City, Mindanao and with the help and support of local Illigan City Mayor, Mr. Lawrence and his wife Gina, have been able to affect the lives of young people in the area in positive ways. Ava Yancha, who promotes and teaches Aikido in Mindanao, came to Nippon Kan headquarters this past July, for her second term as a full time uchideshi student to further her teacher training. Ava was able to come to the United States for this term with the support of prominent local leaders in Illigan.
Illigan City and other parts of Mindanao have long suffered from local conflict and political struggle that has sometimes resulted in violence as it did in 2008. With Ava in the lead, students and members of AHAN Mindanao have been very productive in their community offering aid, education and an AHAN philosophy of peace. It is unusual in the world to have a martial art group so active in their community, and especially unique in the Philippines. Nippon Kan General Headquarters is now working on plans for building a new dojo in Illigan City for the growing number of members of AHAN Mindanao.
Summer Aikido Projects for Youth
Illigan Mayor’s wife, Gina; a greater supporter of AHAN activities.
AHAN Mindanao teaches Aikido to about 50 young people in the Dona Maria Subdivision. These children are more privileged than some in that most of their basic needs are met. Their aikido training focuses on developing leadership skills and working in harmony and equality with others. To this end, these young people of Dona Maria already are participating in AHAN programs to communicate and help more underprivileged children in the city through a number of activities.
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- Tenkan; a practice for seeing in a new way.
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- Assistant Instructor Leo teaching a strict practice.
Practice with the children.
Children with presents for the street kids.
Support for Street Kids
Happy kids with their new presents.
With Instructor Ava’s guidance, the MSU ITT University Aikido Club and young people from the Dona Maria Subdivision help organize activities for the very underprivileged. This area is plagued with religious and territorial struggles, so the purpose of this support is to begin a healing process with the children. “Building a more stable future starts with the young” is a theme of this support. These projects are supported by the Mayor’s wife Gina and others prominent members of the community. Thank you very much to all for this support.
Aikido for Jailhouse guards in Illigan
Instructor Ava with the jailhouse guards.
A new program has been initiated by the City of Illigan to teach Aikido to the guards at the city jail. Following orders from the city, Instructor Ava and MSU ITT University Aikido Club members are now teaching this special and well received Aikido class to the jailhouse guards.
Jailhouse guard practice
Happy times after practice!