Feb 26th-March 4th, 2009
Training Seminar for the Nepal Army Rangers
The Rangers are always ready and standing by.
Homma Kancho instructed a special spring training seminar for the Nepal Army Rangers this past Feb 26th-March 4th that concentrated on the teaching of original Aikido Nippon Kan NSDT (Nippon Kan Self Defense Techniques). There were over 500 Army Ranger Special Forces in attendance, and training was held outside for six hours each day. Aikido Nippon Kan philosophy of “maximum power, minimum damage” was emphasized in this military training to be used for crowd or riot control. Nippon Kan NSDT techniques are also practiced in other countries by police and special forces.
Homma Kancho and I-kam Yoon Sensei welcomed by 400 soldiers and given a Hindu blessing.
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- On top of a military truck with young soldiers; on their way to the practice location.
Homma Kancho from Nippon Kan General Headquarters teaching the Nepal Army Rangers.
Nepal Army Aikido (NAA), instructed by Mr. Rajesh Bista and assisted by Sgt. Dhan Gurung is an internal Aikido organization for Army Ranger Special Forces and Nepal Military Police; it is not geared toward civilians. Bista Sensei instructs all of the military and police Aikido courses and also teaches civilian Aikido classes with Pramod Adhikari of Nepal Aikido. Bista Sensei is small in stature but not in energy or skill as he works tirelessly to promote Aikido in Nepal. As a former Kyokushin Karate instructor and champion fighter, Bista Sensei is very strong and powerful.
It was about five years ago that Bista Sensei decided to choose a new path in his personal training, and was the first to contact Nippon Kan and Homma Kancho. Homma Kancho first visited Nepal and Rajesh alone in 2005. In 2006, Homma Kancho led a tour of 15 students to Nepal for the first Aikido seminar held in Nepal. This was the beginning of what has become a rapidly developing Aikido program in the country of Nepal for both military and civilian students. In subsequent years Homma Kancho and assistant intern instructor staff have made many trips to Nepal to assist in the development of these programs.
NAA Instructor and Coordinator Staff. from left: Mr. Adhikari, Bista Sensei. from right: Sgt Dhan Gurung, Yoon sensei In front; Homma Kancho.
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- NAA Instructor Sgt. Dhan Gurung, and Homma Kancho
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- Mariusz, Nippon Kan instructor flew in from Ireland to serve as assistant
Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan, Founder of Kobayashi Dojo in Japan had planned to attend this event in Nepal with Homma Kancho but his plans were changed at the last minute. Kobayashi Shihan and his son Hiroaki both recommended and gave official permission for Ikam Yoon Sensei to accompany Homma Kancho to Nepal as their representative. I-kam Yoon Sensei was an uchideshi to Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan and is currently Founder and Chief Instructor of the Korean Aikido Federation.
Nippon Kan graduate uchideshi and intern assistant instructor, Mariusz Ferenc, also flew in from Dublin, Ireland to assist Homma Kancho. Mariusz has completed three terms as an uchideshi at Nippon Kan Headquarters in Denver and also served as an intern instructor in Nepal and the Philippines. Soon, Mariusz is planning to open Nippon Kan Aikido in Dublin.
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- Homma Kancho and I-kam Yoon Sensei on the training field with security soldiers.
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- Special Aikido training for elite soldiers.
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- Sgt. Gurung demonstrates multiple attack techniques.
NSDT techniques with a real life application.
For military security reasons we cannot provide too much detailed information on the Nepalese Army Ranger commanders in attendance, but we have provided a short video of a NAA (Nepal Army Aikido) demonstration performed at the Army Ranger commemoration ceremonies held shortly before Homma Kancho and party arrived on this trip.
Homma Kancho checking out the indoor practice space for mat donation.
AHAN General Headquarters donated 150 mats for indoor NAA (Nepal Army Aikido) practice during the rainy season when practice cannot be held outside.
LINK HERE TO ARTICLE AND PHOTOS OF THE 2008 NIPPON KAN NEPAL ARMY RANGER SEMINAR
Written by Sgt. Dhan Gurung
NAA Assistant Instructor