Armed with 24-7 patches on their uniforms, the Nippon Kan uchideshi engage in a level of practice that is not easy. All in all, the current uchideshi are young, in good spirits and seem to enjoy their practice. With only a half day on Sundays to call their own, they have little time to rest, and this past Sunday, even …
Aikido 360°
This is the Aikido that Homma Kancho wants to teach his students. Being an Uchi Deshi in Nippon Kan, which signify inside students, those not only mean practice Aikido Monday to Sunday each week. The Uchi Deshi Project is more than this. Of course the hours of practice are an essential element in a common day, but I think this …
Uchideshi News
This year too, Nippon Kan had many good uchideshi students that graduated from the Nippon Kan uchideshi program. There are many kinds of students that come to Nippon Kan to begin their training as full-time live in uchideshi students. Some complain from the start and soon quit and others that make it through the program, but depart the dojo without …
Sempai Uchideshi News Update
After spending the last five months in Nepal as a Nippon Kan Instructor Abroad, two term-graduate uchideshi, Mariusz Ferenc is on his way to Illigan City, Mindanao, Philippines. Mariusz was very successful in assisting the Nepal Aikido Association in building a solid foundation for their organization in Kathmandu, and is very highly thought of by NAC administrators and students alike. …
Introducing this Semester’s Nippon Kan Uchideshi
Uchideshi “24-7”
There is no rest for Nippon Kan uchideshi; even the uchideshi patches say 24-7 to remind students in the uchideshi program of the challenge and commitment they have made to their training. Every day there are 5 hours of practice, chores, responsibilities and special projects to attend to. All in all every day life is pretty busy for Nippon Kan …
Nippon Kan Sends Two Former Uchideshi to Nepal
Part of the experience for uchideshi (live-in students) that graduate from the uchideshi program at Nippon Kan Headquarters in Denver is to participate in over-seas internships. Senior students that are regular members of Nippon Kan are also able to participate in this program under special circumstances. This year, Nippon Kan sent two-term graduate uchideshi Mariusz Ferenc and senior student Kazumi …
Nippon Kan General Headquarters Uchideshi (Live-in Student) Report
For Nippon Kan Headquarter Uchideshi (live-in students), every day begins with asa geiko (morning practice). Homma Kancho teaches this class for Nippon Kan live-in students each morning. Before these uchideshi students retire to bed each evening they will have practiced at least 6 hours that day. Currently there are 6 uchideshi students practicing at Nippon Kan Headquarters in Denver. John …
Introducing Nippon Kan’s Newest Uchideshi
October 20th, 2007 Daily practice; Genbei teaching little Santa. Allow me to introduce Nippon Kan’s newest uchideshi. His name is Santa. Nippon Kan has had three generations of dojo dogs, beginning with Ponk (1989-1996), Genbei (2000- ) and now our newest addition is little Santa. “Santa” is the Japanese word for third (as in generation), and Santa as our third …
Ms. Ava Yancha participates in AHAN IISA Beginning Instructor Training at Nippon Kan.
July 10 – Aug 6, 2007 While Homma Kancho was visiting Mindanao Island in the Philippines last February , he met local community leader and martial art instructor, Ava Yancha. Ava does many things for her community and works especially hard caring for Philippine youth in the Illigan City area. Homma Kancho suggested that she be sponsored as a candidate …
Hatako Makes a Family
April 7, (the day before easter) 2007 Written by Nippon Kan senior uchideshi dog Genbei Hatako, our white Nippon Kan dove, flew into the gardens last August and decided to make Nippon Kan her home. She seemed domesticated if a little shy and we worried about her surviving outside during the freezing winter so we bought her a cage where …
Uchideshi Graduations
Written by James Haugen, Nippon Kan Uchideshi Coordinator John Grotrian, a native Canadian graduated from an extended six month term from Nippon Kan’s uchideshi program on February 23rd, 2007. John performed well as an uchideshi with a good attitude and aptitude for Aikido on the mat. John showed potential as a beginners class instructor, and with his interests in spiritual …
Fall Down Seven Times, Get Up Eight
Life as a Nippon Kan uchi-deshi “So why are you here?” one of the Nippon Kan students asked me as I stood in front of the Hakama Kai class on my first day of training, still jet-lagged from the journey from Scotland, worn-out after four hours of aikido practice and slightly daunted by standing up in front of all these …
A LOT of snow in Denver!
December 23rd, 2006 In the last week of December 2006, an extraordinary amount of snow fell in Denver. It was a winter wonderland for our uchideshi who took the opportunity to practice in the snow. Actually I think it was a great “photo op” especially for senior uchideshi Hector Cid who was born and raised in Mexico and had never …
Letter from Armando
Monday, September 11, 2006 Sensei Gaku Homma, Emily Busch: Dear Senseis, First of all, I would like to thank you for all the kindness and hospitality that you showed me at the Dojo. There are many things I’d like to express, that I don’t know where to start. The fraternal spirit that was shared at the Dojo made me become …