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Active New Generations at Nippon Kan
Denver University Festival of Nations
Cherry Blossom Festival
Demonstrations Report
Aikido Nippon Kan has members from the ages of
7 to 77. Our children’s classes have a general membership
of about 40 children ranging in age from 7 to 14. Our adult membership
of approximately 200 students range mainly in ages from 20’s,
30’s, and 40’s, to students in their 50’s and
higher.
It is important to maintain a membership balance that encourages
growth and stability. A successful dojo membership structure needs
to be shaped like a triangle with a large base of new students at
the bottom to form a solid base. A common mistake in dojos as they
grow, is for focus to be concentrated on the high-ranking members
at the top of the triangle. At worst, the triangle becomes inverted,
with few new students at the bottom and a top-heavy amount of senior
students at the top. This kind of focus we have found does not lend
itself to a comfortable environment for new students to enter. Without
new students, any dojo is headed in the wrong direction.
At Nippon Kan we offer multiple sessions dedicated to the newer
student. With a flexible, accessible curriculum, it is also important
to train and maintain an able instructor staff.
Our front line staff instructors usually range in age in the mid-twenties
and thirties. We feel it is important for instructors to be able
to relate to and communicate with younger new beginning students.
For balance, our front line instructors are supported by our senior
instructor staff, who is ready and able to tend to the needs of
new students who are more senior in age and experience.
An important job of the front line instructor staff is the selection
and development of the next generation of front line instructors
and staff. Currently, Andrew Blevins Sensei and Jeremy Olive Sensei
are in charge of organizing and developing this next generation
at Nippon Kan. One form of training for future instructors and assistant
instructors is experience in public demonstrations.
In the first half of 2002, Nippon Kan has performed in two large
public demonstrations, and held a number of demonstrations for elementary
through high school field trips.
The
first major public demonstration was held at the Denver University
Festival of 
Nations
on April 20th 2002. Demonstrators included assistant instructors
Eric Farnsworth, Kirk Kisselman, Lance Donatelli, Andy Bogart, and
John Rickerman. San Ong narrated the demonstration.
The second public demonstration was held at the Japanese Cherry
Blossom Festival on June 30th, 2002. Demonstrators included Andrew
Blevins Sensei, Nippon Kan Chief Instructor, and assistant instructors
John Rickerman, Andy Bogart, Cory Marsh and San Ong.
Nippon
Kan’s Children Field Trip study program organized by Nippon
Kan Vice President Emily Busch has been very active over the past
two years with Aikido 
demonstrations
performed for thousands of Denver school age children.
Nippon Kan strives to serve the Denver community by
performing demonstrations and cultural tours of the Nippon Kan facility
for schoolchildren from elementary through highschool and college.
These tours include a tour of the facility, an aikido demonstration,
a hands-on origami paper folding demonstration, folk art museum
lecture, garden tour and a country-style Japanese lunch provided
by Domo Restaurant.
2002 Fieldtrip Schedule
Date |
Student Group |
# of Students |
Aikido Demonstration |
| 1/8 | Dunn Elementary | 20 |
Brian Kohuth, |
| 3/15 | Lumburg Elementary | 94 |
Brian Kohuth, John Cruise |
| 3/29 | Peakview Elementary | 109 |
Brian Kohuth, John Cruise |
| 4/19 | Colorado Academy | 24 |
Brian Kohuth, |
| 5/10 | Smokey Hill | 56 |
Brian Kohuth, |
| 5/17 | Thompson Elementary | 13 |
Brian Kohuth, John Cruise |
| 5/23 | Aurora Hill Middle | 46 |
Brian Kohuth, John Cruise |
2001 Fieldtrip Schedule
Date |
Student Group |
# of Students |
Aikido Demonstration |
| 2/28 | Smokey Hill Highschool at Smokey Hill | 300 |
Kirk Kisselman, |
| 3/15 | Bear Creek Highschool at Nippon Kan | 25 |
Kirk Kisselman, Eric Farnsworth |
| 3/30 | Sand Creek Elementary at Nippon Kan | 64 |
John Rickermann Roian Atwood |
| 4/13 | Rick’s Center | 30 |
Emily Busch |
| 4/19 | Aurora Hills Middleschool at nippon Kan | 16 |
Kirk Kisselman |
| 4/20 | Meritor Academy at Nippon Kan | 13 |
Emily Busch Lance Donatelli |
| 4/22 | Festival of Nations at the University of Denver | Andrew Blevins Jeremy Olive Emily Busch Tracy Olive San Ong Rick Thompson Eric Farnsworth |
|
| 4/26 | Weber Elementary at Nippon Kan | 100 |
Emily Busch John Cruise |
| 5/3 | Kent Country Day School | 25 |
Emily Busch |
| 5/11 | Thompson Elementary at Nippon Kan | 76 |
Emily Busch John Cruise |
| 5/17 | High Planes Elementary | 90 |
Kirk Kisselman |
| 5/24 | Colfax Elementary | 65 |
Emily Busch John Cruise |