Homma
Kancho’s Second Visit to Brazil in 2003 November 19th-26th, 2003
Homma Kancho visited Brazil this past November
for the second time this year. The purpose of this trip was to
attend an AHAN Rio project
meeting and to conduct an instructor clinic for Aikido instructors
in the Rio de Janiero area. He was accompanied on this trip by
Doug Kelly, Nippon Kan President and Nippon Kan Instructor, Rick
Thompson. The trip was a busy, and included a visit to the coastal
town of Buzios, the site location for AHAN Rio’s new training
facility center, a meeting with local Buzios town council officials,
a weekend independent Instructor Clinic and visits to two other
very unique independent dojos.
The Town of Buzios
Photo with Buzios town officials.
About a two and a half hour drive from Rio de Janiero on the coast
is the town of Buzios, the site for AHAN Rio’s new training
facility center. From the top of the hill where the facility will
be built, there is a spectacular panoramic view of the ocean and
surrounding hills. Our guide in Buzios was Luc Leoni Sensei, President
of AHAN Rio, who has recently moved from Rio to Buzios to oversee
the development of this new project. Over the hill from the proposed
site is a villa owned and operated by the Cirque de Soliel…so
the neighbors should be interesting at least! The town of Buzios
was given its name by famed French actress Bridget Bardot, who
fell in love with the small hamlet many years ago. She is immortalized
by a bronze statue of her likeness posed on a park bench looking
out over the ocean on a beach adjacent to the town.
Morning practice at the beach.
Early on a Monday morning, Homma Kancho met with Buzios Town Council
Representatives from the local departments of Culture and Education.
After this meeting Homma Kancho led asa geiko, or morning practice
on the pink coral beach. Even passer byers joined in for the preliminary
stretches and meditation. It was a wonderful way to start the day!
About a two hour drive into the mountains in the opposite direction
from Rio de Janiero, Homma Kancho and guests went to visit Okaeri
dojo. Okaeri dojo, is operated by Marco and Bernadette who maintain
the dojo facility and its adjoining outdoor training area and organic
farm. Since our visit last spring, the garden and the facility
had grown in many ways! Not only has the facility grown, but there
was an increase in attendance, especially among the children and
young adults from surrounding villages. During this visit, Homma
Kancho learned that some of the children walk two hours to get
the dojo to practice. This provided inspiration for Homma Kancho
and Nippon Kan President Doug Kelly, who went out in search of
ten used bicycles to purchase for Okaeri dojo students to use as
transportation to and from the dojo. This project will be monitored
and more bicycles will be provided as needed in the future.
Homma Kancho teaching the children.
Buying used bicycles. Luc Leoni Sensei,
Marco and Bernadette.
In the heart of downtown Rio de Janeiro is an area named “Arab
town” for its concentrated population of immigrants from
Middle Eastern countries. This district, whose architecture has
qualified it as a historical area is home for Bujutsukai dojo.
Bujustukai dojo is located on the second floor above the hustle
and bustle of merchants and shoppers, buying and selling wares
from around the world in the crowded street below. This dojo offers
training in many different martial arts, including, among others;
Aikido. Homma Kancho has written an article about his experiences
here as well as Okaeri dojo titled“People Enjoying Aikido”.
Also held in Rio de Janiero was the Instructors Clinic, which was
attended by instructors from six different independent dojos in
the Rio area. For these instructors, their personal styles or affiliations
did not matter. What was important was to respect each others backgrounds
and learn together in friendship. Homma Kancho provided detailed
instruction in Nippon Kan’s weapons to open hand movement
relationships. He also spent a great deal of time in between and
after classes talking to instructors about the future, and answering
questions about AHAN, and ways to develop their own organizations.
AHAN Rio, in its own right a government sanctioned non profit organization,
is funded to date by private donations and fundraising seminar
income. As an official AHAN branch, AHAN Rio provides support for
over 100 orphaned children in Rio by supplying baby formula and
other daily supplies on an ongoing basis. AHAN Rio is currently
in the process of formulating a database of all independent dojos
in Brazil and neighboring countries. If you are a member of an
independent dojo in this vicinity and wish to be included, please
contact Luc Leoni Sensei and AHAH Rio at ahanbuzios@yahoo.com.
Many thanks to all of those in Brazil who made this trip another
memorable, educational and enjoyable experience.
