Nishida Sensei Visits From Brazil
Makoto
Nishida Sensei, (Brazil Aikikai) visited Nippon Kan in Denver, July
17 through July 22, 2002. Nishida Sensei was accompanied by his
wife Fumie Nishida (instructor) and Paolista Aikido Federation Staff
Director Paulo Nakamura Sensei and his wife.
This visit was a Nippon Kan AHAN (Aikido Humanitarian Active Network)
cross cultural exchange and awareness activity geared toward strengthening
relationships between Nippon Kan and friends in Brazil.
Nishida Sensei and his group spent time in Denver studying community
service projects Nippon Kan has become involved with locally. They
participated in Nippon Kan’s monthly meal service to the homeless
by preparing and serving over 350 meals to the homeless at the Denver
Rescue Mission. They participated in the food preparation by peeling
potatoes and carrots for the evening’s meal of beef and vegetable
curry with Nippon Kan students early on the day of the service.
Later in the evening, they joined the front line crew to serve hot
curry, side dishes and desert to our guests at the mission.
On
the night of his arrival, Nishida Sensei instructed a Welcome Aikido
Class at the Nippon Kan dojo. His instruction focused on the movement
of the circle, both in body and mind as a vehicle to build a peaceful
community. Over seventy-five 
students
were in attendance at this two-hour special session.
Nishida Sensei and Nakamura Sensei donated $600.00 to AHAN, which
will serve to fund future AHAN projects both locally and internationally.
After touring some of Colorado’s most famous Rocky Mountain
attractions, Nishida Sensei and his party returned safely to Brazil.
Homma Sensei and his assistants plan to visit Brazil this September
where Homma Sensei will teach Aikido in Sao Paulo and Rio Dejaniero.
Nishida Sensei’s Report
Visit with Homma Sensei and Nippon Kan in
Denver, Colorado USA.
At his invitation, on July 17th through 22nd, Nakamura Sensei, our
wives and I came to visit Homma Sensei in Denver, Colorado. Homma
Sensei and I are both from Akita, Japan, and even attended the same
elementary school. It is quite a coincidence that now, many years
later, both Homma Sensei and I both live and teach Aikido in countries
outside of Japan.
Knowing nothing about Denver, I was surprised from the moment of
our arrival. The airport was quite large and sophisticated, and
Denver itself was a much larger city than I had imagined. The first
night of our visit, I had a chance to practice with American Aikidoists
at Nippon Kan. It was a wonderful opportunity, one which I would
like to have again someday. We had dinner that evening at Homma
Sensei’s adjoining restaurant, which was also a wonderful
experience.
For the next couple of days we toured the mountains southwest of
Denver. With Emily as our driver and Homma Sensei as our guide,
we were treated to a very “western” Colorado experience.
Back in Denver we had the chance to have a very unique experience.
We assisted Homma Sensei and his students in Nippon Kan’s
meal service for the homeless at the Denver Rescue Mission. Before
we arrived at the Mission, I imagined the homeless in Denver to
be like the homeless in Sao Paulo, filthy dirty, tattered, and flea
ridden. I was actually surprised by how good the homeless in Denver
actually looked! The meal we served was ample and delicious, a meal
that would attract a few thousand people if served in Sao Paulo.
Nakamura Sensei also commented on the commitment Homma Sensei and
his students have made by serving these dinners once a month for
over eleven years.
All in all, our visit to Denver and Nippon Kan was very enjoyable
and quite delicious! We carried back with us many memories of new
experiences to Brazil.
Thank you very much to all of the Nippon Kan staff and students!
Hope to see you again soon.
Makoto Nishida Sensei
Sao Paulo, Brazil