Jan-April Activity Report

Feb 18-21, 2007
Written by
Ava Yancho
AHAN Nippon Kan Mindanao Region 10 Coordinator

Homma Kancho visited the Philippines this past February on a fact-finding mission for AHAN and to teach Aikido. Homma Kancho had the rare opportunity to be the first Japanese citizen to join a joint U.S. Army and Philippine Army military medical mission in a predominantly Muslim area of the island of Mindanao. This area has been “in the news” lately as a reported hotbed of resistance and terrorist activity. There are many independent resistance groups like the MNLF, and the NPA, and South East Asian terrorist organizations like the Abusaya and Jamaislamia active in this area. Much has been done to calm activity in this area, and currently there is a fragile cease fire in place. Political strife and violence however threaten to erupt in an otherwise magical place.

During all of this domestic war activity, there have been few opportunities for local residents in some of the more remote villages to receive any kind of medical care. The goal of this mission was to reach and serve these native Muslim communities deep within jungles of Mindanao. In the coming two days, over 2000 villagers received medical treatment which included over 750 Muslim ceremonial circumcisions, minor surgeries, dental and eye care and the administration of medications.

AHAN Nippon Kan Mongolia staff. From left: Enk, Ganzorig Dashdorj -
Aikido Nippon Kan Mongolia President, Homma Kancho, Alima -
AHAN Nippon Kan Mongolia Coordinator, Bold - Aikido Nippon Kan Mongolia Shidoin.

A new goal and direct has been set by Homma Kancho and AHAN Headquarters for 2007; to focus on the support of authorized, independent activities organized by local AHAN leaders in their own countries and communities. Within the guidelines of this new directive, the AHAN Mongolia staff took the initiative to begin the year with a new project of our own. This project was conceived of, organized and executed entirely by AHAN Mongolia staff and students and turned out to be a great success! Homma Kancho’s annual visit to Mongolia coincided this year with AHAN Mongolia’s first annual High School Community Service Challenge.

In Ulaanbaatar the capitol city of Mongolia, children from elementary grades through high school are educated in the same school. The schools are named by rank, and the school that we chose for our community service challenge pilot program was National School #1. This school has a student population of 2,200 students ranging in age from 6 to 17 years of age. The eleventh grade was chosen to participate in this challenge, and each class created their own community service project. Each class had two weeks to complete their project and turn in their final reports. The projects were “judged” and three different class projects were chosen as the winners of the challenge; ranking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd by the AHAN Mongolia supervising staff.

First place was awarded to the class who organized a neighborhood clean up and recycling project. Second place went to a class that organized a project for senior citizens, and third place was awarded to the class with an orphanage support project. Awards were presented to the students in a special ceremony by Ganzorig Dashdorj Wolf, Dojo Cho of the Aikido Nippon Kan Wolf Aikido Club and a leader in the business community. Mr. Wolf, who was instrumental in the organization of the entire event, awarded the winners with funds reserved for further use in the development of their projects over the coming year.

Homma Kancho was present at the awards presentation and spoke to students, faculty, family members, and other leaders in the community who had assembled for this special presentation.

“In the past few years, AHAN Headquarters in Denver, Colorado has donated over 100 used computers, school and medical supplies, clothing, musical instruments to children and young adults in Mongolia. We have also supported orphanages, schools, humanitarian assistance organizations and important historical building reconstruction. Supplying monetary aid and supplies is important, but more important is the work that has been accomplished in developing independent wellness activities in Mongolia but your own country’s men and women. Ganzorig Dashdorj Wolf and his staff have worked very hard to create and implement ideas for your community and this high school community service challenge has been a wonderful success. It has been a project that is beneficial for the students and teachers involved as well as the recipients in neighborhoods, as senior citizens and the children in the orphanages.

Environment concerns are a priority here in Ulaanbaatar and the first place neighborhood clean up and recycling project is something that everyone can become involved in. It is commendable that in Mongolia, caring for the elderly is a priority. The second place project of caring for the elderly who are alone is another wonderful project. The third place students donated their own school books to an orphanage in order to give children a chance to learn. This is an act of sharing brotherly and sisterly love and will help the next generation to come. It is difficult to decide which project is 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. All of the projects done by all of the classes were worthwhile and beneficial to the community. I hope that in the future this challenge will be taken up by all of the high schools in Ulaanbaatar, involving more and more young people in this positive effort.”

Entertainment at this special awards ceremony was provided by students from the Ulaanbaatar School of Modeling and the very popular singing group “Take Off”. Thanks to all of the performers for your support.

On this visit Homma Kancho also visited the Zorig Foundation, meeting with Zorig Foundation President, Congresswoman Sanjaasvren Oyun. She was very happy to hear about the high school community service challenge and promised to support this kind of activity in the future. Congresswoman Oyun is the sister of the late Zorig Oyun who was one of the first Demoocratic leaders in Mongolia. Since Zorig Oyun’s assasination in 1998, Congresswoman Oyun has carried on the democratic message of her brother and his work with the Zorig Foundation which has become one of the most outstanding humanitarian aid organizations in Mongolia. Please link here for articles relating to Homma Kancho’s prior visits to the Zorig Foundation link here.

On April 7th, a delegation of high school students was sent by the Zorig Foundation to the United States for a western states tour which included a visit to Denver, Colorado. On the last day of the tour a farewell and thank you party was held at Nippon Kan Headquarters for the high school tour delegates, teachers and their U.S coordinators. This complimentary dinner for the Zorig Foundation Delegation was sponsored by AHAN Nippon Kan Headquarters in Denver.

**Note from AHAN staff
The farewell party of the Zorig Foundation Mongolian Delegation consisted of four students and two teachers from Mongolia and twenty six American coordinators. All arrangements and the complimentary dinner were provided by personally by Homma Kancho at the request of Congresswoman Oyun.

March 4-8, 2007
Written by
AHAN Nippon Kan Bangladesh Coordinator
Maji Sarkar

In support of current AHAN Nippon Kan Bangladesh activities, Homma Kancho traveled to Dhaka, Bangladesh accompanied by Nippon Kan project staff member Brian Grabowski. The purpose of this visit was to check on the status of the 50 computers shipped to Bangladesh in December from AHAN Headquarters in Denver and to provide installation and other maintenance services for the computers upon their arrival.

In January of this year the Bangladesh government went through a major transmission. Leading Bangladesh government cabinet members and officials were arrested for corruption and taken out of office and a temporary government was installed by the military. This transition in leadership has caused a tremendous amount of confusion in some government agencies, and we found that the computers, while having arrived at the ports in Bangladesh, had not yet been released for delivery. We are hopeful that the computers will be delivered soon, and we were able to provide the instruction and supplies necessary for the Bangladesh staff to service the computers upon their arrival.

In July of 2006, AHAN Nippon Kan Headquarters, in conjunction with AHAN Nippon Kan Bangladesh began a monthly delivery of rice service to the Buddhist Dharmarajika Orphanage for boys. Since last July, 500 kilos of rice have been delivered to the 500 boys who live at the Dharmarajika orphanage every month, bring to a total of five tones of rice delivered since of July 2006. On this visit, Homma Kancho and his assistant Brian also delivered 100 pounds of basic medical supplies to the orphanage to help care for basic medical needs of the orphaned boys.

While in Bangladesh, Homma Kancho was interested in finding out more about orphanages where girls were cared for and after visiting, researching and doing background inquiries on different facilities, decided on the facility that was in most need of help.

Outside of the capitol city of Dhaka, we went to visit the Jamia Islamia Ashraful Mohila Madrasah Atimkhana Muslim Orphanage for girls. This orphanage was founded in 1988 by Maolana Mohammed Abdur Rahman and cares for about 330 girls. The orphanage itself was destroyed by fire in 2002, and during this visit five years later, the orphanage staff was still struggling to rebuild the facility. The facility was clean and cared for but living conditions were still very poor. Homma Kancho decided on the spot to include this orphanage in our AHAN monthly rice delivery project and ordered 500 kilos of rice to be delivered monthly to the orphanage for girls as well for the next two years. The first delivery of 500 kilos (1,100 lbs.) arrived that very afternoon.

Homma Kancho and Brian were the first foreigners to ever visit this mosque and orphanage and were taken on a tour of the facility. In classrooms covered overhead by blue tarps supported by bamboo poles, girls were busy at their studies. The staff we were told worked daily on the building reconstruction when they were not teaching or otherwise caring for the girls. Homma Kancho spoke to the orphanage founder and the instructors there, “Bangladesh seems like it has a male oriented society and I have been worried about the care of girls in your country, especially those that have been orphaned. It is good that you have established this facility for their care. Your facility is simple but it is beautiful if poor and very clean, and the children all have smiles. That is the best way to understand how children are being cared for; just look into their faces.”

Beginning in March 2007, AHAN Nippon Kan Headquarters will begin supplying one ton of rice per month to be delivered by AHAN Bangladesh coordinator Maji Sarkar to both orphanages; one for boys, and one for girls.

Nippon Kan Project Assistant Brian Grabowski has written a detailed and moving report about this visit to Bangladesh. Link Here to his report

AHAN Nippon Kan Central America; Children with Cancer Support Seminar in Nicaragua.

In Managua, Nicaragua, AHAN Nippon Kan Nicaragua hosted a fundraising seminar for children with cancer this past March 23-25th, 2007. This project was coordinated by AHAN Nippon Kan Nicaragua coordinator, Armando Lopez Espinoza and guest instructed by AHAN Nippon Kan Central America Coordinator, and Chief Instructor of Mexico Aikido, Take Musu Aiki; Fernando Roman Sensei who also serves as coordinator for AHAN Mexico.

Students traveled from neighboring countries in Central America to attend this special event. AHAN Nippon Kan Nicaragua coordinator Armando Lopez Espinoza, who is also a cancer survivor, was on hand as donations raised by the seminar were presented to the La Mascota Hospital who specializes in the care of children with cancer.

In keeping with AHAN General Headquarters direction for 2007, this seminar was independently organized by AHAN staff in Nicaragua and Mexico. Many thanks to Fernando Roman Sensei for instructing this event.

Link here to further articles about Armando and Nicaragua written by Homma Sensei:

Notice from AHAN Nippon Kan General Headquarters

AHAN Nippon Kan General Headquarters in Denver, Colorado does not solicit cash donations outside of our organization whether individual or corporate in the United States or in any country outside of this country. Product donations such as used computers, school or medical supplies are requested on occasion exclusively within in our own organization or through our official Nippon Kan website.

AHAN Nippon Kan Coordinators in associated countries are forbidden from soliciting donation without official permission from Nippon Kan General Headquarters.

We have received reports that links have been discovered to the Nippon Kan website soliciting donation. If you are aware of any of this kind of activity, or discover an individual or group soliciting donations in AHAN’s name please report this information to Nippon Kan at info@nippon-kan.org

Thank you
AHAN Nippon Kan General Headquarter Staff

February 12th, 2007
Written by
Mongolia Aikido Nippon Kan Wolf Aikido Club Shidoin
Bold Tumenjargl

A few days before the lunar New Year in Mongolia, Homma Kancho arrived in Ulaanbaatar to teach Aikido at the Aikido Nippon Kan Mongolia Wolf Aikido Club and to support the AHAN activity that we had created for high school students. The smog was so bad the day that Homma Kancho’s flight was cancelled. Homma Kancho had to wait eight hours at the Incheon airport in Seoul, South Korea until the winds changed and the inversion was lifted before his flight could be rescheduled.

There have been thousands of families that have moved from outlining parts of Mongolia to Ulaanbaatar to try to make a better life for themselves. The traditional Mongolian ger (a tented yurt-like dwelling) is still used for housing in Mongolia, and as these thousands of families have migrated to Ulaanbaatar they have brought their gers with them. There are still very few housing regulations in Ulaanbaatar and these new residents have been able to set up their housing pretty much any where there has been room. The gers are heated during the severe Mongolian winters with charcoal burning stoves set up inside the center of the dwellings. Depending on weather and wind conditions, these stoves have contributed considerably to the air pollution problems of Ulaanbaatar. The pollution from the smoke of thousands of these stoves has been compounded by the fact that Mongolia does not yet set emission standards for their vehicles and this has also made for pollution so severe that on some days the airport has to be shut down. As Mongolia enters the modern world, the problem of air pollution has become a main concern for all Ulaanbaatar residents.

When Homma Kancho finally landed at the airport, I and the president of Aikido Nippon Kan Wolf Aikido Club, Ganzorig Dashdorj Wolf were there to meet him. We were accompanied by body guards from Mr. Wolf’s private security company. Mr. Wolf had arranged for a three car convoy of vehicles to pick Homma Kancho up at the airport, and our little group caused quite a stir as we made our way through the airport to the awaiting cars. I think the crowds at the airport had thought that a movie star had arrived!

Homma Kancho taught us Aikido at the dojo for three days and we also discussed plans for building a new dojo to accommodate our growing number of students. Besides attending the AHAN high school community service challenge awards presentation, Homma Kancho also visited the Zorig Foundation and spent time learning about the traditional preparations for the Mongolian New Year.

After a very busy visit in Mongolia where the average temperature was -17 below centigrade, Homma Kancho left by plane for the sweltering heat of the Philippine jungles.

Feb 22-23, 2007
Written by AHAN Nippon Kan Mindanao Region Coordinator
Ava Yancha

One hour by plane southwest of the capitol city of Manila in the Philippines is the island of Mindanao. Located in the southwest region of Mindanao is the city of Cagayan de Oro, commonly referred to as CDO. After spending time in the jungles of Mindanao on a military medical mission and visiting dojos in local areas Homma Kancho traveled to CDO to teach a two day seminar at the Mindanao Aikido Propagation Center, instructed by Chief Instructor Alexander Y Javier Sensei.

Homma Kancho told me after the seminar that he was very impressed with the large movement, flexibility and level of ability of Javier Sensei’s students. “They all take this heat and humidity so well” Homma Kancho exclaimed. “I drank a great deal of water and I still became dehydrated and overcome by the heat. I became so ill that I was unable to attend a very nice farewell reception that Javier Sensei and his students had prepared. I really feel badly that I was unable to attend, and hope that I will be able to come again to CDO to practice together with students there. Everyone was very friendly and welcomed me with heart. Please let them know how much it was appreciated.”

Feb 27-
written by
Aikido Nippon Kan Nepal Aikido Club General Secretary
Pramod Adhiari

In Nepal, February is a time for celebrations and festivals as everyone prepares for the coming Holi spring festival. It is custom in Nepal during the Holi festival to splash water on those around you with your fingertips.

Aikido Nippon Kan Nepal, officially registered with the government as Nepal Aikido Club, is organized by President Mr. Sitkar Rajbhandari and a very active board of fifteen members. Since its formal inception in 2006 the club has grown steadily and in December of 2006 we made a request for a formal instructor from Aikido Nippon Kan Headquarters to come to Nepal to assist us in our training.

Homma Kancho, Scott Olson; Nippon Kan shidoin and newly Nippon Kan uchideshi graduate John Grotrian, assistant fukushidoin all arrived the same day in Kathmandu. Homma Kancho and Nippon Kan Instructor Scott Olson taught a week long intensive seminar for us on this visit in February and assistant graduate uchideshi John Grotrian will be staying with us for three months to teach our core staff the basics of Aikido.

In Nepal, Karate, Kempo, and Tae Kwan do; many of the competitive martial arts are all very popular in Kathmandu but until now there has been no Aikido. We believe that Aikido technique and philosophy are completely different from these other striking martial arts and will fit well with the philosophy and religious nature of the Nepalese people. We are very much looking forward to bringing Aikido to Nepal!

While he was here, we arranged a press conference for Homma Kancho and over thirty reporters came to do interviews. It was good exposure for this new art of Aikido in Nepal which we hope will continue well into our future.

Homma Kancho also visited the Drubgon Jangchub Choeling temple ministry outside of Kathmandu to pledge his support and to learn a tip or two about cooking methods. Homma Kancho is studying to put together a new menu for new restaurant in Denver.

The political situation in Nepal is settling down except for in isolated remote areas. Kathmandu is peaceful at this time but still suffers with electrical shortages and general strikes that make life inconvenient but manageable. The young people in Nepal, no matter what the political conditions are will continue to practice martial arts very seriously and diligently. Thank you Nippon Kan General Headquarters for your support.

Homma Kancho came to our dojo, New Delhi Aikido in New Delhi, to teach a three day seminar this past March. This was Homma Kancho’s second visit with us in New Delhi and everyone was very happy to see him again. My dojo is in a nice part of the city, but we still have a small number of students. One unique aspect of our dojo is that we have many foreign students practicing here which makes for a very colorful international exchange of ideas and technique with world level communication between the foreign and native attending students.

Before visiting us in New Delhi, Homma Kancho had visited Mongolia, the Philippines, Nepal and Bangladesh so were expected him to be fairly tired! We were surprised to find that Homma Kancho was not tired in the least and was quite powerful while he was teaching for the three days here. My student and assistant, Yulia Pal attended to Homma Kancho’s arrangements and did a very nice job of making sure that he was comfortable for this last leg of his tour through Asia.

Four, six-week sessions of Beginner’s classes are scheduled every eight weeks at Nippon Kan throughout the year. Inspired by New Year resolutions, 110 new students join in this first group of Beginner’s classes for the year. This year, Denver had a very severe winter with several record breaking snow storms; the dojo was forced to close on two occasions. Even with these extra challenges, attendance was good and over 50% of enrolled students completed all twelve classes of the session.

Students who enrolled in Beginner’s classes in 2006 but did not complete the session, were invited back to attend this first session of classes free of charge. It was our way to start the New Year with this special opportunity for students to complete the course if they wished. Many students responded, eager to have another chance to finish the Nippon Kan Beginner’s course they had begun the year before.

The first Homeless Dinner Service of the year began the same as usual with one exception. Usually, the vegetables are peeled and cut in the Nippon Kan-Domo gardens by students after practice on the Sunday morning of the meal service. On January 21st however it was snowing hard outside which presented us with a challenge. Since the Domo kitchen is too small to accommodate all of the student volunteers, we decided to take the challenge and did the dinner prep work outside in the snow! With freezing hands, carrots and potatoes were peeled and onions chopped quickly and the job got done. Everyone showed a lot of will and determination to complete these tasks under these conditions.

For the dinner service that evening at the Denver Rescue Mission, volunteers made their way through the snow to help serve the meal including a special guest from the Japanese Consulate in Denver, Consul General of Japan at Denver Haruo Yamagami. Consul Yamagami helped cook the meal in the Rescue Mission kitchen, serve in the dining room and helped the outside guests once the dinner service had begun. Many thanks to all students, staff members and our guest, Consul Yamagami for persevering under such harsh winter conditions to help with this monthly event.

March 25th, 2007
Written by Jim Lattanzio
Tournament Nippon Kan chief coordinator

Nippon Kan was declared the winner and returned home once again with the winner’s trophy from the 12th annual Enshin Karate-Nippon Kan bowling tournament held March 25th. About 100 people attended this special tournament, founded twelve years ago to honor Enshin Karate’s Founder Joko Ninomiya Kancho’s birthday. Ninomiya Kancho and Homma Kancho both came to Denver about the same time to teach their respective martial arts and have been friends for many years.

Every year a group of senior and junior Hakama members are selected to be on the tournament organization committee. It is also part of uchideshi training at Nippon Kan for uchideshi students to work as part of this team to learn skills in organization and leadership. Uchideshi Jim Wolff participated as part of the team. The team did an outstanding job at organizing the event. Many thanks to everyone for their creativity and hard work!

As is tradition, uchideshi students on the losing team get doused with coolers of ice water. Luckily it was a nice day this year as Ninomiya Kancho’s sons Jota and Koichi Ninomiya “took the plunge”. Homma Kancho commented that Nippon Kan had won for the last few years because many of our students are from a generation when bowling was quite popular. I think Homma Kancho was trying to tell us that we are getting old!

Two weeks after the bowling tournament, it was time for the real tournament; Ninomiya Kancho’s annual international full contact karate tournament, The Sabaki Challenge. Every year this tournament is held in Denver and many past uchideshi students who lived with and trained with Ninomiya Kancho return for this annual event. Many of these past students now are instructors with their own dojos and return with their students to participate in the tournament. This year Nippon Kan hosted three fighters and five Sensei and staff members for a total of eight guests at our dojo. Homma Kancho said it felt like having sons and grandsons come home for a visit and he was very happy to see them again. Homma Kancho cooked special meals for the group; preparing them for the competition to come. Of the three fighters that stayed at Nippon Kan, one earned the title of Middle Weight Champion, one took second place in the Middle Weight Division, and the last fighter earned the title of Heavy Weight Champion. Homma Kancho commended all of the fighters and joked “I think it was my cooking that did the trick!”

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 studies Homma Kancho nominated him as a candidate to teach beginning Aikido basics in Nepal for newly formed Aikido Nippon Kan Nepal Aikido Club for a three month period. John has been working with the group actively sine February and a full report on Nepal Aikido Club activities will be presented in the next activity report.

James Wolff, a native from Scotland graduated from a three month term as a Nippon Kan uchideshi after completing 100 ukemi (as did John) at his graduation ceremony April 20th, 2007. Students cheered him on with a big round of applause as they sent him off on his next adventure; a visit to Argentina.

Jim usually left the dojo well before 8:00 am each morning to walk to the nearby Auraria college campus to work on his studies, retuning in the early afternoon to complete his chores and prepare for daily practice. Jim was a good organizer and completely all of his tasks and duties with proficiency. Jim was also quite talented with computers and worked on refurbishing the used computers for AHAN’s computer redistribution program. He also participated in other AHAN activities and projects such as the homeless meal service at the Denver Rescue Mission.

Jim participated in a daily uchideshi practice before attending three classes per night with regular attending dojo members. Also after practice there were certain social requirements which I hear Jim was quite proficient in as well; especially in the scotch and haggis category!

At the graduation ceremony, Homma Kancho told students that Jim had been an “easy” uchideshi. This meant that Jim was independent, followed direction well and could think for himself of ways to improve the tasks and chores he found before him.

We have had many different uchideshi at Nippon Kan, and not all of them have had the abilities that Jim has. There have been some uchideshi that even if you give them a little push, they do not move. There have been others that don’t need a push to move and even take the next steps forward on their own. Simply, successful uchideshi training cannot make a person move forward if they cannot take the first steps themselves. Some think that that is what uchideshi training is all about, but truthfully, people who are able to move without being pushed are the ones who can and do complete the program successfully. The students who become members as alumni uchideshi came to the program with the skills to move forward on their own. Those that have the idea that becoming an uchideshi will teach them inner resourcefulness and self reliance are the ones that fail. The uchideshi program is comparable to a twenty four hour a day graduate level program. If you have not graduated from high school on your own, you will never be able to survive the program. Uchideshi must already have basic skills and aptitude before joining the program to be able to graduate.

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 she spent the winter in the Nippon Kan office.

This spring, another dove flew into the Nippon Kan gardens, this time a tan ring-necked dove. The doves fell in love at first sight, and the new dove refused to leave. Jim the uchideshi made a spacious two-room mansion for the new couple out of cardboard packing boxes complete with baths, roosting posts and a basket for sleeping. The day before Easter, Hatako laid her first egg. Homma Kancho put some nesting materials in to the cage and for the next forty eight hours, the ring-necked dove worked without rest to line the basket for a nest. Forty hours later, the second egg was laid. Now the pair takes turns sitting on the nest keeping the eggs nice and warm. The office staff is trying hard to determine how best to deal with this growing family in the months to come.