Aikido Nippon Kan

My name is Cihan Karaogluol and I live in Izmir, Turkey. I met Homma Kancho at the Cairo, Egypt airport on August 6th, 2009 to serve as his assistant for this seminar tour to Alexandria and Cairo.

Homma Kancho has been to the historical city of Alexandria and the capital city of Cairo before, having traveled to Egypt for the first time last summer. Homma Kancho was first invited to Egypt by Major Ziad Abu Amir who met Homma Kancho in East Timor when he served there with the United Nations Police (UNPOL).

Gawad Adham Sensei, whose family owns a wonderful resort hotel in Alexandria, hosted two days of practice at his dojo in the sports gym facility of his hotel. Gawad Sensei and Ziad and their families were gracious hosts and the visit was very rewarding.

On the 9th, we traveled back to Cairo where Homma Kancho taught a two day practice at the Cairo Shooting Club Sports Center and the Wade Sports Center hosted by Hesham Youssef Sensei. Youssef Sensei works with Japanese Companies in Cairo and speaks very good Japanese! In his spare time, he travels to different dojos in the Cairo area to teach Aikido to a number of Aikido groups. Both dojos where Homma Kancho taught were housed in very exclusive members-only sports clubs that offer a number of different sports related classes. Besides Aikido, we observed other interesting classes, such as a senior ladies exercise class and a class on Chambala, which I learned was a new Japanese martial art sports game popular with young students in Japan.

During practice, class would stop when we heard Azan, the call to prayers that could be heard throughout the city. As the call was heard, students stopped their practice and turned toward Mecca for prayers. This I am sure, is a practice break that can only be found in Muslim countries! Everyone showed us the best hospitality and it was a very memorable visit. Thank you very much.

United Arab Emirates

My name is Mariusz Ferenc and I currently live in Ireland. I met Homma Kancho and Cihan Karaogluol in the Abu Dhabi airport on August 12th, 2009 after Homma Kancho had finished his seminar tour in Egypt. I met Homma Kancho in Abu Dhabi to serve as his assistant in events scheduled there.

This coming November, Homma Kancho will be returning to Abu Dhabi as coordinator of AHAN’s International Concert Series 2009 which will feature the Kyougaku Taiko Drummers from Nagano Japan. Homma Kancho came to Abu Dhabi for this August trip for preliminary meetings with the Japanese Embassy to the United Arab Emirates, and to perform an Aikido demonstration and lecture for the Ministry of the Interior. While in Abu Dhabi on this trip, Homma Kancho also practiced together with Aikidoka from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Japanese Embassy to the United Arab Emirates

Homma Kancho visited the Japanese Embassy in the United Arab Emirates to pay his respect to Ambassador Tatsuo Watanabe and go over plans for the upcoming concerts to be performed by the world renowned Japanese taiko drumming group; The Kyougaku Taiko Drummers from Nagano, Japan. One of the concerts will be performed at the Higher Colleges of Technology Academic Convention which will also feature over twenty Nobel Prize winners who are scheduled to speak at the convention. The concert will be held at the seven- star Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi. First Secretary and Consul Yamagami and Cultural Public Relations Coordinator Mr. Yoshida, both from the Japanese Embassy guided us through Abu Dhabi and Dubai to check on the concert site logistics and lay the groundwork for the concerts in November.

The Matsukawa Kyougaku Taiko Drummers from Nagano, Japan have toured extensively through the world. Links below to concerts performed by the drummers held in Turkey, Brazil, Colombia and the United States.

USA 2004
Brazil 2005
Turkey 2006
Colombia, 2008

United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior Demonstration and Lecture

Homma Kancho was invited by the Ministry of Interior General Inspectors Office to do an Aikido demonstration and give a lecture on Nippon Kan philosophy toward the martial arts. Homma Kancho’s special teaching and philosophy is well known internationally and the Ministry was interested in hearing Homma Kancho’s point of view about the martial arts and conflict resolution. The Ministry of Interior in Abu Dhabi is responsible for both intelligence and immigration police divisions. Homma Kancho used DVD and PowerPoint presentations in his demonstration and also spoke in depth on his experience of martial arts all over the world. (photos are limited in this section for security reasons)

Abu Dhabi –Dubai Aikidoka Practice

Abu Dhabi Aikido, instructed by Jihad Francis Sensei invited Homma Kancho to practice with his students while in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi Aikido is a member of the UAE - Abu Dhabi Judo and Wrestling Federation that hold many differnt practices in a huge sports facility in Abu Dhabi. The dojo where Aikido is practiced was very large as well! Homma Kancho taught two evenings of classes to students from Abu Dhabi and students who traveled from Dubai for this cultural exchange and practice.

Notes from Editor:
Many thanks to Mariusz who traveled all the way from Ireland and Cihan who left his newly- wedded-bride to assist Homma Kancho in this series of classes in Egypt and the UAE. Congratulations on a job well done!

Homma Kancho Visits Izmir, Turkey

Every year for the past few years I have come to visit Izim, Turkey on the Aegean Sea. Izmir has beautiful oceans and beautiful skies and is one of my favorite places on earth. Nippon Kan graduate uchideshi Cihan Karaogluol is from Izmir and I came to Izmir on this trip to attend his wedding. The wedding was a wonderful affair, attended by over 600 invited guests! Cihan surprised my by attending the seminar I taught while in Izmir the day before his wedding, and even more surprised me when he postponed his honeymoon for a couple of days to continue practice after his wedding day! That is most likely the reason why his new bride was applying Nikkyo to Cihan when this photo was taken!

I have practiced together with students from Izmir many times, so it feels like coming home to practice there. On this visit, Mert Sensei took me to visit his new dojo, and the seminar itself was held at Tolga Sensei’s dojo. Many students came from Istanbul and Ankara to attend the seminar as well as Ali Uludag Sensei, who came to Izmir to attend Cihan’s wedding and to share together in practice.

AHAN Nippon Kan International Activity Report

AHAN Nippon Kan Myanmar Activity Report

AHAN began its support of the Yadanapon Yeiknyein Orphanage founded by U Margainda in March of this year with monthly donations of rice. My name is Nilar and I am the new AHAN Myanmar coordinator. It is my job to make sure the rice is delivered every month to the orphanage.

This past August, former AHAN Nippon Kan Assistant Director, Mr. Brian Grabowski came to Myanmar to visit us from Viet Nam where he is currently living and working as a pilot for Vietnam Airlines. Brian came to make sure that our AHAN support project was going well and to deliver funds for the August rice donation.

This coming September, a delegation of six members from Nippon Kan General Headquarters including Mr. Grabowski will be coming to Yangon to work on AHAN project development in Myanmar.

August Rice Delivery

May Rice Delivery

June Rice Delivery

July Rice Delivery

AHAN Nippon Kan Bangladesh Activity Report

My name is Maji Sarkar, and I am the coordinator for AHAN Bangladesh. Every month it is my job to purchase and supervise the delivery of 500 kilos of rice each to two different orphanages in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. For the past three years, AHAN has supported both the Dharmarajika Orphanage for boys and the Madrasa Orphanage for girls and in the past three years over eight tons of rice have been delivered to the two orphanages. I have been very proud to have been part of this AHAN Nippon Kan project for the past three years and look forward to working with AHAN in my country in the future.

May Rice Delivery

June Rice Delivery

July Rice Delivery

August Rice Delivery

AHAN Nippon Kan Mindanao Activity Report

From the Philippines, AHAN Mindanao Coordinator, Ava Yancha sent a report to Nippon Kan Headquarters this past June that focused on the many activities that AVA and AHAN Mindanao have been involved with in the past few months. Ava lives in Illigan City, Mindanao and with the help and support of local Illigan City Mayor, Mr. Lawrence and his wife Gina, have been able to affect the lives of young people in the area in positive ways. Ava Yancha, who promotes and teaches Aikido in Mindanao, came to Nippon Kan headquarters this past July, for her second term as a full time uchideshi student to further her teacher training. Ava was able to come to the United States for this term with the support of prominent local leaders in Illigan.

Illigan City and other parts of Mindanao have long suffered from local conflict and political struggle that has sometimes resulted in violence as it did in 2008. With Ava in the lead, students and members of AHAN Mindanao have been very productive in their community offering aid, education and an AHAN philosophy of peace. It is unusual in the world to have a martial art group so active in their community, and especially unique in the Philippines. Nippon Kan General Headquarters is now working on plans for building a new dojo in Illigan City for the growing number of members of AHAN Mindanao.

Summer Aikido Projects for Youth

AHAN Mindanao teaches Aikido to about 50 young people in the Dona Maria Subdivision. These children are more privileged than some in that most of their basic needs are met. Their aikido training focuses on developing leadership skills and working in harmony and equality with others. To this end, these young people of Dona Maria already are participating in AHAN programs to communicate and help more underprivileged children in the city through a number of activities.

Support for Street Kids

With Instructor Ava’s guidance, the MSU ITT University Aikido Club and young people from the Dona Maria Subdivision help organize activities for the very underprivileged. This area is plagued with religious and territorial struggles, so the purpose of this support is to begin a healing process with the children. “Building a more stable future starts with the young” is a theme of this support. These projects are supported by the Mayor’s wife Gina and others prominent members of the community. Thank you very much to all for this support.

Aikido for Jailhouse guards in Illigan

A new program has been initiated by the City of Illigan to teach Aikido to the guards at the city jail. Following orders from the city, Instructor Ava and MSU ITT University Aikido Club members are now teaching this special and well received Aikido class to the jailhouse guards.

AHAN Nippon Kan Nepal Activity Report

Under local Nippon Kan Instructor Rajesh Bista, over 500 Nepal Army Rangers practice Aikido as a compulsory part of their military training. These Ranger soldiers fall under the command of Capt. Anees Dhoj Khadka who is enthusiastic about the psychological as well as the physical development that Aikido is brining to the men in his charge. Sgt. Dhan Gurung, along side of Instructor Bista, has also been instrumental in the ground-level development of Aikido in the Nepalese Military as well as Nepal Military Police Forces. Future Nepal Army Ranger leaders practice up to six hours a day and give demonstrations to Army Ranger troops stationed in out-lying areas throughout Nepal. This new, healthy and positive style and approach to the martial arts in Nepal is being well received by military and civilian students alike.

The newly built indoor Aikido dojo facility is now open on the Nepal Army Ranger base in Kathmandu with 100 new mats for cadets to practice on. These mats were donated by Nippon Kan General Headquarters to assist in the training of the future Army Ranger Instructors of this rapidly growing Aikido program.

AHAN Nippon Kan General Headquarters Domestic Activity Report.

Annual Spring Volunteer Project

This year too, in conjunction with the Denver Parks and Recreation Department, Nippon Kan held its spring volunteer project for the 18th consecutive year. This year the project was held on the Platte River Trail and was attended by over 80 Nippon Kan members, families and friends. The “Nippon Kan Army” as we are called by the Denver Parks Department, made quick work of the weeding, pruning, painting and clearing that needed to be done to improve designed gardens and rest areas along the trail.

What started as a new way to celebrate Homma Kancho’s birthday, this spring volunteer project is not only a tradition at Nippon Kan, it and the fall volunteer project have grown into a city-wide annual project organized by the City of Denver.

AHAN Nippon Kan Homeless Food Service Project Report

AHAN Nippon Kan General Headquarters does not only support international projects to help those in need; the longest running service project of AHAN and Nippon Kan has been right here in Denver at the Denver Rescue Mission. In conjunction with the Denver Rescue Mission, Nippon Kan has served monthly dinners to the homeless for the last 19 years. Since 1991, well over 50, 000 meals have been supplied, prepared and served by volunteers and staff member of Nippon Kan. This past July, Japanese Consulate at Denver, Consul Koji Mitsui and his wife Jenny assisted in the monthly dinner service. Thank you Consul and Mrs. Mitsui for all of you help!

Aikido Nippon Kan General Headquarter Dojo News

Nippon Kan Seminar

Aikido Kobayashi Dojo in Tokyo, Japan (http://www.cup.com/kobayashi-dojo/english/index.html) sent Instructor Shunichiro Koyanagi Sensei from their Instructor Division to teach a three-day seminar at Nippon Kan Headquarters in Denver. This opportunity was arranged by Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan and his son Hiroaki Kobayashi Sensei. About 100 students were in attendance over the three day event that was enjoyed by all participating members.

Also here from Aikido Kobayashi Dojo is Norihiro Hayashi who is visiting Denver as an uchideshi in the Nippon Kan uchideshi program for three months. We thank Kobayashi Shihan for these opportunities for exchange with Aikido Kobayashi Dojo, and hope that this important communication will continue into the future. Thank you very much.

Uchideshi News

Ava Yancha, coordinator of AHAN Nippon Kan Mindanao arrived this summer for her second three-month term as an uchideshi student at Nippon Kan. Her visit was made possible this time by local prominent sponsors in Illigan City. The purpose of this current 3-month term is to continue her instructor training and understanding of Nippon Kan Aikido, humanitarian project organization and philosophy. Ava trains rigorously about five hours a day plus completing all of her daily chores and tasks.

Norihiro Hayashi from Aikido Kobayashi Dojo in Tokyo, Japan came to Denver to become an uchideshi for a two month term at Nippon Kan Headquarters in July. This was his first trip outside of Japan, and we were a little concerned that it would be difficult for him to adapt to life as an uchideshi and adapt to living in the United States at the same time. After two months, Norihiro continues to do well however and has actually extended his stay for an extra month to continue his challenge.

Michele Zanrei from Parma, Italy came to visit Nippon Kan this summer for his third stay as a Nippon Kan uchideshi. Michele hopes if he can get time off of work back home, to return to Denver and his home away from home in the Rockies early next year. Parma, Italy by the way is famous for its parmesan cheese and prosciutto ham!

From Our Readers

We receive many emails and letter from people all over the world responding to Homma Kancho’s articles and our AHAN activities. About two years ago, Homma Kancho wrote an article entitled “No Suwariwaza (kneeling techniques) at Nippon Kan. Link here to read the article

Coincidentally, we received two responses to this article this past August in agreement with Homma Kancho’s position on the issue. For Aikidoka everywhere, the highest number of injuries occurs to the knees, and for some that may have read this article two years ago and found it interesting, might now be finding that two years later the article is applicable to their own situation! Maybe you too, when you have reached a certain age will understand the warnings and advice this article brings to our practice!

----- Original Message
To: info@nippon-kan.org
Sent: Thursday, August 06, 2009 11:47 PM
Subject: No Suwariwaza article

Dear Sirs:

I read the article on swari-waza, posted on the Nippon-kan Aikido website. It was a welcome read for me. I have chrondomalcea in my knees, so I avoid doing Aikido techniques or exercises that stress and strain the joints referred to as the knees. I also shared the article with my fellow martial art practitioners. I hope they read the article and think about it, when they espouse what they believe to be the value of "old school" training. Simply stated, some things done in the old days were not the best practices. We learn this as information, technology, education and cultural exchanges improve our understanding of what we do.

I have had many conversations with my fellow Aikido classmates (from third kyu - black belt) and with the Sensei, about the wear and tear these movements subject the knees to. I have also asked my Sensei to consider modifying his regime for the class, to take into consideration the well being of the students and to truly think about how functional these techniques are in the context of our daily activities. I do not perform shikko exercises and do minimal suwari-waza. I would prefer my instructor to show us Aikido how to implement Aikido techniques from a sitting position (in a chair, for example).

I am happy that someone of significant authority decided to share his ideas with the Martial Arts world and other Aikidoists. I hope others take the thoughts presented in the article into consideration, and modify their training techniques accordingly. It would significantly reduce the amount of needless life-time lasting knee damage.

Please consider writing more educational articles for those of us who wish to train, without damaging our bodies needlessly.

Thank you for the education and sharing.

Best and warm regards,

D. W.

To: info@nippon-kan.org
Sent: Tuesday, August 04, 2009 12:33 AM
Subject: No suwariwaza

Dear Gaku Homma Sensei,
I just read your "No Suwariwaza...at Nippon Kan" article on your webpage and I wanted tothank you for being concerned enough to write to the world about the dangers of practicing thistraditional technique.

Although I am not an aikido ka, I have taken a few classes in the art, and I am a student of another traditional Japanese art and have been finding it difficult to maintain the seiza position that you spoke of in your article.

Your information confirms what a female aikidoka was telling me recently. Thank you.

Be blessed.
Respectfully yours,
P. H.

May/August 2009 Activity Report

AHAN Nippon Kan International Seminar Report

Arabic Republic of Egypt Alexandria and Cairo Seminar

United Arab Emirates

Japanese Embassy to the United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior Demonstration and Lecture

Abu Dhabi –Dubai Aikidoka Practice

Homma Kancho Visits Izmir, Turkey

AHAN Nippon Kan International Activity Report

AHAN Nippon Kan Myanmar Activity Report

August Rice Delivery

May Rice Delivery

June Rice Delivery

July Rice Delivery

AHAN Nippon Kan Bangladesh Activity Report

May Rice Delivery

June Rice Delivery

July Rice Delivery

August Rice Delivery

AHAN Nippon Kan Mindanao Activity Report

Summer Aikido Projects for Youth

Support for Street Kids

Aikido for Jailhouse guards in Illigan

AHAN Nippon Kan Nepal Activity Report

AHAN Nippon Kan General Headquarters Domestic Activity Report.

Annual Spring Volunteer Project

AHAN Nippon Kan Homeless Food Service Project Report

AHAN Nippon Kan Homeless Food Service Project Report May-August 2009