Aikido Yoshinkai

Children’s Aikido at Sokushinkan Dojo
Vancouver Japanese Language School

January 2009

Dear Aikidoka and Parents of Aikidoka:

Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu!

On behalf of Keith Taylor (dojocho) and all members of the Sokushinkan Dojo at VJLS, Happy New Year to you all.  We hope everyone had a pleasant holiday and we offer our best wishes for a successful 2009.

Autumn Events
The autumn was another exciting time for the children’s classes.  It was a pleasure to have so many students return and to have several new students begin their aikido practice.  Let’s do our best together and enjoy the next term of aikido.

We are pleased to announce that Jamie Clarke and Henry Lagas were successful in, respectively, their sandan (3rd degree black belt) and nidan (2nd degree black belt) tests in November.  Andrew Prest and Bryan Green were achieved their sankyu (3rd kyu) and are now wearing their new brown belts.  Their success is a testament to their hard work and dedicated practice.   Congratulations to them all.  Jamie, Henry, and Bryan are known to the children’s classes, having been guest and assistant instructors several times.

In November, I was in Australia for 3 weeks.  I had the opportunity to practice at three dojos in Sydney and Melbourne.  I had a chance to meet old friends and make new friends and to train with some excellent teachers and students.  They send their regards to everyone here and wish us well in our aikido practice.  If we should be fortunate to have visitors from Australia, please extend every courtesy to them.

O-Soji
On January 2, instead of the regular adult class, several members of Sokushikan Dojo participated in the annual dojo cleaning.  At Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, O-Soji is one of the major events of the year.  While circumstances here in Vancouver do not permit us to make the same kind of event here, O-Soji is important in many ways.

Patrick McCready and Tin Ma cleaned all the dojo areas, including the tatami room, the attached storage room, the hallway, and the washrooms.  Their work has made our training area clean, safe, and pleasant.

Instructors for Children’s Classes
While I was away, several people taught the children’s classes in my place.  I would like to thank them, particularly Patrick McCready and Bryan Green.

With some sadness, I must advise everyone that Bryan Green will be moving away from Vancouver soon, so we will not see him so often.  Bryan is moving to Whitehorse, to take up a new job there as a school teacher.  Please take a moment to thank him for his assistance over the last 3 years and to wish him well.  I am sure that we will see him again from time to time.  Osu!

Parents in Class
Once again, I would like to thank the fathers who attend class with their children and assist me with the classes.  Their help is very important to the success of the classes.  I also thank the mothers and fathers who sit and watch and who help supervise the children before, during, and after class.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu
I am very grateful to all parents for your kind support.  I hope that this activity is good for you and your children.  I want to make aikido safe, fun, and useful to you and your children.  Thanks to all the parents for your support and encouragement of Yoshinkan Aikido and the Sokushinkan Dojo.

I am grateful for your help and welcome any comments or ideas you have.  Please talk to me or write to me.

Osu!

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