Happii Horidee



We here at the Sanbukan Dojo wish everyone a safe and HAPPY Holiday Season.

 

In order to give our instructors and students time to spend with their other loved ones, our last class of the year is Saturday December 22nd and we remain closed until Thursday January 3rd

A very Merry XMas Party

Thank You Everyone!  We had a great party. Everyone brought such good food and other libations. I think we will all need to workout that much harder just to lose the weight. Here is a couple of pictures for those who couldn't make it.

'Tis the season

We have had a wonderful month do far. Brenda traded in her Fall Orange belt for a more Christmasy Green belt.  And did it with style and power. Jason Cordova, our friendly neighborhood boxing champ had been stopping by on a regular basis and of course the Annual Dojo Holiday Potluck Party is coming up fast.

This coming Saturday the 8th we are meeting at 8am to scrub and clean the Dojo before class. And the next Saturday, the 15th, is Party Time. So far not many people have posted what they are bringing so it'll be a surprise. The list thus far is:
Jeremy & Cindy: Coffee, Decorations & Utensils
Brenda: Carnitas and Pico de gallo
Jay O: H2O
Larry: Pizza
Gilbert: Sushi Platter

Happy & Safe Halloween Everyone!

 

Here are a couple of Jack-O'- Lanterns my son and his fiancé carved. But do you know why we do it? Or where a carved pumpkin got the name Jack?

 

THE NAME "jack-o'-lantern" is of British origin and dates from the 17th century, when it literally meant "man with a lantern" (e.g., a night watchman). It was also a nickname for the natural phenomenon known as ignis fatuus (fool's fire) or "will o' the wisp," the mysterious, flickering lights sometimes seen at night over wetlands and associated in folklore with fairies and ghosts playing pranks on travelers.

 

Over time "jack-o'-lantern" became the popular term for a homemade object also known as a "turnip lantern," defined by Thomas Darlington in his 1887 volume The Folk-Speech of South Cheshire as "a lantern made by scooping out the inside of a turnip, carving the shell into a rude representation of the human face, and placing a lighted candle inside it."

In some parts of Great Britain carrying turnip lanterns was considered a form of pranksterism. Darlington writes: "It is a common device of mischievous lads for frightening belated wayfarers on the road." For Catholic children it was customary to carry jack-o'-lanterns door-to-door to represent the souls of the dead while begging for soul cakes on Hallowmas (All Saints Day, Nov. 1) and All Souls Day (Nov. 2). They were also carried by parading celebrants on the night of Guy Fawkes Day (Nov. 5).

Stingy Jack

 

According to legend, the jack-o'-lantern took its name from a reprobate Irishman known as Stingy Jack who tricked the Devil into promising he wouldn't have to go to hell for his sins. When Jack died he found out he had been barred from heaven, so he journeyed to the gates of hell to demand his due. Wouldn't you know it, the Devil kept his promise and doomed Jack to wander the earth for all eternity with only an ember of hellfire of to light his way. Thenceforth he was known as Jack O'Lantern.

 

It wasn't until Irish immigrants brought the custom of carving jack-o'-lanterns to North America that the more commonly available pumpkin came to be used for that purpose, and not until the mid-to-late 19th century that pumpkin carving became a Halloween staple across the United States.

Half mast for a hero

US Flags to Half Staff on Friday August 31, 2012

Presidential Proclamation–Death of Neil Armstrong

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As a mark of respect for the memory of Neil Armstrong, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that on the day of his interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

236 Years Old

Happy 4th of July America


During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independent from Great Britain. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4. A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

"The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more."

Adams's prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

The passing of an incredible Aikidoka

We are deeply saddened to report the passing the president and head instructor of the Yoshokai Aikido Federation, Sensei Takashi Kushida, who died on May 10, 2012 after an extended illness. Kushida-sensei was one of the first uchideshi of Gozo Shioda-sensei—an original student of Morihei Ueshiba-sensei.


Sensei Takashi Kushida
May 2, 1935 - May 10, 2012
http://www.aikidoyoshokai.org/

Happy Mother's Day

We are all here because we had mothers. Women who cared for us and raised us. Loving women who taught us all civility, manners and respect for others. These women were given this day to say thanks and to shower our affection on. It hardly seems like enough. But here goes...

Master Don Angier Seminar this Saturday

Master Angier, a long time personal friend of Sensei Mits, has agreed to give a seminar at our dojo this coming Saturday starting at approximately 2PM


Don Angier is the Soke (inheritor) of Yanagi Ryu Aiki Ju Jitsu of the Yoshida family of Kyushu by direct succession from Kenji Yoshida, son of Kotaro Yoshida. Yanagi Ryu Aiki Bugei is a complete samurai art encompassing all the skills that were necessary for the Yoshida clan in the execution of their duties as samurai.



Kotaro Yoshida was a friend and student of Sokaku Takeda. Their relationship began about 1914 and continued until Takeda's death. Kotaro introduced Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido, to Sokaku and Ueshiba studied Daito-ryu aikijujutsu for many years. Angier has been practicing and mastering the Yoshida arts for over 50 years and his knowledge of Aiki Jiu Jutsu and related samurai arts is unparalleled in the Western world.

To learn more about this great man enjoy the following links:

My career in Yanagi Ryu by Don Angier
http://www.dojoofthefourwinds.com/yanagiryu.html

Footage from a seminar given many years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvWiYcxTm2A

Pot Luck List

POT LUCK LIST as of FRIDAY (The day before the big party!)

Cindy and Jeremy Johnston - large birthday cake, Dance lights, Plates, Cups, Utensils, Tablecloths, Decorations, 3 party buckets for holding ice and drinks

Gilbert - Mexican Casserole and Sushi Plate

Jay O Balles - Veggie Plate

Brenda and Alonso - Tuna Ceviche, Carnitas

Cindy and Jeremy - 30 bottles of champagne and fresh brewed coffee

Misa - Pie

Mia - Something good

Toru - Dessert

Martin - Cherries and grapes

Denise Stednitz-Miyakawa spaghetti? soda or juices?

Larry - Pizza

Terry - Salad, ice, buckets for the ice

Brenda and Alonso - Some Spirits

Sensei's 70th birthday party!!!

A very special event is coming up

Sensei Mits Yamashita's 70th birthday party!!!

WHEN: April 14, 2012

WHERE: Sanbukan Dojo
17647 Lakewood blvd
Bellflower, CA 90706

The dojo is located on the same lot as the Blacksmith's Corner Pet and Feed Store. The entrance to the dojo is in the south parking lot behind the chickens.

TIME: 11:00 am - 12:30 pm Regular Aikido class
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Volunteers will help set up for the party
2:00 pm - The party starts!!

FOOD: Potluck!

There will be balloons, lights, music, dancing and a slideshow honoring Sensei Mits!

Help make Sensei's 70th extra special by contributing to the slideshow or bringing a dish, or simply showing up to wish him happy birthday.

TRIBUTE SLIDESHOW:

Anyone who's had their lives touched by Mits please email your stories to cindy@sanbukan.com to have them added to his sideshow. We will accept anything: stories, short quotes, art, songs, videos. Send us scans of pictures and we will add them.

Feel free to dress up a little or stay casual!

Contributions towards the group gift will be greatly appreciated.

Hope to see you there!

Céad Míle Fáilte

Céad Míle Fáilte is a traditional Irish greeting that means, "10,000 Welcomes". This one Irish phrase epitomizes the type of welcome I feel when I go to the Dojo. Thank You Sensei Mits, for creating such a welcoming place to train and spend time with friends.

Special Event Saturday 3/10/12

Yukiyo (Shelley) Ikebe Sensei and a few of her students will be performing for us.


Ikebe Sensei is a Master Koto player. She will be playing an assortment of music and her troop will be demonstrating several instruments and possibly even demonstrating traditional Japanese Kendo.


Toru, our beloved brown belt, has been friends with Ikebe Sensei for many years and has convinced her to come and perform.
The performance will begin just after 1PM on Saturday March 10th.

Class is now in session

After a bit of reconsideration by students and the Sensei. The Monday class is back in session.  Unfortunately the Wednesday night class did not make the cut.  From 8-10PM Mondays, Sensei Jeremy will be teaching syllabus based Aikido with a heavy emphasis on Randori and flowing with your Uke. 

Hello from Afghanistan

Our very own Jose Bonilla sends his fondest wishes to everyone at the Dojo. He is serving in Afghanistan and misses the simple pleasures of a Saturday at the Sanbukan.