XMas time off

Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas everyone

This years Holiday Potluck yesterday was another complete success. As always the food was varied and awesome.



But the real reason we do it is to meet with our Dojo family once more before we break for the year.

Our dojo will be closed till Saturday January 4th 2014

The 25th Sanbukan Black Belt

After a failed test a couple weeks ago Gilbert Rodriguez came back with renewed determination and successfully passed his Black Belt Test today. It's not uncommon to fail the first time and Gilbert proved that you just get up, dust off and work that much harder.






Gilbert started with the Dojo 30+ years ago and now joins the extremely exclusive group of Black Belts under Master Mits Yamashita. After more than 50 years Sensei Mits only has 25 of us.

Congratulations Gilbert

Happy Thanksgiving

The dojo will be closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. We here at the Sanbukan Dojo hope everyone will enjoy their time with their friends and family.

Remember to give Thanks year round!

See you all Saturday ;)

Veteran's Day 2013

Let's not forget to tell them every chance we get.

Thank You

An important lesson

The other day we had a student test and not pass his next belt level. Energy, connection, centering, breathing and flow are tested in addition to the techniques. The techniques were correct and even functional, but the rest were lacking that day. We have seen this student perform in class with all the needed bits, but on the day of the test they couldn't be summoned. It's the inability to call it all together on demand that we failed the student for. The student accepted the failure gracefully and will work that much harder for the retest. And I've no doubt the next time will be wonderful to behold. 

But the reason I'm blogging about it is, I believe that failed test was more of a lesson for the rest of the class then for the student who actually failed. When Sensei Mits discussed with the students the reasons for the failure, I saw a lot of lights going on behind their eyes. A lot of wisdom and determination were passed because of that "failure". Our standards are high, and they should be! On the streets and in life in general, we can't postpone our challenges for "when it's good for us". We have to be able to call from within ourselves and from our training the ability to perform on command and succeed.

Congratulations to our new Yellow and Green belts

The last 2 weekends we have had tests, first Jesus for Yellow and then Satori for Green. I love watching students perform beautifully in tests. Brings back memories of when I was a new Aikidoka.

Next week Saturday, rumor has it, DC will be moving to Second Brown. I'm sure he'll do just as good as the other two.

Also, very soon we will have brand new Sanbukan T-Shirts & Hoodies available to order. Once we have the details I'll post them here.

Happy Memorial Day

I've always liked this phrase. It embodies what Memorial Day is all about. Today, remember those brave men and women who have their lives to keep us all free.

Happy 105th Mother's Day

The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother in Grafton, West Virginia. She then began a campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday in the United States. Although she was successful in 1914, she was already disappointed with its commercialization by the 1920s. Jarvis' holiday was adopted by other countries and it is now celebrated all over the world. In this tradition, each person offers a gift, card, or remembrance toward their mothers, grandmothers, and/ or maternal figure on mother's day.

We here at the Sanbukan Dojo want to make sure that all of our Friends, Students and Loved ones take the day to give their Mothers or Mother Figures back some of that special love that rubbed of on them when they hugged and loved you as a child.

A letter from a friend

Dear Sanbukan Friends,

I wanted to let you know that I passed my nidan test on Saturday at the Midwest Aikido Center Yudansha Seminar in Chicago. My examiners were Yoshimitsu Yamada, head of the US Aikido Federation, and Steve Pimsler, one of his senior students at the NY Aikikai. I am grateful to Mits and his students from the good ol' days for helping me develop good aikido fundamentals. And I find myself quoting Mits frequently when teaching my own aikido students here in Iowa. Please convey my best (belated) wishes to him on his 71st birthday.

Thanks,
Charles Cunningham
Grinnell, IA

71 in the sun

It's that time of year again!!!! Celebrate Sensei Mits' 71st birthday!!!!

Saturday, April 13, 2013
Approximately 1:30 PM, after our regular Saturday aikido class we will drive over to the park

Charles H. Wilson Park
2200 Crenshaw Blvd
Torrance, CA 90501
(We will meet somewhere in the picnic area near the lake)

This will be a BBQ potluck.
There will also be a group birthday gift for Sensei, feel free to contribute if you like :)

The Current Potluck List is:

Cindy and Jeremy - Birthday Cake, Plates, Cups, Utensils
Patty H. - Mexican Bread
Jessie Jennewin - Veggie Lasagna or Meat
Alyssa Congdon - Taquitos + Gac
Toru Hashinokuchi - Yakisoba
Mia and DC - .....
Jay O'Balles - Veggie Plate
Juan Martin Castillo - Potato Chips and Plates
Marcus Acosta - Soft Drinks
Ravy O. Li - Small Lasagna
Alixis Hoare - Something sweet, Ice & Juices


Please email cindy@sanbukan.com or add a comment here with any questions, or to add your contribution to the potluck list :)

Toru is now the 24th Black Belt

This last Saturday (February 9, 2013) Toru Hashinokuchi demonstrated beautifully what a Sanbukan Black Belt test should look like.  Toru has that old-style look with youthful energy and ability.

Many people may not know, but, Toru started training under Sensei Mits more than 20 years ago.  And after an 18 year break, came back with a vengeance.  This last year his energy and ambition has fed the students and instructors alike.  I truly hope he stays active and energized like this for many years to come.

24th Black Belt received by Toru Hashinokuchi

 

Toru joins the Black Belts proudly

 



Oshogatsu

New Year, known as shogatsu or oshogatsu, is the most important holiday in Japan. Since January 1st is viewed as harbinger of things to come for the entire year, the focus is to make it as joyful as possible to ensure the next 365 days are equally delightful.