Happy Birthday Sensei

The party was a complete success. As usual the company was excellent and the food was outstanding. Sensei seemed genuinely touched by the gathering of his friends both from the Dojo and many from his classes at El Camino as well.






Thank You all for coming. And Thank You Sensei for giving all of us another fantastic year!!!

The group photo above, is courtesy of Jeffrey Nakamura. The following (as you may guess) come from DC

Happy Easter

From all of us at the Sanbukan Dojo.


Don't forget Sensei's Birthday party on Saturday.

Birthday time

On Saturday April 10th we will be celebrating Sensei Mits' 6.8th birthday. The party will happen right after the class and will be Pot Luck.




Donations toward his gift will be greatly appriciated.

Happo-giri

Happy Valentine's Day. I hope that everyone that reads this is spending time enjoying the company of those you love.

This last Saturday Sensei taught us Happo-giri, The eight directions cut.

In the practice of Aikidō, happo-giri (or happo-no-giri) is an exercise performed with the bokken, cutting in eight directions. Each cut is a simple strike from the top of the head straight down the centre line, with the bokken ending parallel to the floor at roughly the same height as the lower abdomen. The order of the strikes is north, south, east, west, southeast, northwest, southwest, northeast, finally returning - without performing a ninth cut - to the original position (north).

The main purpose of happo-giri is to teach how to control one's surroundings while maintaining proper stance or kamae, by moving around one's centre.

Weather or not here we come

Local news reported heavy rain, thunder storms and even a tornado warning. But as if they were following the mail man's creed our students still make it to the Dojo. Could Aikido be more powerful than nature? Or maybe it's that Aikido teaches us how to walk within nature and come away unharmed.

Virgil Crank in 6 parts

Patrick Reed posted some video of Sensei Crank he made at the party. Here are the links:

part 1 >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-8HCKLvmfo

part 2 >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9jsGv2EeQ0

part 3 >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpmRZaAlZMc

part 4 >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bey4Uh1wGeE

part 5 >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Amr_BZI_ZM8

part 6 >
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCv8eZK9_CM

An Eventful Visit

The Potluck/New Years party was a huge success. Both the mats and our bellies were full. Sensei Crank surprised us all with his musical talents, as well as his excellent health and mobility at 74 years young. The stories of his life won't easily be forgotten by many of our students. We look forward to seeing him around the dojo in the days and years to come.


Happy New Year!


Sensei Mits Yamashita and his first aikido instructor Sensei Virgil Crank


Sensei Crank filled the room with part of his beautiful and varied repertoire

listening to Sensei Crank play

Sensei Mits couldn't help but dance

Gary seemed to be watching guitar technique

Sensei Crank teaches guitar professionally and is fantastic

If you'd like to take music lesson's from Sensei Crank please contact him at (714) 404-0224