Selected Articles from Issue 17

June 2002

SPRING LEARN-IN 2002

Hilo Seishikan Aikido is proud and happy to announce that our Spring Learn-in 2002 was a huge success!  There was a turnout of some 89 aikido students to train with Moriyama-sensei.  We also had a really nice turnout at the potluck dinner we hosted to celebrate the seminar with Moriyama-sensei and all the others from outside of Hilo.  

Moriyama-sensei conducted classes on Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday morning.  He taught classes based on bare-handed martial arts and also classes on the use of bokken and jo.  His classes were thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.  We not only learned a lot, but also had a good and fun time doing so.  There were also aikidoists from Kona, Noelani, Kaneohe, and Pearl City.  Everyone enjoyed practicing with each other.  As usual, Moriyama-sensei introduced us to aspects of aikido that we had never before been aware of.

The Potluck Dinner was a huge success also.  Our members were very generous in sharing so much food.  The event was held at the Higashi Hongwanji Mission Hall.  Everyone had a good time socializing and eating.  There was wonderful entertainment too.  Some members of our Youth Class performed and so did some from our other classes.  The “stars of the show” were our own Ruth Walker-sensei and “Bolo-sensei” from Noelani.

We would like to take this means to express to all of you who participated and helped to successfully put on the seminar, our GREAT BIG MAHALO!!

CLUB PICNIC COMING UP!!

Hilo Seishikan Aikido’s annual Summer Picnic for the whole family is fast coming up.  The picnic will be held on Sunday, June 23, 2002.  The site will be the Wailoa State Park.  The picnic will be a family potluck affair, with the club furnishing all paper goods and refreshments.  Steve Adams-sensei and Carrie Yonemori-sensei are in charge this year.  They will be calling on you for help in setting up, cleaning up, and running the activities.  Please help out.  You may volunteer your services by contacting them.  More details will soon be coming out in the form of a flyer.  We shall see you there and have some fun!

WE ARE PROUD!

Hilo Seishikan Aikido recently held its annual spring rank testing and is happy and proud to announce the latest aikido rank promotions.  These promotions are not based solely on performance in the testing, but also take into account individual improvement and progress, total development of each individual student, hours practiced and effort made.  The following are the promotions which will be announced and presented officially at the ranking ceremony on Sunday, June 2, 2002:

• 10C Kyu:       Chanlyn Chartrand, A.J. Costales,  Ashlyn Kaneshiro, Sara Lim, Stacie Lim, Santana Soria.

• 10B Kyu:       Dason Fujimoto, Jaymie Masuda, Kevin Oshiro, Tristan Yoshida.

• 10A Kyu:       Megan Escalona, Taylor Escalona, Alicia Valdez, Crystal Valdez.

• 9C Kyu:         Deena Fujimoto, Reyn Nishioka, Daniel Tavares.

• 9B Kyu         Anson Almeida, Royce Dela Cruz, Catelyn S. Hakoda, Marcus Kiyoto McClintock, Dustin Soriano, Andrew Yoshimoto, James Yoshimoto.

• 8C Kyu:         Francis Blas III, Kerri Nakatsu, Kenji Tulman.

• 8A Kyu:         Kayla Lacaran-Costales, Ryo Tulman.

• 7C Kyu:         Jessica A. Galacgac, Adam Nagakura

• 6C Kyu:         Brev Blas, Kawehioka’iulani Hanohano, Nathan Teets.

• 6A Kyu:         Kolaka Kapihe

• 5A Kyu:         Kevin Kalani Luiz, Alan Nishimura.

• 4B Kyu:         Steven Maesato.

• 3B Kyu:         Kristi Masuhara.

• 2C Kyu:         David Cadaoas, Roy Takemoto.

• 2A Kyu:         Alysha Cabral, Valerie L. Galacgac, Nelson Nakatsu.

• 2 Dan:           Kenneth Quiocho.

We would like to especially mention and congratulate Kenneth Quiocho-sensei, who was promoted to the rank of nidan.  We would also like to congratulate the senseis who worked with the students throughout the year—Adams-sensei, Walker-sensei,  Marshall-sensei, Yamamoto-sensei, C. Yonemori-sensei, Kamau-sensei and Kahana-sensei.  Thank you and congratulations. 

KODOMO NO MATSURI

On Sunday, May 5, Hilo Seishikan Aikido participated in the “Kodomo No Matsuri,” Children’s Festival, by putting on a demonstration of our style of aikido.  The demonstration was very successful and we have received many good comments regarding our demonstrations.  Adams-sensei was in charge of the demonstration and he assigned Walker-sensei to organize the Youth Class portion, with C. Yonemori-sensei and Yamamoto-sensei taking charge of the demonstration by the Open Classes.  Adams-sensei personally organized the black belt segment of our demonstration.  Marshall-sensei, Quiocho-sensei and Colobong-sensei performed a variety of bare-handed self-defense arts.  Kahana-sensei and Kamau-sensei performed some moves using the bokken and jo.

The Kodomo No Matsuri itself was very successful, with a large crowd of people even in a Hilo-style downpour of rain.  There were many demonstrations of arts and crafts, food, etc.  There were also demonstrations of other martial arts put on.  The matsuri was co-sponsored by the Japanese Community Association of Hawaii and the Honpa Hongwanji Hilo Betsuin.  We were invited to perform our demonstration, and we have received a nice letter of thanks and a $50 gratuity for our participation.  

SUMMER IS A GREAT TIME

Summer is here again!  Yippee!  Summer is one of the most popular times of year for most people.  For one thing, the weather is usually at its best, even here in Hilo.  For many of us, summer means vacation time.  Schools are out, and it is a good time for family trips and activities.  No school means no homework, no tests, no studying, etc.  We can all enjoy tv shows even more.  Here in Hawaii, summer means a chance to enjoy the beaches and ocean around us.  Yes, summer does carry a positive feeling for us.

Summer is also a good time and opportunity to train in aikido with Hilo Seishikan Aikido.  Summer brings more free time for  many people.  This gives us more time to spend on training.  With our minds being freer, we can concentrate better too.  So, make up your mind and develop the determination to train hard this summer and learn as much as you can.  Come to practice as much as you can.  Concentrate on what the sensei is teaching you.  Try to do what the sensei is trying to teach you.  You will surely improve and learn a lot of aikido.  You will gain satisfaction and be glad that you did so.

In the same light, we are at the stage of the year where we have just completed our testing and ranking.  We shall be going into the next phase of our Hilo Seishikan Aikido training.  Now is a great time for anyone who is interested in learning aikido to come and join us and start his/her training.  If you know of anyone who is interested in starting aikido training, urge them to join us and start now.  Tell them to contact any of our instructors for information.  Tell them to come down to the Waiakea Recreation Center and watch our practices and talk with the sensei.  Our bulletin board also contains much information.  We also have a website with club information.  Now is the time.  Yes, summer is a great time of year!

VOCABULARY