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Awarded “Outstanding Cultural Organization”50th Anniversary Southern California Japanese Chamber of Commerce – Recipient of the Brody Multi-Cultural Arts Grant 1988 Aikido Center of Los Angeles, LLC, 1211 N. Main Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 – Tel: (323) 225-1424 – www.aikidocenterla.com The Aikido Center of Los Angeles The Aiki Dojo Direct Affiliation: Aikido World Headquarters, 17-18 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan Los Angeles Sword and Swordsmanship Society Kenshinkai The Furuya Foundation January 2013 Volume XXXII Number 1 In This Issue… Letter From the Editor by Mark Ehrlich.…..….…….Page 1 The Dawn of Gratitude by David Ito…..…….……….Page 2 Happy New Year 2013 by Gary Myers……...…..…....Page 3 Letter to the Editor An Open Letter to My Son: Five Virtues by Jinichi Tokeshi, M.D.........Page 4 Moving Forward by Mike Van Ruth….…...…...Page 5 Happy New Year 2013 by Santiago Garcia Almaraz..Page 5 Brief Introduction to the Japanese New Year by Rev. Kensho Furuya.…….Page 7 あけましておめでとうございます! Class Schedule ……...….….Page 8 Dojo Map ..…...……...….....Page 8 Letter From the Editor ing and set the stage for our own development by Mark Ehrlich through commitment to the process. Sensei Editor, The Aiki Dojo speaks to us once more from the archives, this Upcoming Events time giving insight to our Western audience as On behalf of all of us at ACLA and The Fu- to the significance of all the New Year sym- December 31st - January 1st: ruya Foundation, please accept our best wishes bolism that pervades Japanese culture around Dojo closed: New Year to you, our readers, for a very happy, healthy, the globe. And in a rare event, we found an January 5th: and prosperous New Year. Akemashite article recently that touched us and seemed in Second Doshu memorial omedetou gozaimasu! keeping with the spirit of the dojo, even though its author and subject focus on medi- January 19th: This holiday always seems to stir our hopes cine rather than martial arts. That it presents Dojo benefit dance and ambitions, and this month’s contributors as an open letter from father to son seems ap- January 26th: share their appreciation of this impulse while propriate as a tradition learned, nurtured, and Instructor’s intensive urging us to consider other feelings we might shared for the future. We try to do that here, spur on to fuel our development and enjoy- and we think Dr. Tokeshi did it very well. I February 23rd: ment of this life. Our branch dojos send mes- hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as Instructor’s intensive sages that, while different in content, share the we enjoyed putting it together for you. common theme of gratitude. David Ito picks March 9 - 10th: up on that theme and thoughtfully develops it In 2013, much will certainly change; so goes Annual Seminar as a means towards our spiritual evolution. life. May you weather all changes that come Gary Myers encourages us to plan for im- your way for the better. I hope to see you on March 30th: provement so that we open ourselves to learn- the mat. Take care and thrive until then! Instructor’s intensive Aikido Center of Los Angeles www.aikidocenterla.com The Dawn of Gratitude After hearing my justification about my desire to help, Ken asked by David Ito, Aikido Chief Instructor me, “Does he have a job?” As the day dawns on a new year it seems natural to think about the I answered, “Yes, he has a good job.” future, and New Year’s is a natural beginning. For many people, this is the time of the year to think about what they want. The He scratched his chin and asked, “Is he homeless?” Japanese especially pay special attention to all things “first” on New Year’s Day with the rationale that such things bring good I chuckled and answered, “No.” luck. On New Year’s Eve they flock to their temples or shrines just after midnight for hatsumode or the first prayer of the year, which Then Ken casually blurted out something that I will never for- is supposed to be the luckiest. Everything “first” is considered get. He said, “Then he is doing fine.” That really resonated with good luck, such as the first tea ceremony me because it was the truth. This person of the year or hatsugama, and hatsu- has a good job and a place to live, which geiko (the first practice of the year); even is more than most. I forgot one of Sen- seeing the first sunrise of the year, sei’s favorite admonishments: “Training known as hatsuhinode, is considered is a privilege.” If this person chooses fortuitous. not to train, that is his choice; if he needs help, he will ask. All things being equal, The new year is more than just a new Ken is right in that this person is doing beginning and a time to think about what well. Sure, he feels a bit lost and upset we want or our desires for good fortune; with his life, but he can still appreciate it is also a time of reflection to feel grate- all that he has. ful for what we have. This aspect of the new year gets overtaken with the more The same goes for all of us. The state- popular ideas of resolutions or desires for ment that training is a privilege does not good luck. But, beneath all the best in- Giving thanks at midnight on New Year’s Day mean that it is only for the elite or only tentions, good luck charms, and prayers for good boys and girls. It is a privilege for health and wealth lies the heart of gratitude. because it is something which can truly enhance our lives but is not necessary for life. After we are fed, have clothes on our backs, and It is so easy to forget with the parties and festivities that we made it a roof over our heads, everything else becomes a cause to re- to January 1st. In Japan, the winters can be very brutal so surviving joice. So this year I hope when you made your New Year’s resolu- it to January 1st was historically considered a cause to cele- tions or praying for good health and lots of wealth that you remem- brate. Rather than just wish for what we want, we should remem- bered to feel thankful for what you have. The secret to getting what ber to celebrate what we have. we want begins with being appreciating what we already hold in our hands. The other day, I was talking with Ken Watanabe about one of our peers who quit the dojo after falling on hard times. I explained to Thanks to everyone for your kindness over the years; may you en- him about our friend’s situation and how I wanted to help him. joy a 2013 filled with good luck, and get everything you want. AIKIDO CENTER OF LOS ANGELES OFFICIALLY AFFILIATED DOJOS INTERNATIONAL UNITED STATES Spain Arizona Aikido Kodokai Aikido Renbukai of Arizona Salamanca, Spain Surprise, Arizona Chief Instructor: Santiago Garcia Almaraz Chief Instructor: Michael Van Ruth www.kodokai.com www.aikidorenbukai.com Visit us on the Web at www.aikidocenterla.com Page 2 Aikido Center of Los Angeles www.aikidocenterla.com Happy New Year 2013 In Iaido, the “start” is all-important. Iaido is one of those arts that by Gary Myers, Iaido Chief Instructor requires a correct start because there is no way to compensate for a bad start. When I say “start,” that goes beyond the beginning of Happy New Year to all the members of ACLA, the Kenshinkai the technique. It even goes beyond clean-up outside, how we enter section, the Furuya Foundation Board, and all of our friends who the dojo, put on our uniform, warm up, bow in, etc. All of these receive the newsletter! Each year we write a New Year’s greeting things are important in making the transition from our daily life to that focuses on the possibilities and opportunities before us in the the concentration required for Iaido, but it is not the “start” I am new year. We all hope to accomplish great things in the coming referring to. When I say, “start” I am referring to commitment, year. Typically, when the year ends we look back with satisfaction attitude, and what we are willing to sacrifice. Iaido requires a and disappointment over the things we have done and not done. commitment of time, discipline, and dedication: if you cannot This dual feeling is, of course, natural: We often run out of time, budget those aspects in your life, Iaido is probably not for resources, or patience to complete all of our projects, and we also you. These things are important to consider when we start the have to contend with surprises along the way. New Year in Iaido and how we plan for improvement. Everyone should plan of what they want to ac- Most businesses have a planning proc- complish, prior to each day’s prac- ess in the last quarter of the prior year tice. For example, “Today I am going so that they have a blueprint of what to focus on coordinating both hands they want to accomplish in the next in nukitsuke”, or “ I am finally going to year. They develop a plan, and a grip the sword properly”. While show- budget of time and resources to accom- ing up at the dojo is a commitment to plish it. Businesses that don’t do any practice, it is not necessarily a plan or planning are usually more reactive than strategy for learning.