AWA DEC - 2017 | ISSUE 16 AWA | PAGE 01 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Jeremy M.L. Hix, Nidan Dojo Cho-Greater Lansing Aikido; Lansing, MI USA Reflecting on this year, I am inspired by those closest to me. Their perseverance, mental, physical, and emotional fortitude, go well beyond anything short of super human. There are some battles that cannot be won. As in Aikido, there is no winner or loser, only Masakatsu Agatsu "true victory is victory over oneself." Such is the life of people with chronic pain and fatigue. Conditions such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Chronic Fatigue, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Migraines (to name a few from a long list) are "Invisible" in the sense that they may not present outward physical manifestations of the associated symptoms. Furthermore, the individual living with the condition may also feel invisible in the sense of "self" as they are dismissed as faking their ailments. Often, this causes feelings of isolation, depression, anxiety, and withdrawal. I'm fortunate to have two people in my life that are very close to my heart, both battling with invisible health conditions. They are relentless in their perseverance, in their ability to overcome. They practice Aikido on crutches, in wheelchairs, and are eager to learn. They travel to Japan and explore the world. They never give up. They never acquiesce. Through understanding, compassion, empathy, and love, we can help make visible the beautiful person beneath the vale of these chronic conditions. I would like to dedicate this editorial to my better halves: Kristy, and her sister, Kayla. Thank you both for your perseverance in the face of adversity, and for giving me the privilege of being your friend along the way. Steep as the climb may seem, I will always have your hand. This Newsletter features: Dan promotion and new Dojo Special thanks to AWA Member listings, a letter from Sato Sensei, and, of course, articles Photographers and Article Authors and essays submitted by members of the AWA for providing materials to community. We continue to make a strong effort to supplement this edition of the highlight Women practitioners in Aikido, and we have also Newsletter. reached out to our European family in Greece. We encourage you to take in the material throughout the Thank you for your continued Newsletter, and reflect on what our friends have support. contributed. -Jeremy- DEC - 2017 | ISSUE 16 AWA | Page 02 NEWSLETTER STAFF TABLE OF CONTENTS Jeremy M.L. Hix, Lead Editor & Designer Message from Sensei. A.M. Sato--04 Greater Lansing Aikido; Lansing, MI USA On the Road. L. DeGraff--06 Kris Sumner, Editor General Announcements--08 Kiku Matsu Dojo; Chicago, IL USA Fall Camp, GA. Y. Yokota--09 Laura DeGraff, AWA Director of Operations New Dojo and Dan Promotions--10 Kiku Matsu Dojo; Chicago, IL USA Art of Peace. V. Katifori--12 Fred Mautz, AWA Photography Finding the Lost Self. J. Keawjai--15 Lakewood, CO USA Researcher's Perspective. D. Nguyễn--17 Lori Hargis-Johnson, AWA Photography A Greek Aikido Life. S. Giastikli--23 Kyushinkan Dojo; Atlanta, GA USA Photos--25 Pantelis Sakellariadis, AWA Photography Martial Arts Foundation; Athens, Greece To make newsletter suggestions and submit articles for consideration, contact either of us: Jeremy Hix: [email protected] Kris Sumner: [email protected] DEC - 2017 | ISSUE 16 AWA | Page 03 MESSAGE FROM SENSEI Andrew M. Sato, Nanadan Shihan Chief Instructor-AWA Kiku Matsu Dojo; Chicago, IL USA November 21, 2017 End of another year. Dear AWA members & friends, Again we are closing out another calendar year of life, our own journey where time waits for none of us, nor cares, for better or worse. We must decide, act, and accept the consequences of our actions in this journey. At times we make pretty good decisions & at other times hindsight was 20/20. It is unique this life we have in the universe, always nudging us to pay attention and then act (hopefully with maturity) on those indicators of which way to go on the path. Often times than not we ignore some of them even though they are really very clear to us to take the right step. Why is that? As humans we have choices & having that ability to choose often makes our choice that much harder to decide, even if we think it is so clear. Taking time to rethink before pulling the trigger, listening to our heart, getting a second opinion all can help. Yet in our Aikido training we are supposed to act without thinking, be one with the uke, don’t be cerebral or analyze everything. So which is it?!! For us it should be both blending back and forth between the cerebral and intuitive minds. Sounds about right, but again, why so hard sometimes? Now a day’s technology provides daily minute by minute bombardment of information and choices. Don’t know? Google it! While life should be simple, it has gotten complex, making it harder for us to look honestly and simply at life decisions. DEC - 2017 | ISSUE 16 AWA | Page 04 MESSAGE FROM SENSEI (continued) The last few months I’ve been off the mats for a health reason. Having slowed down considerably, movements that were automatic with no forethought have become tedious, methodical and time consuming. While I know this will be temporary, it has revealed to me how much we take for granted, assume, and go about with little empathy of the universe and those around us. There is that automatic & intuitive thing again. Everyone is concerned for me and it is deeply appreciated, yet it reveals to me just as in our training we can only sense what someone might be going through unless we walk the same path. My path is my path; anyone is welcome to follow it as I have for so many years now, but at some point what I understand and know can only be mine. Even though we train together at times with many others, it is still a solitary path we each experience and understand alone. As we end the year and enter the New Year please remember the many times someone openly cared for you, supported you, or helped you. Now, double those many times you were cared for freely, but unaware of that gift of kindness. If we all felt more an orientation to service of others than personal gain think how smoothly the world might work. All of us not so quick to take offense and maybe just be happy we get along; we’d feel maybe less alone, but ok that others care even if only strangers being strangers. We all have a story important as the next person’s, but no more, no less. 2018 is a good opportunity for us to be fresh in outlook without judgement, but happy to help others. If we can make someone happy we will benefit in ways far beyond our expectations in the journey ahead. Everyone have a safe holiday season, wishing you all abundant happiness & success in the coming New Year. May we all be kinder and helpful to others in the days ahead. Andrew M. Sato Chief Instructor ~ AWA DEC - 2017 | ISSUE 16 AWA | Page 05 ON THE ROAD Laura DeGraff, Godan Director of Operations-AWA Dojo Cho-Kiku Matsu Dojo; Chicago, IL USA Greetings! And Happy Holidays! I hope that you are all enjoying the peaceful end of the year and looking forward to a bright new 2018. This year has been a trying year on so many levels. Natural disasters, destruction, man-made acts of terror and hatred – all of these have affected so many people whether directly or indirectly. I am hard-pressed to think of a single person in my circle who has not experienced some sort of challenge this year. Some of us face those challenges gracefully, accepting that life is not always rosie, while others may appear to buck and grimace at every obstacle. Regardless of how we respond to adversity, as practitioners of Aikido we are striving to learn to face life head on, unwavering in our commitment to continue to grow and strive to be better people. This was a difficult year for me as I faced the loss of my oldest brother. I witnessed the passing of a man of great spiritual integrity, a man who lived what he preached and believed devoutly in his heavenly Father. While I may have different religious beliefs, it did not escape my notice that his graceful acceptance of his terminal condition was possible because of his firm commitments to what he believed to be the truth of his spiritual existence. Commitment. Being committed to what you believe and being committed to practice and the hopes in what that practice will provide to you. For me, that is my approach to my personal Aikido practice. I am in no way suggesting that Aikido is a religion, not in the practical sense. But for me, it is a spiritual pursuit as well as a physical discipline. Baby DeGraff Sensei held by big Brother, Norman. Norman and DeGraff Sensei. DeGraff Family c.1965. 11June2017 DEC - 2017 | ISSUE 16 AWA | Page 06 ON THE ROAD (continued) This year I had many opportunities to reconnect with several members of my family and very often they would ask me about my practice. After almost 20 years of training, I am finally able to explain to people what Aikido is for me. It’s about commitment, it’s about connection and it’s about believing that we all are struggling to find things in life that work for us.