Awarded “Outstanding Cultural Organization” 50th Anniversary Southern California Japanese Chamber of Commerce. Recipient of the Brody Multi-Cultural Arts Grant 1988 The Aikido Center of Los Angeles, 940 2nd St. #7, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Tel: (213) 687-3673. Website: www.aikidocenterla.com. The Aikido Center of Los Angeles LLC 道の為、世の為、人の為 合気道 The Aiki Dojo Direct Affiliation: The Aikido World Headquarters, 17-18 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan International Aikido Kodokai, Rev. Kensho Furuya Foundation Los Angeles Sword & Swordsmanship Society Kenshinkai $5.25 Nanka Yamanashi Kenjin Kai Southern California Yamanashi Prefectural Association Donation Los Angeles Police Department Martial Artist Advisory Panel May 1, 2006 Volume XXV. Number 5. Although rain was predicted for the week- end, it turned out to be a beautiful two days, O’Sensei Memorial Seminar. April 22-23 slightly overcast, but cool and breezy - per- fect weather for our Seminar. This was our 38th Annual Memorial Service and Seminar for O’Sensei who passed away on April 26, 1969. For the last several years, we have also included Mitsunari Kanai Sensei, Furuya Sensei’s teacher from 1968 when he was attending Harvard, who passed away on March 28. This year we had two very special guest instructors, Yasumasa Itoh Sensei, 6th Dan, of the Tekko Juku Dojo in Boston, MA, and Kei Izawa Sensei, 5th Dan, of the Tanshin Juku Dojo in Boulder, Colorado. In addition, Santiago Almaraz, of the the Aikido Kodokai, Salamanca, Spain, also vis- ited one week prior to the Seminar for spe- cial training. Steven Shaw also participated Yasumasa Itoh Sensei, 6th Dan, during Memorial Seminar.. Below: Izawa Sensei from Colorado. as Chief Instructor of his new dojo, the Littleton Aikikai in Littleton, Co., and Dr. Roberto Magallanes and Dr. Alvaro Summer Seminar Hernandez Meza and one student also came to participate from Vera Cruz, Mexico. Two July 15-16: students of Itoh Sensei from the East Coast With Very Special Guest: also joined our Seminar. Hideo Yonemochi Sensei, About 40 students in all participated. The 8th Dan, Aikikai Hombu Seminar included eight classes each day for Dojo, Tokyo, Japan a total of 16 classes and proved to be a We are greatly honored to once again have marathon practiced in which many students Hideo Yonemochi Sensei, 8th Dan & attended each and every class. Both Itoh Managing Director of the Aikikai Hombu Sensei and Izawa Sensei as well as all of the Dojo visit us for our Summer Seminar. students commented on the strong, positive Yonemochi was our Special Guest of Honor energy throughout the Seminar and how for our 30th Anniversary Celebration in smoothly and friendly everyone practiced 2004. together. Despite this and in mourning, James Doi We are also planning to have Yasumasa Itoh still attended Sunday’s practice, not to miss Jim MacDonald was unfortunately out of Sensei, 6th Dan, of the Tekko Juku Dojo in our Annual Memorial Service for O’Sensei town on a movie shoot in Spokane and on Boston, Kei Izawa Sensei, 5th Dan, of the and Kanai Sensei. This year, we included April 19, just days before the Seminar, Tanshin Juku Dojo in Colorado, once again James’ father in our Memorial Service. James Doi’s father, Tsuneo Doi, passed visit us after our very successful Memorial Kojima Sensei of the Zenshuji Soto Mission away after a long illness at 89 years old. Service and Seminar this last weekend. gave a particularly excellent sermon and as Aikido Center of Los Angeles www.aikidocenterla.com a little updated change of pace, Jake LaBotz sang one of his original blues song with his guitar just after the reading of the sutras and before Kojima Sensei’s sermon. For myself, I thought it was a beautiful Memorial Service. After another eight classes on Sunday, Steven Shaw returned to Colorado midday and Izawa Sensei left in the late afternoon. Itoh Sensei spent more time with his family and students in San Marino and Santiago returned on Tuesday morning after one more extra day of training here. I would like to express my sincere thanks to Memorial Service was conducted by Rev. Shumyo Kojima, Zenshuji Soto Mission. Itoh Sensei and Izawa Sensei for a particu- larly wonderful Seminar, without whom, I think none of the students could make the gruelling 16 hour marathon of Aikido prac- tice. I would also like to thank all of our guests from afar and particularly all my stu- dents who worked so hard to guarantee a very successful and memorable event. I also pray that O’Sensei, Kanai Sensei and James’ father find some peaceful rest from our devoted efforts all on their behalves. Many thanks to everyone for working together so hard for the Dojo. Yasumasa Itoh Sensei is the Chief Instructor of the Tekko Juku Dojo in Boston, MA. This is Kei Izawa Sensei is the Chief Instructor of his 1st visit to our dojo. Seminar Thoughts: the Tanshinjuku Dojo in Boulder, CO. Bill Allen, 1st Dan Dear Sensei, I would like to add my sincere thanks to you, and to Izawa Sensei and Itoh Sensei for putting on such a great memorial seminar. Every one of the instructors who presented at the seminar did a wonderful job, and I was very impressed by all of the students who managed to keep exerting energy up until the very last back stretch on Sunday night. I had a great time at the seminar, and attend- ed all of the classes on both days. It was a personal goal to make it through all of the sessions, and it is a secondary goal to retain Furuya Sensei teaching fundamentals. all that was taught. The first goal is not so hard, but the second is almost impossible. Santiago has already been helpful in work- David Ito, 4th Dan, represented the dojo ing through some of the techniques that were teaching during a class during the seminar. presented, and I hope the other students will Other instructors were James Doi, 5th Dan, help me to follow his lead and review what Tom Williams, 4th Dan, Santiago Almaraz, we were shown frequently. 3rd Dan, Steven Shaw 2nd Dan, Mark Ty, 3rd Dan, & Gary Myers, Iaido 5th Dan. The differences between your techniques, Izawa Sensei's techniques, and Itoh Sensei's techniques were very enlightening. Each Excellent photos were taken by our Larry instructor was teaching Aikido, but each Armstrong and will be available for pur- instructor was also expressing himself chase soon. Please contact the dojo. Aikido Center of Los Angeles www.aikidocenterla.com Yonemochi Sensei Visit Hideo Yonemochi Shihan, 8th Dan. Our Summer Seminar Will Also Welcome Guest Instructors: Yasumasa Itoh Sensei Itoh Sensei was an enthusiastic teacher with a great deal of energy and smiles. Kei Izawa Sensei Izawa Sensei with Santiago who travelled from Spain to attend the seminar. and Memorial Service. We will be celebrating Yonemochi Sensei’s recent promotion at Aiki Kai Hombu Dojo to Executive Director of the Aikikai Foundation and the 2nd visit of Itoh Sensei James Doi, 5th Dan, taught class on Sunday from Boston and the 3rd visit for Izawa and attended the Memorial Service although Sensei from Colorado. his father passed away days earlier on April 19. James is one of the senior instructors of In addition to our Congratulatory Furuya Sensei. Celebration & Seminar for Yonemochi Sensei, we will also have a premiere Book Signing Party in the dojo for the new publi- cation of LA Lofts with authoress, Barbara Tom Williams, 4th Dan, taking ukemi for Itoh Thorton, Architectural Editor of the Los Sensei, is one of the senior instructors of the dojo Angeles Times. LA Lofts very beautifully and also Chief Instructor of his own branch dojo, features our Dojo. the Hacienda La Puente Aikikai. Tom also taught class. Several of his students also attended the It is a busy and wonderful Summer Seminar event. in the planning!.Many thanks for all of your help! Left: Izawa Sensei, Itoh Sensei & Furuya Sensei Aikido Center of Los Angeles www.aikidocenterla.com Bill Allen Continued: Reflections: and will see you very shortly to exchange a through Aikido. I think I did not understand lot of good stories about Aikido and martial Kei Izawa, 5th Dan, Tanshin Juku what it means to express oneself honestly in arts. Best regards, Kei Izawa martial arts before. I used to think, "Furuya Dojo, Boulder, Co. Sensei does it this way, and Izawa Sensei Congratulations Furuya Sensei for your Seminar Thoughts: does it this way..." and so on. I thought they Birthday! were just differences in technique. What I A Kind of Karma: realized yesterday is that the techniques are I came back to Boulder with great memories for the last weekend Memorial Seminar. The Kensho Furuya all correct, and done much the same way, I am totally overwhelmed by Izawa Sensei's with adherence to correct posture and power fact that many people took on to practice 17 hour classes over two days, was very kind words that I do not even know what to and so on. Each teacher, however, has spent say. so much time refining and practicing Aikido impressive for me. And I think it was very that it is almost like being able to see his per- appropriate for the Memorial for O Sensei and A while back one of my students, Steven, sonality when he performs the techniques. informed me that he would be moving with It is honest because it can't really be imitat- Kanai Sensei. O Sensei valued learning from his new family back to Colorado. I was dev- ed and it can't be faked, and it comes from astated by this news that I would be losing the heart that devoted so many hours, days, "hard training" not from words or big talk.