Grass Valley's Family Martial Arts School -- Focus, Fitness & Fun
More congratulations are in order! Hombu Dojo (Aikido World Headquarters) notified the California Aikido Association that a few instructors were awarded Shihan (Master Instructor) status:
Michael Friedl Sensei, Cyndy Hayashi Sensei, Jack Wada Sensei, and Frank McGouirk Sensei.
Congratulations!
Hi Everyone,
We have a favor to ask: Our local paper, the Union, is having its annual “Best of Nevada County” survey. Please vote for Aikido’Ka in the Best Physical Sports/Activities – Martial Arts School category. Here’s the link to the Best of Nevada County survey.
While you’re at it, please vote for Rachelle Bloksberg at Sierra EEG in the Best Healthcare Professional/Services/Goods – Holistic Practitioner category.
Thank you for your support!
Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
This is an excellent description of how we approach our community at the dojo. We practice lots of martial techniques, but we only remember so much from each practice. We say a lot of things in our practice sessions, and our get-togethers at other times, but only so many of those words stick.
But here’s the thing I hear over and over from people who have visited Aikido’Ka: The dojo feels friendly, loving and kind. People who have never attended before feel welcome and safe. They have fun.
The way we train in aikido is as a real and effective martial way. I want my students to survive any serious attack. In fact, I consider that a sacred duty to instill those skills in them.
But the simple truth is, more than anything, I want you to feel that you can be yourself at the dojo. I want you to feel the dojo as a place of support for you, your family and our community.
That’s what the dojo’s about. That’s what we’re working on. If that feels good to you, then please stop by.
On Saturday, October 20, from 11 am – 6 pm (rain or shine), Aikido’Ka members will be at the corner of Broad & Union Streets for We Can Drive Through 2012. This will be the 5th Annual Aikido’Ka food drive for the Food Bank of Nevada County.
Drive Through is an amazingly easy and effective way for you to support the Food Bank and our community. Clean out your pantry and drop off your extra non-perishable food items at the corner of Broad and Union Streets in Nevada City. Just pull in on either side of the street, drop off your cash and/or food donation and drive away. We will be there rain or shine. It’s that easy!
I spoke with folks at the Food Bank on October 11. They emphasized how important this food drive is to them. In essence, by this time of year, the Food Bank is broke. They need to begin purchasing food for the big holiday season, but they really don’t have any money. They also have practically no food. Drive Through is their first significant boost going into the season. They said that Drive Through is critical to their success.
In early October 2007, we learned that the Food Bank was experiencing a tremendous increase in demand and had been running out of food. In fact, the Food Bank inventory was down to one case of cans. When the Food Bank runs out of food, children go hungry.
In emergency response, Aikido’Ka held We Can Drive Through. On October 27, 2007, at the bottom of Broad Street in Nevada City the community raised approximately $2,500 in cash and over 1,600 pounds of non-perishable food.
With We Can Drive Through, Aikido’Ka has raised approximately $11,000 and 5,750 pounds of food for the Food Bank!
The Food Bank does necessary work in our community and needs our support. The Food Bank provides food to senior citizens, single parents, working poor, families and homeless in our county. They are serving more families than ever before, on a budget made up of 80% donations.
Here is a partial list of the food items that the Food Bank needs (of course, this is not a complete list):
100% Fruit Juice
Canned Fruit
Dried Beans (any type)
Canned Tomato Products
Enriched Rice
Powdered Milk
Canned Fish and Meat
Enriched Pasta
Peanut Butter (plastic containers only)
Additional Child-friendly items:
100% Fruit Rolls
Raisins
Graham Crackers
Unsweetened Applesauce
Cheese and Crackers
Fruit Cups
Raisins
Pretzels
Trail Mix, Granola, Nuts
String Cheese
Dried Fruit
Please help us make this the most successful We Can Drive Through that we’ve had!
For pictures from previous Aikido’Ka food drives, click on the link:
Aikido’Ka food drives for the Food Bank of Nevada County.
If you have any questions, want to make donations or would like to volunteer, please contact Frank Bloksberg at (530) 273-2727.
If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Frank Sensei
I’ve never been in the military. I simply would not have been a good “fit.” None of my close family have been in the military. The closest is a cousin who was in the Navy reserve for a short time. Oh, and there’s the brother-in-law who somehow got himself thrown out during basic.
But I’ve had many, many friends and acquaintances who have served. And I can tell that I’ve missed something terribly important.
And then, of course, there are all those folks who chose – or were forced – to serve and gave the ultimate sacrifice. They fell so that we can run and play. They gave all so that we can watch TV and cruise the internet. They died so that we can be all that we can be, or not.
So as I go about my usual reading (I don’t watch TV), I see lots of stories about Memorial Day Weekend being the start of “grilling season” and “beach season” and the beginning of summer. There are a bunch of stories about the Indy 500.
I have no problem with any of these things. I think they’re all great, if you’re into them. In fact, hanging out with friends and grilling and going to the beach and going to a car race sound pretty fantastic.
But Memorial Day is about none of these things. Thanks to those we honor on Memorial Day, we have all of these things. We need to keep this clear.
Memorial Day a Federal holiday honoring members of the United States Armed Forces who have died serving their country. Let me correct that: These people died serving our country.
So during this lovely long weekend of fun and games, let’s take some time and reflect on those heroes who made it possible. And be very, very thankful to them.