7-1-2003
Aikido Nippon Kan AHAN Brazil Project Report

Nippon Kan Kancho Gaku Homma, AHAN President Emily Busch and two staff members, visited Rio de Janiero, Brazil in early June at the invitation of AHAN Rio de Janiero President Luc Leoni Sensei. The purpose of this visit was to raise funds for the Obra do Berco Orphanage with an Aikido seminar instructed by Homma Kancho.

The Seminar
A very popular tourist destination in Rio de Janiero is Sugar Loaf Mountain, where thousands of tourists per year ride the tram to the top of the mountain to view the spectacular scenery Rio is famous for. Unbeknownst to most, the base of Sugar Loaf Mountain houses a well guarded sports training facility for the Brazilian Army. Adjacent to one of the most pristine beaches in the Rio de Janiero area, this army facility houses two large dojos reserved primarily for the practice of Judo. This year as well, the AHAN Rio sponsored fundraising seminar was held in this picturesque setting.

Sky view of Army sports facility.

The purpose and goal for the seminar was humanitarian in nature, and everyone who participated, from instructors to students shared in the satisfaction of being to help others in their community with this unique event.


Homma Kancho’s theme for this years seminar focused on the concepts of kuzushi (creating momentum by breaking your partner’s balance), tachigatame (standing locks or pins), tai keri (responses to kicking techniques), and bokken and jo relationships to open-hand Aikido movement. All of these topics are standard elements of Nippon Kan’s practice method, created by Gaku Homma Kancho. Everyone practiced hard together and was quick to learn the basic elements of Nippon Kan’s teaching method under the tutelage of Homma Kancho.

Practice.

Sensei and movement practice.

Homma Kancho explains about Tateki no Kurai or Defense against multiple attacks.

Standing lock demonstration; Uke, Rick Thompson.

Children hard at practice.

Bokken, movement and positioning.

Counters against kicking techniques.

The purpose of this AHAN Rio activity was humanitarian in nature with proceeds marked for the children of Obra do Berco, but a secondary benefit was for each and every Aikidoka who participated. It was an experience to unite participants as Aikidoka beyond affiliation, and to raise the community awareness of Aikido in a positive light. This event was not meant to glorify any one individual or group, but to benefit everyone. By students participating from a number of different dojos all dojos benefited, not just select ones.

At the conclusion of the seminar, Carmen Cordeiro Carlos Pinto, a representative of the Obra do Berco orphanage crib project came to the facility to accept a promissory note for funds raised by the event. With class fees raised by the 100 people in attendance, a $1,000.00 donation from Nippon Kan AHAN headquarters, and $1,000.00 in corporate donations raised by Luc Leoni Sensei, enough funds were raised to supply the orphanage with diapers, formula and other daily products for over one year. A grand success it was!!

Giving the promissory note to the Obra do Berco Orphanage Representative Carmen Cordeiro Carlos Pinto.

Its not graffiti!, the outside wall of the orphanage.

Luc Leoni Sensei with the thank you card hand painted by orphanage children age 4.

Close up view of the thank you card.

Visit with orphanage staff. from left, Carmen Pinto, Founder Anna Maria Aruda, Homma Kancho, Luc Leoni Sensei, AHAN Headquarters President, Emily Busch Sensei.

Homma Kancho’s delegation from AHAN headquarters in Denver, Colorado also brought 30 used children’s keiko-gis and thirty bokken to be distributed among children and students in the Rio de Janiero area. The uniforms especially are earmarked for children in local surrounding villages where new Aikido programs are beginning to grow. In this way a child whose family could not think of buying a uniform could have a clean white uniform for practice. An important component of this exchange is the source of these uniforms which have been collected from students all over the United States as part of Nippon Kan AHAN’s keiko-gi drive program. This year especially, North Texas Aikido among others sent uniforms for this cause. We thank everyone on both ends of this exchange for making it possible.

AHAN Rio de Janeiro Receives Official Designation from the Brazilian Government.
AHAN Rio de Janeiro is the first Aikido based official non-profit organization of its kind in Brazil. AHAN Rio President Luc Leoni Sensei, along with Mario Lucio de Oliveiro Machado P.C. and supporters worked hard to get this official certification passed. Basic operations have been financially supported through fundraising events, and corporate and private donations. One of AHAN Rio’s primary goals as a new official non-profit organization is to support the growth of Aikido dojos in low income areas in and around Rio. The hope is that these dojos will become a community resource for education, physical and mental and social training for the children in these areas.

AHAN staff lawyer Mario Lucio de Oliveiro Machado.

Ahan staff.

Rio Non Profit Certification from Brazilian Government.

AHAN Rio de Janiero Submits Plans for a New Dojo Retreat Facility in Buzios, Brazil.

With official non-profit status certification in hand, AHAN Rio has submitted plans with local city officials in Buzios for permitting on its new AHAN facility. The land on which the new facility will be built was purchased by Luc Leoni Sensei earlier this year. Buzios is a quaint resort beachside community about a two hour drive from Rio de Janiero.

Ocean view from new facility site in Buzios.

The new 5,675 sq ft. facility plans developed by a team of local and US based architects will house a large 2,000 sq ft. dojo practice space, boarding facility and multi-purpose conference spaces. The grounds will be used for teaching organic farming and vegetable production to visitors and local residents alike. The main focus of this facility will be the practice of Aikido, but the facility will also be open as a corporate and private retreat facility and conference center. Nippon Kan AHAN headquarters is in full support of the building of this facility.

Top floor computer graphic of new facility.

First floor plan of new facility.

Dojo floor plan for new facility.

Discussing future plans over a few fresh oysters.

Go to Homma Sensei’s Message to All Aikidoist in Rio de Janiero, Brazil