Relaxing with Mexico Aikido staff.

Pizza and a great discussion after class!

Weapons practice.

For beginners class, Kancho takes off his hakama.

With childrens class.

With beginners class.

General class.

Advanced class: center: Kancho, left: Fernando Sensei right: Rocio Sensei.

Seminar in Milwaulkee Wisconsin
March 26th-28th, 2004
We all were very excited to have Homma Kancho come back to teach in our dojo in Milwaukee. My father, Charles Deiro and Homma Kancho have been friends for a very long time. Homma Kancho does not teach very often in the United States, he is kept so busy with AHAN projects all over the world. We were honored that he made an exception by coming to Milwaukee. I started practicing Aikido in the Nippon Kan Children’s class in Denver. When I was still pretty young, my parents moved to Milwaukee for business reasons. Today, I have my own career, and help my father teach at our dojo here. Homma Kancho’s seminar was dynamic and powerful as well as instructive as he explored many angles and approaches towards understanding Aikido in new lights. Homma Kancho told us as he began the seminar, “I am here to visit my friend Charles”, and as always, refused any gratuity for instruction or lodging expenses.

Thank you very much Homma Kancho for taking the time to visit and support our small dojo in Milwaulkee.

Written by
Edward Deiro
Milwaulkee, Wisconsin

Ed Deiro practicing in Milwaulkee.

Nippon Kan Storm Team Gives Demonstration at Denver University.
April 3rd, 2004

The Festival of Nations is held every year at the Denver University, sponsored by university foreign-student associations. The Nippon Kan Storm team gave a demo sponsored by the Japan Student Association.

Currently at Nippon Kan, the Children’s class has about seventy members. This special team is made up of young adults from the advanced children’s class who have shown leadership and demonstrated excellence in their practice. The name of the team stands for “Special Team of Role Models”, which describes these students well!

The Nippon Kan Children’s classes are instructed by Tom Dammen, Children’s class instructor, and other adult members who volunteered their time to participate in this Saturday afternoon event.

Many thanks for a job well done!

Written by
So Yoda
Nippon Kan Japan Editor and Translator


New Nippon Kan AHAN Project Begins in Italy.
Support Raised for Center for Youths with Mental Disorders.
Aprl 7th-15th, 2004

At the center with staff and residents.

Samuel Onofri Sensei and his wife Aurora.

Homma Kancho and AHAN President, Emily Busch traveled to Nettuno Italy at the invitation of Kihon Dojo (Samuel Onofri Sensei) this past April 7th-15th. This was the first time an AHAN seminar was held in Italy. The trip focused on laying groundwork for future AHAN seminars scheduled for 2005. All proceeds for the seminar were donated to the Naturalment Centro-Sociale O.N.L.U.S.

Donation receipt from Naturalment Centro-Sociale O.N.L.U.S. (click to enlarge)

This center is a non-profit organization that provides day care, activities, meals and therapy for children and young adults with mental disabilities such as autism and turret syndrome. Many thanks to Samuel Onofri Sensei and his wife Aurora for providing such a wonderful opportunity, it is sincerely appreciated. (Link here to Homma Kancho’s article “A New AHAN Project Begins in Italy; My Style of Appreciation (The Three Italians)”. Rick Thompson, Nippon Kan Instructor accompanied and assisted Homa Kancho on this visit.
All photos taken at the center were photographed with the permission of center staff and residents.


Photo taken in front of ruins of Emperor Nero’s summer home in Anzio.
Uke; Nippon Kan instructor Rick Thompson.