Monday, January 26, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A tradition of renewal, rededication and spirit.......
Our club was finally able to celebrate Kagami Baraki. We had a nice turnout and a great time! The evening started with practice and ended with the traditional mochi(rice cake)soup and desserts. Many of us have never tried mochi before and enjoyed learning and sampling! Enjoy some of the pictures taken from our special evening. Many thanks to all who came and helped us celebrate. As well as those who explained traditions, terminology and customs to the many who have never participated before!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A Letter From Brisbin Sensei
Happy New Year!
We welcome all to join us on January 5th, 2009 to help us celebrate Kagami Biraki. For those that are unfamiliar with this tradition, it is like many cultures that start the New Year with a chance to clean out the old and bring everyone together to bring in the new. We will have a gathering of our friends and members to share a brief practice and then gather for some traditional Japanese Bean Soup made by Midori Koyama and O-Mochi to share. (Mochi is rice that is pounded into a glutinous mass and then formed into cakes.) This will be followed by snacks and desserts to celebrate with. Many Dojos around the world have celebrated with similar celebrations that can consist of week long practices, demonstrations and a lot of parties. It is my hope that our small version of this tradition will suffice to bring us all together and unite for a fruitful New Year.
It is also at this time of year that many try to start the New Year off on a good foot by listing resolutions and making promises to do things differently this time. Unfortunately this tradition causes undo stress for many and can make us feel worse about ourselves than when we started if we are unable to complete our goals. As we prepare for a busy tournament season, our own hectic preparations for BVJ tournament, work, school, or whatever occupies most of our time, it is important for us to realize that the current economy and state of world will cause much undo stress for us and we will all handle it in different ways. It is very important to remember what Kano O-Sensei has taught us that Judo fundamentals are "Mutual Welfare and Benefit." For those of you that have applied this to the practice of Judo only...you have missed the message! Judo is the facilitator for you to carry out this standard in all you do. Whether work, school,how you act toward your fellow man...we are all in this together! I learn from you...you may learn from me. You each possess talents and skills that some one may need, but not know how to ask. It is my hope that this year you will all continue to strive to be in tune with your surroundings and that we may all grow by helping each other through possible tough times.
Val Brisbin
We welcome all to join us on January 5th, 2009 to help us celebrate Kagami Biraki. For those that are unfamiliar with this tradition, it is like many cultures that start the New Year with a chance to clean out the old and bring everyone together to bring in the new. We will have a gathering of our friends and members to share a brief practice and then gather for some traditional Japanese Bean Soup made by Midori Koyama and O-Mochi to share. (Mochi is rice that is pounded into a glutinous mass and then formed into cakes.) This will be followed by snacks and desserts to celebrate with. Many Dojos around the world have celebrated with similar celebrations that can consist of week long practices, demonstrations and a lot of parties. It is my hope that our small version of this tradition will suffice to bring us all together and unite for a fruitful New Year.
It is also at this time of year that many try to start the New Year off on a good foot by listing resolutions and making promises to do things differently this time. Unfortunately this tradition causes undo stress for many and can make us feel worse about ourselves than when we started if we are unable to complete our goals. As we prepare for a busy tournament season, our own hectic preparations for BVJ tournament, work, school, or whatever occupies most of our time, it is important for us to realize that the current economy and state of world will cause much undo stress for us and we will all handle it in different ways. It is very important to remember what Kano O-Sensei has taught us that Judo fundamentals are "Mutual Welfare and Benefit." For those of you that have applied this to the practice of Judo only...you have missed the message! Judo is the facilitator for you to carry out this standard in all you do. Whether work, school,how you act toward your fellow man...we are all in this together! I learn from you...you may learn from me. You each possess talents and skills that some one may need, but not know how to ask. It is my hope that this year you will all continue to strive to be in tune with your surroundings and that we may all grow by helping each other through possible tough times.
Val Brisbin
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