5 Years and trying
Last week’s 5 year anniversary was a great success. I want to start thanking Sensei Sakamoto for attending. We were honored to have him as our area Shihan there teaching and through the day. Great thanks to Sensei Roy Goldberg as well. I had never personally experienced Daito Ryu before and it was a fascinating to learn more of the art we are descended from in Aikido. Many thanks to Jim Sorrentino, Yvonne Thelwell, David Norton and Mike Martin for their instruction and friendship. Everyone really appreciated and learned a lot.
I want to thank as well all the dojos who had students over: Aikido of Northern Virginia, Capitol Aikikai, Northern Virginia Ki Society, Aikido of Arlington, Staunton Aikikai, Potomac Aikikai, Capitol Hill Aikikai and the Daito Ryu DC, MD, VA Area Study Group. Big thanks go to Tammy, Tony Breda, Victor, Peter, Edward and other HEA members for all the hard work making the anniversary a success. Wonderful to have old friend and dojo member Jason Koonce here again so we could train and hand off his Shodan at last. Only took a few years…
The event was a success because have enough to buy a few new mats and to support our charity obligations. That’s pretty damned good. We are continuing to support Samuel Santiago of Aikido Chiheisen’s efforts to assist those in his area recovering from the storms that destroyed Puerto Rico last year. We had intended to send them a $1000 from our dojo charity funds, but when Keith Rosello suffered his injuries we held half the funds to assist him in his time of need. Unfortunately Keith passed after a long struggle recently and so we make this donation.
Keith was an amazing man. A true Aikidoka. This was put into perspective recently when a former New York Aikikai deshi Gabriel Phillips wrote me about Keith, “He was one of the first members in New York to actually show me some kindness and give me some direction. He had a great Aiki spirit and was a true warrior in that regard. It was an honor to have known him. I will not forget him.” That spirit is what Aikido is all about.
Aikido is a way to make a better world. Keith was one of those making this better world. In Keith and Sayoko’s memory we send these funds. May we continue forward doing our small part as Keith did to assist others, deepen our own paths and step by step, little by little live O’Sensei’s dream. And make a better world.
Sincerely,
Brian Ericksen
Heaven and Earth Aikido
Herndon, Virginia
