FAU Branch, U.S.A. / June 2009 - Contributors: Dr. C.L. Tondo, Branch Master & Drew Nathanson, Secretariat

Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Branch, May 2009

As the FAU Branch celebrates its first year anniversary (May 24th), we are happy to announce that we have 17 students. The dedication of our instructors (Branch Master Tondo, Coach Eduardo Widholzer, Assistant Coaches Richard Moore and Drew Nathanson) has shown in the progress of our students. Each student has in return displayed a willingness to learn Shorinji Kempo and to be an active member in our branch. We have also increased our training to 3 days a week at FAU and an optional training session on Saturdays.

We currently have several students getting ready for tests in the coming months. Several kenshi will be taking the sankyu test, two kenshi for the nikyu test, and one of our assistant coaches will take the nidan test. Each of them has put in many hours of practice and shown the discipline needed to accomplish their goals.

When our branch found out about the training seminar given by Makino-Sensei in September 2009 in New York, three quarters of our students have shown an interest in attending this once in a life time event.

In April, half of our Shorinji Kempo kenshi (including the instructors) decided that in order to have a better understanding of Shorinji Kempo we needed to have some knowledge of Japanese. We hired a Japanese professor - Sumiko Uo from Florida Atlantic University - who was willing to teach us Japanese (Hiragana, Katakana, and conversation) so that we could better understand Shorinji Kempo and communication with our fellow kenshi and respected instructors. We have just completed the first of six parts and this experience has been an incredible education which will serve us well in the future. Please see below a few photos took during one of the Japanese classes.

As our branch begins its second year, we look forward to more students finding their way to our Shorinji Kempo Branch and to continue our own studies.

 

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