Los Angeles Branch, U.S.A. / August 2009 - Contributor: Matthew Diaz

On August 16, (Sunday), 2009, the Los Angeles dojo and representatives from four different branches in California performed in the annual Nisei Week celebration in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. The participants included the branch masters from the Peninsula Branch, Karahashi-sensei, Uekuma-sensei from the South Bay Branch, Mr. Meyer Pesenson, Meyer-sensei from the Caltech Branch, and Miho Yamamori-sensei with Mizuno-sensei assisting in the capacity of supervisor from the Los Angeles branch.

Nisei Week is an event that means sharing Japanese culture with the diverse population of Los Angeles. Martial Arts are not the focus of Nisei Week, but the Los Angeles dojo has been invited for years to perform. The Los Angeles dojo happily shared the stage with our fellow kenshi from other dojos.

The Los Angeles kenshi participated in kihon practice as well as pairing off several kenshi for embu performances that were the highlights of the demonstration. Toru Yamamoto-kenshi and Motoki Sugiura-kenshi performed a particularly skillful embu performance. Mizuno-sensei also joined two students from the youth class, Shota and Rika-kenshi for a rich and well-developed three person embu. The performance mixed kenshi from all the dojos represented and gave everyone the opportunity to learn and grow in depth of experience.

During the demonstration, there was also time for sharing some of the teachings Seiku, Seigan, and Shinjo so the attendees would understand that Shorinji Kempo is offers martial skill as well as offering philosophical precepts. Miho Yamamori-sensei closed the demonstration and invited all the spectators to return for next year's Nisei Week Celebration.

Everyone in attendance truly offered their best performance. Everyone is already looking forward to next year's Nisei Week and is already planning their next performance, trying to raise the skill level.

 

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