Happy New Year & Welcome Back to the Dojo!

Hibi Kore Dojo

"Everyday is practice"

Let us make a New Year's Resolution to practice Aikido devotedly holding dearly to O'Sensei's and Doshu's teachings.

Let us refine and develop ourselves while helping each other.

Let us cultivate our "caring hearts."

When you look at the tokonoma at practice today - you will see that it is decorated in the traditional Japanese style for the New Year. The sun represents the dawn or awakening of a new year.

The O Kasane-mochi or pounded rice cakes represents the blessings of the earth, the mikan or tangerine represents the sky and the konbu seaweed represents the sea. Nanten, which is also the logo and symbol of our dojo, means "southern heaven" and is also called Japanese bamboo - it is actually a herb used from ancient times to cure ailments of the throat. Also, nanten is a plant which, according to legend, can turn any evil into goodness, and correct any mistake or fault.

All of this represents the blessing and hope for a good year in the New Year.

In the inner tokonoma, we see two large bold characters of fuku-ju - or prosperity and long life.

Please enjoy the beautiful tokonoma on your first day of practice for 2006.

Monthly dues for January are due now. if you can't make it to the dojo soon, please mail it in to: Aikido Center of Los Angeles, 940 E. 2nd Street #7, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Thank you for your support.