In Memorium
Last month the aikido community sadly lost two of its dedicated and long time members, Norihiki Ichihashi sensei (8th dan shihan at Aikikai Honbu, Tokyo, Japan), and Peter Ting sensei (6th dan and founder of Ting Ki Aikido, Arizona, USA). The contributions made by each of these important instructors to the furtherance of the art will be remembered and appreciated by us all for years to come.

My office recently took a call from our local Developmental Disabilities Center (DDC) concerning aikido classes for one of its youth clients. The young man is a teenager and has a difficult home situation. He is in need of friends and positive role models, and he is also in need of opportunities through which to achieve and know success. As I learned of the inquiry, I felt concern for the boy and his circumstances. I also felt gratified that the caseworker had sought us out, aware that our dojo could potentially come to his aid.

While not as mainstream as the "Y" and municipal recreation centers, the martial arts dojo is now fairly well established in many countries and cultures. Like acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage therapy - practices that, in the West, were once considered exotic and "alternative" - martial arts in general have matured and gained acceptance in any number of communities. I noticed recently that Newsweek ran an article in which parents praised the benefits of after-school karate classes for their kids, some with special needs. When I saw the story, my comment was "It's about time!"

About time for the general public to catch up with us. Those of us who study an art know first-hand the many benefits we enjoy from our practice. We have seen transformations take place before our eyes, as fellow students of all ages discover physical and social skills, gain confidence, and improve their health.

However, sometimes in the dedicated pursuit of our individual Path and in our efforts to meet our own needs for achievement and growth, we become so engrossed in our training that we lose sight of a larger picture - that of the dojo as a community resource. With many dojo now firmly established and financially stable, with a solid membership and a range of classes, it becomes a matter of letting the community know we are here. This may be as simple as making sure our signage is attractive and visible, or of regularly posting class schedules in the local newspaper; of pinning up flyers and holding open houses, or of volunteering at community events and services.

The story of one dojo's successful community partnership appears in our Features section this month. It would be our pleasure to showcase your dojo's as well, in order that we all may learn -- from summer camps for kids to intervention programs. In these days where poor choices often become unbelievable tragedies, we in the dojo just might be able to make a difference.