June 1st, 2013
Senior advisor Heinz and students from youth class spread new sand at the playground.
Nippon Kan’s 22nd annual Spring Volunteer Service project was held at Weir Gulch Park on June 1st, 2013. The project included planting a large number of trees, painting bridges and playground equipment and adding new sand to the playground areas.
Nippon Kan tradition; group stretch exercises before the work begins.
Planting trees is hard work and a team effort!
To truly understand Aikido, one sometimes needs to step outside the dojo; removing oneself from the confines of the roof and walls and reaching beyond the satisfaction of learning only nikyo, kotegaeshi and weapons techniques. Sometimes we can learn more about Aikido when we take up a shovel instead of a bokken or jo. Always seems to be the case for Nippon Kan students as everyone enjoys these projects year after year!
Everbody did a great job!
Nippon Kan’s Spring Volunteer Projects are coordinated with the Denver Parks Department and for the last 22 years, the Parks Department have called us the “Nippon Kan Army”. We lived up to our name again this year and finished all of the work they had assigned for us and more in record time!
Reported by
Bryon Hays Sensei
Spring Volunteer Project Leader
AHAN Nippon Kan Certified Instructor