Aikido Shugyo Dojo Newsletter   Copyright © 1997
June 1997-July 1997
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Worth... 300 words
by Oleg Gorfinkel

While we've been getting consistently excellent articles, we are often short on photos, drawings and other graphic material.Trouble is, while the reader's brain wants an interesting story, his or her eye demands something that is interesting visually. Not only that, but the eye tends to actually ignore, skip over large grey areas of text, because it finds them boring. Even the greatest article can easily go unread just because it is not accompanied by an equally interesting photo or graphic.

So, while you toil on your masterpiece, don't forget the old cliche: "A picture is worth a thousand words." Except it is not a thousand, but actually three hundred. For the combination of page and type sizes we are using in this newsletter, we need at least three graphics per page in order to keep it interesting. And that means one picture for each three hundred words. What if your article is shorter than that? You still need a picture! The easiest pictures to get are those of yourself. A small portrait of the author accompanying an article is always interesting to the reader. Apart from that, it's good to find graphic material related to the subject you are writing about. It will often take you several days to give birth to a good piece of writing. That's plenty of time to go through your photo album, draw a picture or, as you read a newspaper, a book, a magazine, keep your eyes peeled for something that fits right in with your article-such "found gems" are often the best!

In any case, it will always take you less time to find a picture than to write your article, and it is always worth the effort. We, the editors, are counting on you to support your writing in this very important way.

The Circle of Understanding by Branislav Vasilijevic

Notes from a newcomer by Cathy Martin

From Sensei by Sensei Fran Turner

Tenchi Nage a poem by Fran Turner

Sankyo sandwich, toasted tenchinage, or how would you like a front roll? by Kato Perdue

Everyone's passed... by Peter Chin

Aikido and parenting by Rachel Massey

6th kyu & beyond by Richard Stewart

Instructors' Classes
Tuesday, June 17, 19:30-20:30 at the Bloor Valley Club

These classes will be held one Tuesday evening a month from 19:30 until 20:30 at the BVC. They are designed for those students who are interested in helping out with teaching, who are third kyu or above, who have Sensei's permission and who have certification in CPR and Basic First Aid.

Seminar with Donovan Waite Sensei
June 21 & 22 at the Metro Central YMCA

Donovan Waite Sensei, 5th dan, of New York Aikikai will teach a seminar hosted by Aikido Shugyo Dojo at the Metro Central YMCA on the weekend of June 21 & 22. Jennifer Doyle is organizing the talent night scheduled for the party on Saturday evening. Contact her at (416) 698-2721.

Seminar with Mary Heiny
July 26 & 27 in Kingston

Mary Heiny, 6th dan, will be teaching a weekend seminar hosted by Aikido Kingston.

East Coast Summer Camp
August 2 - 9 at Colgate University

Y. Yamada, 8th dan of New York Aikikai and M. Kanai, 8th dan of New England Aikikai along with guest instructors, Hayato Osawa, 6th dan, and Mariko Takamizo, 5th dan, from Hombu Dojo will be teaching at the summer camp at Colgate University located in Hamilton, New York.

This newsletter is published every two months and is available at the dojo for all Aikido Shugyo members and visitors. If you would like to have Aikido News delivered to your home every two months for one whole year, send your name, full mailing address and a cheque or money order for $10 ($10 U.S. for U.S. residents) payable to Aikido Shugyo Dojo to:

    56 Langley Avenue,
    Toronto, Ontario M4K 1B5
    CANADA

You’ll receive your Aikido News in the mail.

"Teachers are those who use themselves as bridges, over which they invite their students to cross; then, having facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouraging them to create bridges of their own."

—Nikos Kazantzakis (from Chicken Soup for the Soul)