Within the first week of being a California resident, I had contacted all dojo's within a 10 mile radius of our new home, inquiring if they were interested in renting mat space so I could work on building a school. I was fortunate to come across a Japanese Traditional Dojo, studying the Samurai Arts, who were very interested in expanding their classes and program offerings. They were mainly interested in a Children's Instructor. They were very interested in a Japanese Martial Art. It was fate. So as of April 1st, San Diego-Doshin Aikido, aka Encinitas Aikido, was born. We are small but growing. We are promoting, networking, and spreading the word about Doshinkan Aikido and all we have to teach and learn with others here in Encinitas. It's exciting.
So our new weekly routine includes many things that are different from our old routine in Philadelphia: One being that we take at least bi-weekly trips to the beach for pm playtime (considering it's only 4 miles from our house), and another being that I go to "work."
It's still an adjustment not being able to walk in the doors at Doshinkan, see my Aikido Family regularly, see my Philadelphia-area friends easily, or have Sunday dinners with my parents. But we're being patient, enjoying all things new. Relishing in the warm sunshine and salty air, the frequent dinners outside, the beautiful tropical flowers, and hearing all the new kids yell "OSU Sensei!"
The first two San Diego-Doshin AikiKids!
