As We Re-open.....

 As the year progresses and more and more of us get vaccinated, we are moving towards a re-opening for dojos in general and Aikido of San Jose in particular. Both Elle and I recently got our second vaccination and made it through our 2 week wait period. This is a relief, as others I have talked to also find. But the Japanese term is zanshin. It never ends with the throw. The ki must continue and readiness is ever maintained. I know we are all sick of  all the restrictions, the social distancing, the politicizing of the pandemic. We could go on and on. And we will.

But we are faced with how this can be done responsibly and safely. Currently classes are online and outdoors. This will continue. Outdoors we can begin to allow vaccinated participants to increase the level of contact. Even after we re-open inside contact must be monitored to allow just people who have been vaccinated. I know this is a dojo decision, but my feeling is that only people who have been vaccinated and gone through the 2 week period should be allowed anything close to normal dojo distancing and contact.

As an economic entity we have survived. Those of you who have continued your online payments or have continued to mail checks, Thank You!!!! To those who read this and feel like renewing your subscriptions, Yes!!!! In the event you are new and wanting to do Aikido, we are working on ways to include you!!

The reality, however, is that the level of income is insufficient to go back to our old location paying what we did pre-pandemic.  Long term we have a location that would be a permanent facility, but that location has issues to work out with the city of San Jose before it can be dojo fitted and available. So in the short term what can we do?

We can continue the outdoor classes, even expand them, because with daylight savings and seasonally this is outdoor weather. And include more movement and regular contact in the outdoor training as dojo members become fully vaccinated. And we might want to open on an interim basis for indoor classes at a Recreation Center.  For many years Aikido was very successful at the Los Gatos Rec center. A beginning class was offered through the Parks and Rec which was a feeder for an ongoing dojo which met after the class and was open to the general public. So if any of you would know of a Rec Dept near you and would inquire if they would be interested in an Aikido program, please let me know.

It has been suggested that an open available store front could be available temporarily (until the permanent place is ready). We would watch the building and this could be temporary but rent free. I talked with Nadeau sensei about possibly renting his Mt View space on Sundays. It's a 20 minute weekend drive from San Jose. His pre-pandemic schedule left Sundays open. It's being considered. If you have any suggestions, please let me know (jack@aikidosj.com).

And a vision for the future must include making a connection with those who will build tomorrow, ie, the younger people. Trying to re-build our childrens and teen classes. But also reaching out to those who need to find and hone their purpose as well as themselves. Issues such as climate change, equity, racial and gender equality, uniting bipartisan divides in political, social, and economic divides. These are all things Ueshiba Osensei in HIS vision of Aikido and World Peace left for us as projects. So it will be a great journey, and a transformational one for us all........Onegai shimasu!!!