Shoshin Aikido Dojo Slammed by Hurricane Charlie

At 9:40PM Friday August 13 the eye of hurricane Charley slammed into Shoshin Aikido Dojo in Orlando Florida. Winds gusting over 110 miles an hour knocked down dozens of trees, smashed roofs and decimated the grounds around the dojo. Trees crashed onto the roof of the home of Linden Sensei and into the dojo itself. -

I'd like to thank all who have e-mailed and called their concern. We are all okay. Saturday morning Hooker Sensei arrived to help with the clean-up and over the last 4 days we have had as many as a dozen students and friends working to dig us out. Again, we are all okay and we hope to have the dojo dry and secure in a few weeks. We will resume class as soon as possible. -

One interesting note. Despite all the destruction and chaos the shrine to O'Sensei that sits in the center of the garden was not damaged in the slightest. I should however mention that a 50 foot tall tree snapped directly over it and is now currently hanging in the crook above it. As far as the dojo is concerned it will stay there and pay homage to a power greater than ourselves. -

Pictures will be posted to the web site as soon as possible.

WOW. Sounds like a wild time...glad everyone rode it out safely. Best wishes for getting the dojo back up and running quickly.

Best,
Ron

AikiWeb System wrote: At 9:40PM Friday August 13 the eye of hurricane Charley slammed into Shoshin Aikido Dojo in Orlando Florida. Winds gusting over 110 miles an hour knocked down dozens of trees, smashed roofs and decimated the grounds around the dojo. Trees crashed onto the roof of the home of Linden Sensei and into the dojo itself. - I'd like to thank all who have e-mailed and called their concern. We are all okay. Saturday morning Hooker Sensei arrived to help with the clean-up and over the last 4 days we have had as many as a dozen students and friends working to dig us out. Again, we are all okay and we hope to have the dojo dry and secure in a few weeks. We will resume class as soon as possible. - One interesting note. Despite all the destruction and chaos the shrine to O'Sensei that sits in the center of the garden was not damaged in the slightest. I should however mention that a 50 foot tall tree snapped directly over it and is now currently hanging in the crook above it. As far as the dojo is concerned it will stay there and pay homage to a power greater than ourselves. - Pictures will be posted to the web site as soon as possible.

Regards and warm thoughts to Dan Sensei and all his students. I am so sorry to hear about the damage but am glad that all my friends there are ok. Looking at the maps on the news it was hard to tell which of my Florida friends would have been effected. Hope things get straightened out quickly.

Thanks, George.
I spoke with John over in St. Pete and he is good. Dennis Hooker was without power in his dojo for a week, but its back on now. Haven't heard about Sarasota. The eye passed pretty close to the Aiki Shrine in Myakka City, but Patty says they are okay. Sensei left for France right after. The degree of damage for us seems to become more apparent as the days pass. Will probably have a full accounting by next weekend. We have resumed training - wet spots and all.

I remember when Andrew struck over a decade ago here in Miami. Much of the city looked like a war zone. I'm glad you all are teaming up in the clean up process. If I lived a bit closer I'd like to give a hand too.

Linden Sensei, I'm enjoying your book, "On Mastering Aikido." Even though I am but a fourth kyu, I feel that I am learning much about many aspects of Aikido I never knew existed. Oh and thanks for signing it! That's quite a bonus. Unfortunately I am unable to take your advice and "Train Hard!" at the moment due to a medication that fatigues me too much to make it through a vigorous Aikido session. I hope everything gets back to the way it was--or better--soon!

Drew

I Don't Remember Your Name But I Do Recall That You Welcomed Me To Your Dojo Only 15 Minutes After Meeting Me. Since Then I Have Heard That
Your Habit Of Welcoming All Has Changed. (?)
I Thought That Your Center Was Much Larger Than That...... I Am Sad If That Is So....
Ego Is So Maddening And A Narcotic That, Given Reign, Can Kill The Openess Of "mt. Echo".
Ego Is The Narrowing Of Power And While It "feels Good" It Makes Our Center Smaller And We Are The Victim Of too Many Minds
Will You Be A Warrior Of The Aiki Mind?
No One Will Re Ward You But The Acceptance Of The One You Have Alienated Will Free You And Your Power Will Flow.... I Await Your Tranformation....
"bu Is Love" If You Understand.
Power And Peace Through Training....

Galen Newman wrote: I Don't Remember Your Name But I Do Recall That You Welcomed Me To Your Dojo Only 15 Minutes After Meeting Me. Since Then I Have Heard That Your Habit Of Welcoming All Has Changed. (?) I Thought That Your Center Was Much Larger Than That...... I Am Sad If That Is So.... Ego Is So Maddening And A Narcotic That, Given Reign, Can Kill The Openess Of "mt. Echo". Ego Is The Narrowing Of Power And While It "feels Good" It Makes Our Center Smaller And We Are The Victim Of too Many Minds Will You Be A Warrior Of The Aiki Mind? No One Will Re Ward You But The Acceptance Of The One You Have Alienated Will Free You And Your Power Will Flow.... I Await Your Tranformation.... "bu Is Love" If You Understand. Power And Peace Through Training....

Galen,
What the hell are you talking about?

Drew, thank you for your kind words. I hope you are able to train again, soon.

Galen, I don't have a clue who you are, might be, are possesed by, or sing the body electric for...
Right now I'm a little busy. Get some perspective. I've discovered that moving 10 ton trees and destroying them with a chain saw and carrying them off are wonderful cures for a depressed mind. Been seeing it all around me.

Life is a beautiful thing. The first sweet breath of the morning when my lovely wife and I broke our way out of the house was a moment I will never forget, nor was seeing my friend walk up through the rubble to offer his help. All of my friends, around the world, offering their support and willing aid; it has been humbling. Thank you all. Thank you, Jun, for providing this fourm.

Galen Newman wrote: I Don't Remember Your Name But I Do Recall That You Welcomed Me To Your Dojo Only 15 Minutes After Meeting Me. Since Then I Have Heard That Your Habit Of Welcoming All Has Changed. (?) I Thought That Your Center Was Much Larger Than That...... I Am Sad If That Is So.... Ego Is So Maddening And A Narcotic That, Given Reign, Can Kill The Openess Of "mt. Echo". Ego Is The Narrowing Of Power And While It "feels Good" It Makes Our Center Smaller And We Are The Victim Of too Many Minds Will You Be A Warrior Of The Aiki Mind? No One Will Re Ward You But The Acceptance Of The One You Have Alienated Will Free You And Your Power Will Flow.... I Await Your Tranformation.... "bu Is Love" If You Understand. Power And Peace Through Training....

...some people got slammed harder than others.

With hurricane Frances coming into the same area, I can only hope for the best for everyone there. I hope Dan and others I know in the area weather the storm OK. My thoughts are with you all...

Best,

-- Jun

It almost seems impossible that two Cat 4 storms could cross the state and mark their X between Shindai and Shoshin Dojos. Its like winning the lottery two weeks in a row - in reverse.

Thanks for your thoughts Jun. Hooker Sensei and I will staring it right in the teeth. Believe it or not, we've seen worse. But this storm is big, really big. I guess we'll pray a lot, too.

Just a me too here.

We just got hit by the worst Typhoon I've ever been exposed to. Six people died in Kyushu and my work has been hit by a 2 million US bill to fix the roof of the machine I work on.

Dojo is fine, so am I. I live on the top floor of a nine story apartment building - it was like a Taiko drum in there.