Awassa Tour - San Diego

On Sunday, October 12^th, 2008, San Diego welcomed Ethiopians Tesfaye Tekelu and Meshu Tamrat on their Awassa OneLove Theatre and Aiki Peace Tour in America. Their US tour has become a real “tour de force,” profoundly touching lives everywhere they go throughout their country and across this country.

Sensei Jamie Zimron, Co-Founder of the Middle East Aikido Peace Project (MAP) and Aiki Extensions (AE) Board Member, organized Sunday’s events. In the morning she presented Tesfaye and Meshu to over 400 people at the Seaside Center for Spiritual Living, a nationally known and local Science of Mind / New Thought hub. A brief presentation turned into a spontaneous “happening” of tears, joy and standing ovations as people learned of the grassroots HIV/AIDS and peace education being done through the Awassa Youth Center and Peace Dojo in Ethiopia.

Jamie and Krishna LeFan, AE Board Member and tour organizer, described how this work is changing – and saving - lives in Ethiopia.Then, while the Seaside jazz band played, Jamie and Tesfaye demonstrated the beautiful power of Aikido to turn conflict and violence into harmony and healing. Tony Novell, guest blues artist from LA, invited his “new Ethiopian friends” to come on stage to share their fabulous dance and acrobatics while he rocked the house singing BB King’s classic “Stand By Me.” Later the troupe showed a DVD from Awassa, schmoozed, and gratefully received donations from people moved to support the work of the Ethiopians and AE.

In the afternoon it was time to head to Jiai Aikido, where Chief Instructor Jeff Sodeman graciously agreed to host a San Diego Senseis / Mini-Training Across Borders (TAB) fundraising seminar. Everyone enjoyed training with Senseis Jeff, Jamie, Coryl Crane (North County Aikikai), Bernice Tom (Sunset Cliffs Aikido) and Dave Goldberg (Aikido of San Diego), and a diverse group of students who came for this very special seminar.  (Jiai Aikido is home to the annual Aikido Bridge Seminar led by Shihan Hiroshi Ikeda, Frank Doran, Christian Tissier and Morihiko Murashige).

In addition to 5 great classes on the mat, participants broadened their view of opportunities in Aikido as they learned about MAP and the AwassaYouth Center/Peace Dojo. DVDS from Ethiopia and from AE’s 2005 Training Across Borders peace conference in Cyprus were shown. Tesfaye and Meshu delighted with a performance of street and circus arts. And Jamie and Krishna spoke and answered questions about how people can get involved in these and other AE projects.

From morning til evening, one Sunday in San Diego unfolded into an unforgettable day of sharing, training and sending out Aiki ripples of friendship, hope and peace. Domo Arigato to all involved, and to the wonderful spiralings of The Oneness.

May Peace Prevail!

At Seaside Sunday morning

Jiai Dojo Aikido Seminar