Holiday Greetings

Holiday Message From the AIMAA President

Dear AIMAA Members:

Greetings for this holiday season. It is hard to imagine that we are already and finally closing out this year of 2020. It has been a most difficult, unprecedented year for so many of us around the world. Collectively, we have been impacted in a way that has truly tested our resilience. I grieve and mourn the many lives and livelihoods lost by this year’s pandemic. My deepest sympathies are with those of you who may have struggled harder this year than most of your previous years combined. As we move into the New Year with great hope, I also do not wish to quickly forget the grave magnitude of this year, which I believe has taught us many lessons in the things that are truly important and irreplaceable.

In some ways, the disconnection we were forced into offered us an opportunity to work to connect in more meaningful ways. The challenges brought on throughout the year also pushed us to become more creative and resourceful. For some of us, it forced us to pause, slow down, and pace ourselves in a way that was more balanced and healthier to our whole selves. As many of us were forced to shelter in place and shifted our lives online, we became more aware of the disparate access plaguing so many throughout the world. We were also reminded to recognize the existing abundance and blessings we have – clean water, shelter, electricity, even toilet paper – and to take more notice and action to help those who lack these basic resources.

Our practice of the Aims to Achieve were further tested this year in unparalleled ways. I know it required immense physical and mental discipline for many of us to keep consistent in our own training. I am so proud that most of you in our AIMAA community were able to meet this year’s strenuous circumstances with such grace and tenacity. Though several of you lost your physical space either temporarily or permanently, none of you lost your indomitable spirit. You all worked tremendously hard to keep your students’ camaraderie and motivation intact, and I wish to applaud you for surviving such a historically challenging year.

We have deeply missed being able to regularly welcome you all to the AIMAA Headquarters. We hope the COVID-19 pandemic comes to a swift end so that we can all reunite again sooner than later. Remember to be kind, forgiving to yourself and to others, and remain hopeful throughout the New Year. Every struggle eventually comes to an end. Even though some Winters may feel extraordinarily longer than others, Spring is bound to follow.

I wish you and your loved ones nothing but safety, health, and the utmost peace and happiness.

Warmest Regards,

Grandmaster Hee Il Cho
President/Founder AIMAA

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Grandmaster Cho is Grand Marshal!
View Photos from Hawaii Kai Christmas Parade