[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 16931] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TAI KAI ATLANTA 2000 ______ HON. BOB BARR of georgia in the house of representatives Thursday, July 27, 2000 Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on August 18, 2000 a gathering will take place in Atlanta, Georgia of teachers and students of the traditional Japanese martial art of Ninjutsu. The International Bujinkan Tai Kai, as the gathering is called, will host visitors from every corner of the globe. They will be in Georgia to train under the guidance of Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, the Grandmaster of Ninjutsu. Dr. Hatsumi is the 34th Grandmaster of Ninjutsu, is the founder of the Bujinkan Dojo, and is considered a national treasure by the Japanese government. Bujinkan, which means ``Divine Warrior Hall,'' was named in honor of his teacher, Toshitsugu Takamatsu. I am extremely pleased Dr. Hatsumi has chosen Atlanta, Georgia as the host city for International Bujinkan Tai Kai 2000. It is my sincere hope each participant will benefit from the principles of discipline, self respect, and respect for fellow man, at the heart of Bujinkan. I submit the following for the Record. Tai Kai, Atlanta 2000, July 1, 2000. Re: Request for Proclamation or Special Letter of Welcome Congressman Bob Barr, c/o Slade Gulledge, Marietta Congressional Office, Marietta, GA. Dear Mr. Gulledge: With regard to a conversation you had with a member of my staff, Sean Gerety, and later an e-mail, I am requesting a Proclamation from Bob Barr to Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. Atlanta has been selected as the site of the International Bujinkan Tai Kai by Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, the 24th generation grandmaster of the Bujinkan system. Dr. Hatsumi is the only grandmaster of the traditional Japanese martial art of ninjutsu, and consequently his selection of Atlanta for the Tai Kai constitutes an important event. The Bujinkan Atlanta Dojo, America's original school of Japan's oldest martial art will be sponsoring the Tai Kai for the fifth time. Bud Malmstrom is the owner and 11 degree Black Belt instructor of this school. He began his training over 22 years ago. Bud's wife Bonnie, 9th degree Black Belt instructor has been the organizer of all five Tai Kai conventions. She was the first non-oriental and the third woman only in the would to pass the fifth degree black belt test. Hatsumi's last visit to Atlanta was during the Olympic year, 1996. He decided in 1996 that he would like to revisit the fair and beautiful city of Atlanta for the Millennium 2000 American Tai Kai training celebration. August 18th 600 ninja scholars and enthusiasts from every corner of the world will convene in the Grand Ballroom of the OMNI Hotel at CNN Center to begin a four day training event with the grandmaster of ninjutsu. Ninjutsu simply stated; the skill of the ninja is the art of winning . . . ``attaining that which we need while making the world a better place in which to live.'' Please see the information included and provide us with a Proclamation if at all possible. We will have an opening reception August 18th and plan to bestow this to Dr. Hatsumi as a gesture of welcome. If there is anyone from your office who could present this award to Dr. Hatsumi, it would be wonderful. Please let me know where and when we can pick up the proclamation. Thanking you sincerely, With warmest regards, Bonnie G. Malmstrom, Secretary/Treasurer. ____________________