When I arrived at Guatemala, Juan Carlos Garoz, engineer in company administration, met me at the airport. I don't know how, but despite that we hadn't seen each other before, he immediately made me a sign and very friendly, as we had known each other from before, we say hello with a hug. I think that this happened due to two things, first because he have waited too much for this meeting, and second, because the characteristic way that we, the Latin people are. He was very busy at that time, as I knew after, gathering some documents to began a new personal job, and had only those days to did it, because it would start on Monday 18th. But despite of that, he told me that he would never lost that opportunity, and if it had not happened before, it was for something, so he did his best, because, maybe his mission was being a link to initiate the path of Aikido in a formal way in Guatemala.

Guatemala's Flag, stands proudly with a past of more than fifty years of existence, in the civic center of the city.

Going under the old tunnel of the Bridge train, in the Civic Center, on this bridge, the train goes daily through the city of Guatemala.

The Republic Bank

He explained to me, that the city of Guatemala is divided in zones, and by this way, the citizen locate the places. The name of certain zone called my attention, La zona viva (lively zone), which is, as I understood, the zone where the most important places are located, the commercial business flows, the opportunities, the nightlife, etc.

The zones of Guatemala City are 25, beginning with the number one in the historic center of the city, then the next zones were made 50 years ago to create the different divisions of the capital city, the nomenclature were made by the municipality of Guatemala. The zones with more importance in the commercial sector are: 1, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 13, in those zones the majority of the commercial transactions of the city are done.

The time hurried me up, because we had only one day to talk and to plan how our mutual interest can be started. After that trip, and after went with him to some places to gather documents for his new job, Juan Carlos take me to a place, to met one of his friends, the professor, Augusto López Rincón, from the "Centro Holístico renacer" (Reborn Holistic center), and president of the "Asociación Benéfica Tikonic" (Tikonic beneficial association), located at the Zone 2 of Guatemala. He is also professor of Tai Chi, Kung Fu and Chi Kung, Juan Carlos told me that he has a great history in the martial art of his country.

After had talked with him about our plans, he told us that he liked too much the idea, but more the way that we work as an Aikido organization including the humanitarian aid, so necessary in the nowadays world. He told us that we could count on him for everything, and he will support in anything that could be needed to make this project works out.

We continue our way, now visiting the Sushi Itto in the lively zone of Guatemala; there, we met the engineer Jaime Sánchez, owner of this famous fast food restaurant. We talk extensively; he gave us several advices, and encourages us to make such noble project.

He is a person with experience, he has practiced various martial arts and alternative activities, he told us about his experiences with them and how can we use them in our goal. He told us that there were many unscrupulous persons, in this kind of activities, that wanted to earn a lot of money, but the worst is that there will be always someone that would pay them. He told us that he was very happy and that he will give support to us, and also that he will enter into the Aikido group, as soon as we start it. Thanks a lot to the engineer Jaime Sánchez for his time, and for received us in his beautiful restaurant.

In front of the Sushi Itto of engineer Jaime Sánchez, with Juan Carlos Garoz at his left and me at his right.

Leaving the Sushi Itto, we talked about the best way to begin our objective, we thought in bring an instructor, but we saw that it would be more difficult, due to the expenses for his stay in Guatemala having a decent life, we thought that we could begin with seminars or courses, but this will only could work to start a group, but, who could take this group, for really have a continuous development and serious practice?

After had spoken about several ideas, at the end, we concluded that the more convenient would be that someone resident of Guatemala, will go to our dojo of AHAN MEXICO AIKIDO, to train under the uchi dechi program with an intensive teaching. This could be the best way, but now, who could come to Mexico? I ask Juan Carlos if he could come, but he can't, because his family depends economically on him. Then he suggested that his 25 years old brother could be the right person, it will be very convenient for him, for several reasons, to initiate a life program like that. I agreed, and asked Juan Carlos for let me knew his brother, and then we would talk again. With this idea, we made our way to Juan Carlos aunts home, where I stayed that night, and where a delicious dinner, cooked by herself was waiting for me.

With members of the Garrido Family At the center Juan Carlos aunt, Mrs. Margarita Garrido, at her left Juan Carlos Garoz and his cousin Agustín Sicilia Garrido. At her right Rodrigo Sicilia Garrido and Juan Carlos brother, Mario Garoz, at my side.

The stadium bridge above the tenth avenue, on the Zone 5, the word Guatemala can be read on it. It is exactly located near the Olimpic Stadium Mateo Flores.

The dinner was delicious, with Guatemalan traditional dishes, "rancher eggs", fried bananas", "turned beans", "tortillas" and pasta, gallo beer (the most famous beer in Guatemala) and a "Queso-bro", (Joke made by Mrs. Margarita, which in Spanish sounds like a type of cheese but at the same time means left-over) that was also delicious. Thanks a lot to the Garrido family for had opened the doors of their home, especially to Mrs. Margarita, who is a kindly woman with a great joy. All of them showed interest in the project to begin Aikido in their country, and told me, that without doubt, they will be the first to subscribe the group, when it starts.

Although I really didn't want, they made me to show them some techniques and Aikido movements in the courtyard house. As many people, they only knew Aikido from books and movies, and the idea of this art, they confessed, was very different from the one that I was showing them, and about what we have talked in the dinner, they told me that now, they were more interested. Finally, we went to rest, after a long day.

Even from inside from the car, we could see clearly The Reformer tower, located on the zone 9, in capital city, tower in honor of the Guatemalan reformer, General Justo Rufino Barrios.

A photograph of Juan Carlos Garoz and Roberto Destarac, geologist engineer, who works in the mine sector and has a company of sports commerce.