Our Affiliated Clubs

Diablo JA Club There are a number of affiliated clubs that make their home at the JA Club. Below is a brief description of many of them. Please contact us for more information on these clubs and/or JA Club itself.

Nippongo Gakuen (Japanese Language School). If your school-aged children are interested in learning the Japanese language and culture, the Diablo Nippongo Gakuen offers weekly language classes, taught by Japanese speaking instructors. Classes meet most Saturdays throughout the school year (September to May), from 9am to 12 noon. Students are grouped by skill level.

You can find out more detailed information by going to the Gakuen website, at diablonippongogakuen.org (or click on link to the left).

Youth and Adult Basketball. Calling all basketball lovers! The Athletic Club organizes around the game at a number of levels. Youth Basketball is geared for children ages 7 to 18. Team signups are in June for the upcoming season, which typically begins in October. Once teams are organized, practices ensue - with a healthy emphasis on fundamentals. The season usually lasts until March, but post-season tournament play for some teams extend beyond that time.

The club also offers two late evenings per week of "Old Men's" pickup basketball, along with an evening of "Old Ladies" basketball, for those who firmly believe their best games are still ahead - though their bodies "sorely" disagree.

You can find out more information about the Athletic Club at diabloathleticclub.com.

Taiko Club. Taiko, or Japanese drums, is rapidly gaining in popularity in the US, as evidenced by the number of Taiko Clubs springing up. Taiko is both a musical discipline to master and a strenuous form of exercise. Either way, you will likely enjoy it.

If you have a little rhythm or passion to spare, the club invites you to join them as they practice twice a week (Monday evenings and Saturday afternoons).

For more information, please visit the website at www.diablotaiko.com, or contact Lynn Carlson at 925-938-2716.

Kendo Club. Kendo traces its roots to the Samurai of yesteryear. It requires both mastery of technique and lightening quick reflexes to spot and attack an opponent's vulnerabilities - while he or she is attempting the same to you!

The Kendo Club meets weekly on Sunday evenings.

Judo Club. Judo, also known as the "gentle way," can often appear to be an extremely physical and taxing endeavor. Truth is, there are subtleties about balance and momentum that allow the astute practitioner to outwit and topple larger and stronger opponents. It is fun to observe and even more fun to learn.

Judo Club meets weekly on Thursdays evenings.

You can find out more detailed information by going to the Judo Club website, at www.concordjudoclub.org (or click on link to the left).

Ikenobo Club. Ikebana, or flower arranging, is a uniquely Japanese form of art with flowers that can dazzle in its seemingly asymetric elegance and simplicity. It may also offer hints of Zen-like experiences for those spiritually inclined to "live-in-the-moment."

Ikenobo meets twice a month, every first and third Tuesday evening, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm.

Coed Exercise. Current wisdom says that 60 is the new 40. Well, it's mainly because folks today take better care of themselves. That includes plenty of exercise. This is a class, designed and led by a qualified instructor, to make sure you young-at-hearts don't try to speed your way down to 30 and end up off a cliff. It's also great fun!

The Exercise Club meets Monday and Wednesday evenings, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

Shinwakai (Senior Activities). It took a lot of sacrifice, time and energy to establish and nurture the JA Club. As current members, we enjoy the benefits of all the hard work put in by those who came before us. Shinwakai, in some small measure, is our way of paying it back to our seniors. Shinwakai members (60 and over) meet once a month (third Saturday, 1pm) and enjoy Bingo, field trips to places like San Jose J-Town or the Iris Festival, or perhaps even a casino trip for those willing to invest in some fun!

Buddhist Fellowship. For those members wishing to round out their cultural and physical pursuits with a little spiritual and religious reflection, the Concord Buddhist Sunday School may provide what you are seeking.

The fellowship meets most Sundays from September to June, from 10:00am to 11:30am and a schedule of guest ministers is posted on the Fellowship bulletin board. In addition, the first Saturday of each month, we conduct a Saturday evening service with pot luck dinner following. It is an excellent opportunity to break bread with other friendly, community-minded folks.