Month: September 2020

Interview with Obukan Head Instructor John Hancock: From Hawaii to Oregon

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Currently the head instructor of the Obukan Dojo in Portland Oregon, John Hancock began kendo training in 1986 in California, quickly moving to Hawaii to continue his training under James Oka. Heading to Portland in 1994, he became a student at the Obukan while Robert Stroud was head instructor until 2004. Today, Hancock discusses his … Continue reading Interview with Obukan Head Instructor John Hancock: From Hawaii to Oregon

Interview with Dan Fernandez: Aikido in the Modern Era

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In this transcript of an interview done in the summer of 2019, Dan Fernandez of Tampa Aikikai discuses aikido in America and what the art currently faces in the modern era. All images provided by Dan Fernandez. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Welcome, Fernandez Sensei! Thank you for taking the time to discuss the … Continue reading Interview with Dan Fernandez: Aikido in the Modern Era

Interview with USAF Technical Committee Member Andy Demko: The Early Years in the American Northeast

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Andy Demko began training martial arts and combat sports while he was in high school. After seeing an aikido class at Youngstown University, he joined, eventually meeting Koichi Tohei and Yoshimitsu Yamada in the mid-1960s. He later opened his Aikido Center of New Castle in 1971. Today, Demko discusses the fledgling years of aikido in … Continue reading Interview with USAF Technical Committee Member Andy Demko: The Early Years in the American Northeast

Preserving Culture: Judo Inside the Manzanar War Relocation Center Part II

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Originally written for a History of Genocide course, expanded and presented at a conference in the Spring of 2019 during my graduate career, the following is the second part of an article exploring the role judo played in the Japanese American Internment Camps during the Second World War, specifically the Manzanar Camp in southeastern California. … Continue reading Preserving Culture: Judo Inside the Manzanar War Relocation Center Part II

Preserving Culture: Judo Inside the Manzanar War Relocation Center Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Originally written for a History of Genocide course, expanded and presented at a conference in the Spring of 2019 during my graduate career, the following is the first part of an article exploring the role judo played in the Japanese American Internment Camps during the Second World War, specifically the Manzanar Camp in southeastern California. … Continue reading Preserving Culture: Judo Inside the Manzanar War Relocation Center Part I

Interview with David Witt: Judo, Aikido, and Karl Geis

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Karl Geis became a martial arts force in the Houston, Texas area, training and producing national and international judo champions, and competent aikidoka in the Shodokan variety after studying judo at the Kodokan and aikido under Shodokan founder, Kenji Tomiki. Today, longtime student of Geis, David Witt, talks to Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and … Continue reading Interview with David Witt: Judo, Aikido, and Karl Geis

Interview with Former New York Aikikai Instructor Ruth Peyser: Supporting Gender Equity and the Independent Coalition of USAF Women’s Petition

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 2 Comments

Ruth Peyser began training aikido in 1980 after observing a class at the New York Aikikai. For the better part of forty years, she trained under Yoshimitsu Yamada, Seiichi Sugano and Donovan Waite. In late 2019, she signed the Independent Coalition of USAF Women’s petition, resulting in her banishment from the New York Aikikai. Today, … Continue reading Interview with Former New York Aikikai Instructor Ruth Peyser: Supporting Gender Equity and the Independent Coalition of USAF Women’s Petition

Interview with Aikido Instructor Salvatore Forestieri: Aikido in the Martial Arts Industry

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Salvatore Forestieri began his aikido training under Fumio Toyoda. After his passing, Forestieri became an understudy of Steven Seagal. This is a transcript of an interview conducted in the spring of 2019, discussing the current state of aikido and its place in the martial arts industry. All images provided by Salvatore Forestieri. Martial Arts of … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Instructor Salvatore Forestieri: Aikido in the Martial Arts Industry