Month: August 2022

Interview with Senior Shindai Aikikai Instructor Brain Canin: Dennis Hooker and Aikido

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Brian Canin first started tai chi until he tried aikido with David Jones after one of his tai chi classes. He never looked back. A little bit later into his aikido journey, he met Dennis Hooker and began training under him. Canin would train under Hooker until the latter’s passing, assuming a leadership role at … Continue reading Interview with Senior Shindai Aikikai Instructor Brain Canin: Dennis Hooker and Aikido

Interview with Southwinds Aikido Founder Jimmie Villarreal: Karl Geis and Kihara Aikido

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

It happened almost by accident. Jimmie Villarreal was on vacation when he saw aikido in action and was completely enamored with what he saw. Unfortunately, he had to wait until 1990 to find a school and that is where he found Karl Geis. Today, Villarreal talks about first meeting and later training under Geis, in … Continue reading Interview with Southwinds Aikido Founder Jimmie Villarreal: Karl Geis and Kihara Aikido

Interview with Longtime Kenshi Masaharu Makino: Kendo and University

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Masaharu Makino began training kendo in Japan at a young age, later joining the Kagoshima Police Department, continuing his training. In the late 1970s, Masaharu relocated to Los Angeles, taking an administrative role in both the All United States Kendo Federation and the Southern California Kendo Organization. With the help of his son, Nathan, he … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Masaharu Makino: Kendo and University

War and Nationalism in Twentieth-Century Film: Hong Kong Martial Arts and Japan’s Victim Playing, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Originally written for an Asia in Film course during my graduate career, the following is the second part of a study that explores the demonstration of both Chinese and Japanese nationalism through their respective films in the twentieth century. This is the second part of a two-part article. Read the first part here. Shifting gears … Continue reading War and Nationalism in Twentieth-Century Film: Hong Kong Martial Arts and Japan’s Victim Playing, Part II

War and Nationalism in Twentieth-Century Film: Hong Kong Martial Arts and Japan’s Victim Playing, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Originally written for an Asia in Film course during my graduate career, the following is the first part of a study that explores the demonstration of both Chinese and Japanese nationalism through their respective films in the twentieth century. This is the first part of a two-part article. Read the second part here. Initially, I … Continue reading War and Nationalism in Twentieth-Century Film: Hong Kong Martial Arts and Japan’s Victim Playing, Part I