Month: March 2024

Interview with Yobushin Dojo Founder Paul Smith: Tomiki Aikido and the Jiyushinkai

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Paul Smith began training in aikido at the Indiana University Club in 1986, learning Tomiki Aikido. He and the club had an affiliation with a group of Tomiki practitioners in Chicago where Bob Dziubla originated. In 1998, he joined and began following the teachings of the Jiyushinkai under the direction of Chuck Clark, being captivated … Continue reading Interview with Yobushin Dojo Founder Paul Smith: Tomiki Aikido and the Jiyushinkai

Interview with Longtime Iaidoka Geoff Underhill: Teaching Under David Yang

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

After attending a Renaissance Faire and his son acquiring shinai, Geoff Underhill wanted to make sure that his son was safely swinging the sword. Inadvertently, Underhill found that the kendo classes offered by David Yang was something he wanted to do and joined the Princeton Kendo Dojo in 2006. During his time under Yang, he … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Iaidoka Geoff Underhill: Teaching Under David Yang

Interview with Longtime Shin-Budo Kai Practitioner Bob Tullman: Finding Shizuo Imaizumi

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Always interested in the martial arts, Bob Tullman always kept an eye out for possible training opportunities. After training in Sanuces-ryu jujutsu and Goju-ryu Karate, he heard about this mystical martial art called aikido. He could not find a program near him immediately but while working on his graduate school in Kansas, he found aikido … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Shin-Budo Kai Practitioner Bob Tullman: Finding Shizuo Imaizumi

Interview with Longtime Martial Artists Jesse Cahn: Family, Violence, and Aikido, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Jesse Cahn was first introduced to the martial arts through his father, Rolf, however, his first official introduction into the martial arts was judo. As Cahn grew, he experienced situations and problems associated with the street and shady establishments that helped create his perspective on violence. In 2003, he joined Windsong Dojo for their aikido … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Martial Artists Jesse Cahn: Family, Violence, and Aikido, Part II

Interview with Longtime Martial Artists Jesse Cahn: Family, Violence, and Aikido Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Jesse Cahn was first introduced to the martial arts through his father, Rolf, however, his first official introduction into the martial arts was judo. As Cahn grew, he experienced situations and problems associated with the street and shady establishments that helped create his perspective on violence. In 2003, he joined Windsong Dojo for their aikido … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Martial Artists Jesse Cahn: Family, Violence, and Aikido Part I

Interview with Fighting Spirit Karate Founder Sean Schenker: The Spirit of Kyokushin Karate

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

At the age of five, Sean Schenker enrolled into Kyokushin Karate and eventually found the spirit that the training instilled in its practitioners. That spirit stayed with him when he changed career paths, jumping into music full-time and leading a band. In 2011, Schenker opened his Fighting Spirit Karate across the way from where he … Continue reading Interview with Fighting Spirit Karate Founder Sean Schenker: The Spirit of Kyokushin Karate

Inspirations: Akira Toriyama and Dragon Ball Z

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

As a regular reader here at Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, many are well aware that what inspires people to enter into their first martial arts class varies greatly, from movies to books and from political reasons to family tradition. What, perhaps, has been overlooked is the power of cartoons, more specifically anime. … Continue reading Inspirations: Akira Toriyama and Dragon Ball Z

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Ronald Abo: From Aikikai to Tomiki Aikido

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Ronald Abo first started training aikido under Gaku Homma, who, in 1978, was teaching Aikikai style. It was not until making a connection with Seiji Tanaka and wondering how he would apply aikido in a real-time situation that Abo experimented with Tomiki Aikido. After his first class, he was hooked, amazed by this art’s effectiveness … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Ronald Abo: From Aikikai to Tomiki Aikido

Interview with Lifetime Martial Artist Chris Dewey: The Path to Akayama-ryu

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Chris Dewey began studying judo under Roy Inman at his Fairholm Judo Club. He later relocated to Canada to continue his training there while pursuing a doctorate degree. Upon moving to the United States in 1984, he took up taekwondo and hapkido until he found another judo club. During that time, he had the opportunity … Continue reading Interview with Lifetime Martial Artist Chris Dewey: The Path to Akayama-ryu