Month: November 2024

Interview with Flemington Aikido Founder Rick Goodman: Finding Shuji Maruyama and Staying True to the Essence

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Rick Goodman, a dedicated martial artist and five decades long practitioner of Kokikai Aikido, reflects on the future of the art following the changes instilled by founder Shuji Maruyama Sensei. Goodman Sensei  discusses the challenges of maintaining unity within the Kokikai community, the diverse perspectives among senior practitioners, and the importance of preserving the core … Continue reading Interview with Flemington Aikido Founder Rick Goodman: Finding Shuji Maruyama and Staying True to the Essence

Interview with Aikido Sangenkai Chief Instructor Christopher Li: A Historical Perspective of Aikido’s Future

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Aikido Sangenkai chief instructor Christopher Li began training aikido in the early 1980s under Mitsugi Saotome and Yoshimitsu Yamada, later traveling with the latter to Japan to train at Aikikai Hombu Dojo. By the 1990s, Li began to explore the internal power side of both aikido and the martial arts, ultimately affiliating with Dan Harden … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Sangenkai Chief Instructor Christopher Li: A Historical Perspective of Aikido’s Future

Interview with Aikido of Madison Founder Robin Cooper: Aikido’s Future of Leadership

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Robin Cooper started aikido in a dojo affiliated with Akira Tohei. After moving to California in the late 1970s, Cooper trained with a variety of aikidoka and schools, ranging from Frank Doran, Bob Bryner, Bob Nadeau, and Bill Witt, to LA Aikikai and Ki Society Schools. It was not until 1977 that she encountered Mitsugi … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Madison Founder Robin Cooper: Aikido’s Future of Leadership

Interview with Aikido Center of New Castle Founder Andy Demko: Aikido’s Uniqueness and its Future

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Andy Demko began training in 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 returns to talk about the students … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Center of New Castle Founder Andy Demko: Aikido’s Uniqueness and its Future

Interview with Filipino Combat Systems Instructor Carlos Pipo Lopez: Filipino Martial Arts in Puerto Rico

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In this interview, Carlos Pipo Lopez shares his journey in Filipino Martial Arts (FMA), providing insights into his dedication and passion for weapons-based combat. From his introduction to FMA in 1983 to his long-term commitment, Lopez reflects on the growth of the martial arts community in Puerto Rico, his experience training under Grandmaster Bobby Taboada, … Continue reading Interview with Filipino Combat Systems Instructor Carlos Pipo Lopez: Filipino Martial Arts in Puerto Rico

Interview with Longtime Naginata Practitioner Eric Montes: Naginata in the United States and Japan

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Eric Montes first became aware of naginata when he was training in karate but did not have a chance to start the weapon’s work until returning to San Francisco Bay Area in 1990. He entered the dojo under Miyako Tanaka, learning Tendo Ryu. Montes had the opportunity to study naginata in Japan at the Shubukan … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Naginata Practitioner Eric Montes: Naginata in the United States and Japan

Interview with Boston Aikikai Founder Vu Ha: Remembering Akira Tohei and Mitsunari Kanai

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Vu Ha first started aikido seriously while at the Texas Tech Aikido Club by invitation from a friend. Ha moved to Chicago after completing his studies to further train under Akira Tohei, who regularly came to the Texan aikido club. He stayed with Tohei until the latter’s passing and after much deliberation, moved to Massachusetts … Continue reading Interview with Boston Aikikai Founder Vu Ha: Remembering Akira Tohei and Mitsunari Kanai