Month: September 2026

Interview with American Aikido Institute Founder Garry Howard: Growing with Haruo Matsuoka Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

After training in karate for the better part of two decades, Garry Howard came across Steven Seagal’s film Above the Law. Through a series of events stemming from a complimentary phone call, Howard found himself in front of the man himself and secured consistent instruction from Haruo Matsuoka, who made an annual trip to the … Continue reading Interview with American Aikido Institute Founder Garry Howard: Growing with Haruo Matsuoka Part II

Interview with American Aikido Institute Founder Garry Howard: Growing with Haruo Matsuoka Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

After training in karate for the better part of two decades, Garry Howard came across Steven Seagal’s film Above the Law. Through a series of events stemming from a complimentary phone call, Howard found himself in front of the man himself and secured consistent instruction from Haruo Matsuoka, who made an annual trip to the … Continue reading Interview with American Aikido Institute Founder Garry Howard: Growing with Haruo Matsuoka Part I

Interview with Historical Fencer Connor Wood: Between HEMA and the SCA Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Connor Wood first started learning to sword fight when he was a child and that ultimately led him to join the Society for Creative Anachronism. In pursuing the historical sources, he soon crossed over in Historical European Martial Arts and saw a myriad of overlaps between the two movements. Today, Wood discusses the evolution of … Continue reading Interview with Historical Fencer Connor Wood: Between HEMA and the SCA Part II

Interview with Historical Fencer Connor Wood: Between HEMA and the SCA Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Connor Wood first started learning to sword fight when he was a child and that ultimately led him to join the Society for Creative Anachronism. In pursuing the historical sources, he soon crossed over in Historical European Martial Arts and saw a myriad of overlaps between the two movements. Today, Wood discusses the evolution of … Continue reading Interview with Historical Fencer Connor Wood: Between HEMA and the SCA Part I

Interview with Longtime Judoka Joe and Becky Condello: Takahiko Ishikawa in Virginia Beach, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Joe Condello began training judo in Philadelphia with Takahiko Ishikawa. During his summer break from college, he and his then-girlfriend Becky visited Ishikawa and Helen Foos in Virginia Beach. The latter asked the couple to relocate to the southern state to assist Ishikawa and Foos. The couple accepted and spent the 1970s in Virginia Beach … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Judoka Joe and Becky Condello: Takahiko Ishikawa in Virginia Beach, Part II

Interview with Longtime Judoka Joe and Becky Condello: Takahiko Ishikawa in Virginia Beach, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Joe Condello began training judo in Philadelphia with Takahiko Ishikawa. During his summer break from college, he and his then-girlfriend Becky visited Ishikawa and Helen Foos in Virginia Beach. The latter asked the couple to relocate to the southern state to assist Ishikawa and Foos. The couple accepted and spent the 1970s in Virginia Beach … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Judoka Joe and Becky Condello: Takahiko Ishikawa in Virginia Beach, Part I