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

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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

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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

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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

Interview with Tri-State Historical Fencing Founder Alex Meloi: Mounted Combat Within Fiore dei Librei’s Manuscript

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Alex Meloi first started aikido after getting the wind knocked out of him by a karate friend. After that, it opened him up to the world of martial arts, eventually coming the Historical European Martial Arts in 2015. Over the years, he has honed and refined his knowledge of Fiore dei Librei’s manuscript, later establishing … Continue reading Interview with Tri-State Historical Fencing Founder Alex Meloi: Mounted Combat Within Fiore dei Librei’s Manuscript

Interview with Tomiki Aikido of the Americas Cofounder Robert Dziubla: Tomiki Aikido on the International Stage, Part III

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Robert Dziubla entered the martial arts out of necessity, studying both aikido and karate as a teenager. In an effort to earn his black belt, he traveled to Japan in the early 1970s, training directly under Tomiki aikido founder Kenji Tomiki. Later, Tomiki tasked Dziubla with spreading Tomiki Aikido and the ensuing interview is his … Continue reading Interview with Tomiki Aikido of the Americas Cofounder Robert Dziubla: Tomiki Aikido on the International Stage, Part III

Interview with Tomiki Aikido of the Americas Cofounder Robert Dziubla: Tomiki Aikido on the International Stage, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Robert Dziubla entered the martial arts out of necessity, studying both aikido and karate as a teenager. In an effort to earn his black belt, he traveled to Japan in the early 1970s, training directly under Tomiki aikido founder Kenji Tomiki. Later, Tomiki tasked Dziubla with spreading Tomiki Aikido and the ensuing interview is his … Continue reading Interview with Tomiki Aikido of the Americas Cofounder Robert Dziubla: Tomiki Aikido on the International Stage, Part II

Interview with Tomiki Aikido of the Americas Cofounder Robert Dziubla: Tomiki Aikido on the International Stage, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Robert Dziubla entered the martial arts out of necessity, studying both aikido and karate as a teenager. In an effort to earn his black belt, he traveled to Japan in the early 1970s, training directly under Tomiki aikido founder Kenji Tomiki. Later, Tomiki tasked Dziubla with spreading Tomiki Aikido and the ensuing interview is his … Continue reading Interview with Tomiki Aikido of the Americas Cofounder Robert Dziubla: Tomiki Aikido on the International Stage, Part I