In an effort to better understand the happenings and key characters in aikido’s history in the American Midwest, Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow reached out to Kevin Bradley Sensei to discuss his instructor, Gilbert James Sensei, and Yoshinkan Aikido. All images provided by Kevin Bradley. MAYTT: Welcome Kevin Bradley Sensei! I appreciate you … Continue reading Interview with Kevin Bradley: Midwest Aikido
Bruce Wonnacott, a long-time student of aikido pioneer Frank Doran, began his training in 1991 at the height of Steven Seagal’s popularity while in college. By 1997, he found Doran and accompanied him on his many national and international seminars. Here, we discuss what it was like training during the height of Seagal’s popularity and … Continue reading Interview with Bruce Wonnacott: Experiences Under Frank Doran
With schools, clubs, and workout spaces closed for the COVID-19 lockdown/quarantine, many aikidoka are forced to train within the safety of their homes. Seeing such an opportunity to assist the many practitioners homebound throughout the world, Aikido Shimbokukai hosted the first virtual bridge seminar, via Zoom. With over 130 participants joining the groundbreaking seminar, six … Continue reading The COVID-19 Aikido Bridge Seminar
Lisa Tomoleoni, founder of Aikido Shimbokukai, began her aikido training in the early 1990s and traveled to Japan shortly after. In her time there, she trained under both Second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Third Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba. Upon returning America, she co-published Along the Way with Michelle Tate. In this interview, we discuss her initial … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shimbokukai Founder Lisa Tomoleoni: Aikido Training and Future
This is a transcript of an interview with Thomas Blair of Main Line Judo from the spring of 2019. In it, we discuss his time under Takahiko Ishikawa, judo in the Philadelphia area, and growing the art in today’s social climate. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Hello Thomas Blair Sensei! I would like … Continue reading Interview with Thomas Blair: Takahiko Ishikawa and Growing Judo in the Modern World
On April 16th, Aiki Extensions hosted what would become the first of many conferences, bringing together aikido practitioners from all around the world. In an effort for solidarity, event organizers Robert Kent, Jamie Zimron, and Quentin Cooke invited speakers from Israel, Turkey, Greece, Poland, and other locations to convey the effects of the recent COVID-19 … Continue reading COVID-19 and the Aikido Community: The Aiki Extensions Initiative
In an intimate room, painted with large wall posters and filled with recording equipment and small computer monitors, two men sit at opposite ends of a table donning headphones and conversing through microphones. To one side sits Joe Rogan, the comedian/martial arts podcaster and on the other, sits neuroscientist Andrew Hill. In the course of … Continue reading Changes in Aikido’s Curriculum: Is it Really Warranted?
Gill, Irvin B. American Kenpo Karate: The Key Principles and Rules of American Kenpo Karate. Spring House, PA: Tambuli Media, 2019. Irvin Gill was on a journey. In discussions with various Kenpo masters, founders and high-ranking practitioners in Filipino-based martial arts, and an aikido fifth dan, he found the blueprints to his answers. The blueprints … Continue reading Reflecting on Irvin Gill’s Key Principles and Rules of American Kenpo Karate
A martial artist for sixty-one years, Florida aikidoka George Clark Sensei took the time to talk to Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow about his journey through many different aspects of the martial arts and the growth of aikido in Florida. The interview was conducted in the summer of 2018 for research of my … Continue reading Interview with George Clark: Aikido in Florida
A short essay on aikido and budo in the Western world. There are those things in life that often are a self-contained conundrum – where what you see isn’t what you get; where what you think you have is actually something completely different, and where things actually get harder the longer you do it. Aikido … Continue reading The Way of Harmony in a Western World by Michael Aloia
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 