Liese Klein first stepped onto the mat after one of her friends cajoled her to tag along in 1989. She liked Aikido enough that she found a dojo when she moved to Florida. She then spent the better part of her Aikido career training with Kazuo Chiba and moved to Japan to train at Hombu … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Author Liese Klein: Aikido’s Strengths and Weaknesses, Part I
Eugene Morales walked into James Nakayama’s school because his family decided aikido was an activity they could do together. While his son stayed only for a year, Morales and his wife found something deeper in the art. In his training with Nakayama, Morales received a teaching methodology from Fumio Toyoda. While Morales did not train … Continue reading Interview with Pro-Sessions Aikido Founder Eugene Morales: Fumio Toyoda’s Teaching Methodology
The following is an excerpt of an interview conducted for the upcoming Takahiko Ishikawa: Judo’s Quiet Master, which recounts the life, times, and impact of Ishikawa on East Coast Judo in the United States. Susan Oles retells some of her memories learning from Ishikawa and training judo as a woman. Susan Oles began judo while … Continue reading Susan Oles: Randori and Shiai
After starting Shotokan Karate and judo at a young age, John Araujo found aikido, feeling that it was time to explore this new art. He trained in traditional aikido for a decade until he sought out something more. Araujo searched and found Luis Santos in Florida. After participating in a grueling initiation and relearning process, … Continue reading Interview with Tenshin Aikidoka John Araujo: The Balance Between Tenshin and Traditional
Rodrigo Kong had experienced aiki-based arts before but nothing like he felt when he trained with Shogen Okabayashi during a seminar in New York City. Totally enamored, Kong traveled to Japan to learn more about Daito-ryu and its aiki. Since returning from Japan, he has established his Yushinkan NYC and continued to train and teach … Continue reading Interview with Yushikan NYC Founder Rodrigo Kong: Aiki, Kokyu, and Daito-ryu, Part II
Rodrigo Kong had experienced aiki-based arts before but nothing like he felt when he trained with Shogen Okabayashi during a seminar in New York City. Totally enamored, Kong traveled to Japan to learn more about Daito-ryu and its aiki. Since returning from Japan, he has established his Yushinkan NYC and continued to train and teach … Continue reading Interview with Yushikan NYC Founder Rodrigo Kong: Aiki, Kokyu, and Daito-ryu, Part I
The following is an excerpt of an interview conducted for the upcoming Takahiko Ishikawa: Judo’s Quiet Master, which recounts the life, times, and impact of Ishikawa on East Coast Judo in the United States. Bob Karr retells some of his memories learning from Ishikawa as an adolescent. Bob Karr began learning judo at the age … Continue reading Bob Karr: Training with Takahiko Ishikawa
Kagan Arik began learning Ki-Aikido while attending the University of Pennsylvania almost by accident. There, he trained under Hal Abramson Sensei, from whom he learned fundamentals. When he moved to Seattle, Washington, Arik started training with Koichi Kashiwaya Sensei and was exposed to different approaches that opened him to the different possibilities of Ki-Aikido. Arik … Continue reading Interview with University of Chicago Ki-Aikido Club Instructor Kağan Arık: The Similarities and Differences, Part II
Kagan Arik began learning Ki-Aikido while attending the University of Pennsylvania almost by accident. There, he trained under Hal Abramson Sensei, from whom he learned fundamentals. When he moved to Seattle, Washington, Arik started training with Koichi Kashiwaya Sensei and was exposed to different approaches that opened him to the different possibilities of Ki-Aikido. Arik … Continue reading Interview with University of Chicago Ki-Aikido Club Instructor Kağan Arık: The Similarities and Differences, Part I
Nicholas Mayer found Daito-ryu in 2018 through Andrew Thorburn. He trains under Antonino Certa of Italy in his Daitokai International Group. Today, Mayer took some time to discuss his time in Daito-ryu. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Thank you for joining, Mayer Sensei! Nicholas Mayer: It is good to be here. MAYTT: How … Continue reading Interview with Daito-ryu Practitioner Nicholas Mayer: Just Practice
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 