Category: Interviews

Interview with Aikido World Alliance Founder Andrew Sato: Fumio Toyoda and Moving Forward, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

In the spirit of finding an activity to further connect with his Japanese ancestry, Andrew Sato found aikido through the help of two community members. After trying out a single class with Fumio Toyoda, Sato was hooked and proceeded to train relentlessly with Toyoda until the latter’s passing. In the aftermath, Sato, under the direction … Continue reading Interview with Aikido World Alliance Founder Andrew Sato: Fumio Toyoda and Moving Forward, Part II

Interview with Aikido World Alliance Founder Andrew Sato: Fumio Toyoda and Moving Forward, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

In the spirit of finding an activity to further connect with his Japanese ancestry, Andrew Sato found aikido through the help of two community members. After trying out a single class with Fumio Toyoda, Sato was hooked and proceeded to train relentlessly with Toyoda until the latter’s passing. In the aftermath, Sato, under the direction … Continue reading Interview with Aikido World Alliance Founder Andrew Sato: Fumio Toyoda and Moving Forward, Part I

Interview with Aikido Kokikai Pittsburgh Founder Barbara Litt: Kokikai in America, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

For Barbara Litt, aikido was not on her mind until one of her friends invited her to try a class; and that class was led by Shuji Maruyama, Kokikai Aikido’s founder. That first class and how the community welcomed her on the mat convinced her to train. Since she has joined the Kokikai Aikido community, … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Kokikai Pittsburgh Founder Barbara Litt: Kokikai in America, Part II

Interview with Aikido Kokikai Pittsburgh Founder Barbara Litt: Kokikai in America, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

For Barbara Litt, aikido was not on her mind until one of her friends invited her to try a class; and that class was led by Shuji Maruyama, Kokikai Aikido’s founder. That first class and how the community welcomed her on the mat convinced her to train. Since she has joined the Kokikai Aikido community, … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Kokikai Pittsburgh Founder Barbara Litt: Kokikai in America, Part I

Interview with Longtime Ninjutsu Practitioner Lee Relf: Bujinkan Ninjutsu

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

The Japanese Ninja boom of the 1980s left a mark on Lee Relf, so much so that he sought out ninjutsu. He found it in Arizona with Peter Crocoll and quickly enjoyed what he was learning. Since then, Relf has trained with numerous instructors from Japan and Europe and opened his Bujinkan Seitaku Dojo. Today, … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Ninjutsu Practitioner Lee Relf: Bujinkan Ninjutsu

Interview with Granite Forest Dojo Founder Bruce Costa: The Impact of Karate Training, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Bruce Costa began training in Shotokan Karate under Teruyuki Okazaki in 1980 while at Temple University. What made him stay was the depth of content as represented by Okazaki himself, as opposed to what Costa had seen in popular culture.  Since then, he opened Granite Forest Dojo in 2002 and has been a consistent and … Continue reading Interview with Granite Forest Dojo Founder Bruce Costa: The Impact of Karate Training, Part II

Interview with Granite Forest Dojo Founder Bruce Costa: The Impact of Karate Training, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Bruce Costa began training in Shotokan Karate under Teruyuki Okazaki in 1980 while at Temple University. What made him stay was the depth of content as represented by Okazaki himself, as opposed to what Costa had seen in popular culture.  Since then, he opened Granite Forest Dojo in 2002 and has been a consistent and … Continue reading Interview with Granite Forest Dojo Founder Bruce Costa: The Impact of Karate Training, Part I

Interview with Chushinkan Dojo Founder James Nakayama: Fumio Toyoda and His Legacy

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

James Nakayama first started training judo at the age of seven. Years later, an uncle told him about aikido.  He soon enrolled into Orange County Aiki Kai, and has not stopped practicing since. In the 1970s, he met Fumio Toyoda and was captivated by his style and approach. It was not until the 1990s, after … Continue reading Interview with Chushinkan Dojo Founder James Nakayama: Fumio Toyoda and His Legacy

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Corky Quakenbush: Intention, Performance, and Takemusu Aiki, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Corky Quakenbush first saw aikido when he was learning how to fence and hoped to see the demonstration again the next week, but to no avail. He then saw the art again while in Los Angeles, where he was asked to participate and felt a powerful and painful nikyo, something that did not fully sit … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Corky Quakenbush: Intention, Performance, and Takemusu Aiki, Part II

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Corky Quakenbush: Intention, Performance, and Takemusu Aiki, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Corky Quakenbush first saw aikido when he was learning how to fence and hoped to see the demonstration again the next week, but to no avail. He then saw the art again while in Los Angeles, where he was asked to participate and felt a powerful and painful nikyo, something that did not fully sit … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Corky Quakenbush: Intention, Performance, and Takemusu Aiki, Part I