Category: Interviews

Interview with Shodokan Instructor Bob Whelan: The Legacies of Mitsunari Kanai and Bernie Mulligan

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

After moving back to the Boston Area in 1977, Bob Whelan began training under Mitsunari Kanai in his New England Aikikai. There, he started to learn to steal the technique from Kanai. Later, Whelan trained under Bernie Mulligan at what is now Shodokan School of Martial Arts. As of now, Whelan continues the legacies of … Continue reading Interview with Shodokan Instructor Bob Whelan: The Legacies of Mitsunari Kanai and Bernie Mulligan

Interview with Longtime Aiki Practitioner Nathan Himes: Aiki in Aikido and Daito-ryu

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Nathan Himes began training Kihara Aikido in Fort Worth, Texas after a schoolteacher told his father about aikido after a school altercation. Later on. it was through Windsong Dojo that he discovered Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, finding teachers and friends in Howard Popkins, Roy Goldberg, Eric Pearson, and Jack Bieler. He has since continued his research into … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aiki Practitioner Nathan Himes: Aiki in Aikido and Daito-ryu

Interview with Longtime Battodo Practitioners Zach Biesanz and Michael Shane: Aikido, Battodo, and the United States, Part II

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Zach Biesanz and Michael Shane both studied aikido and later sought instruction in battodo after repeatedly hearing aikido teachers say aikido movements “come from the sword.” Turns out, there's a lot more to cutting with a sword than mimicking the external movements. Biesanz, after training with Sang Kim, opened his Zentokan Dojo in 2016 with … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Battodo Practitioners Zach Biesanz and Michael Shane: Aikido, Battodo, and the United States, Part II

Interview with Longtime Battodo Practitioners Zach Biesanz and Michael Shane: Aikido, Battodo, and the United States, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Zach Biesanz and Michael Shane both studied aikido and later sought instruction in battodo after repeatedly hearing aikido teachers say aikido movements “come from the sword.” Turns out, there's a lot more to cutting with a sword than mimicking the external movements. Biesanz, after training with Sang Kim, opened his Zentokan Dojo in 2016 with … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Battodo Practitioners Zach Biesanz and Michael Shane: Aikido, Battodo, and the United States, Part I

Interview with Bushikan Aikido Kai Founder Greg Sinclair: Searching for Functionality in Aikido

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

After starting out in the striking arts and getting into his fair share of fights, Greg Sinclair was trying to find something that would help him in situations where he was physically outmatched. He found aikido in 1992. After training for a number of years and by a lucky chance, Sinclair found himself learning directly … Continue reading Interview with Bushikan Aikido Kai Founder Greg Sinclair: Searching for Functionality in Aikido

Interview with Sakurakan Dojo Chief Instructor David O’Callaghan: Expanding Judo in Washington, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

What follows are the transcripts of an interview with Sakurakan Dojo president David O’Callaghan from the summer of 2019 for one of my graduate projects. In this interview, O’Callaghan talks about how he runs his school and how it interacts with the larger community in Sumner, Washington. This is the second part of a two … Continue reading Interview with Sakurakan Dojo Chief Instructor David O’Callaghan: Expanding Judo in Washington, Part II

Interview with Sakurakan Dojo Chief Instructor David O’Callaghan: Expanding Judo in Washington, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

What follows are the transcripts of an interview with Sakurakan Dojo president David O’Callaghan from the summer of 2019 for one of my graduate projects. In this interview, O’Callaghan talks about how he runs his school and how it interacts with the larger community in Sumner, Washington. This is the first part of a two … Continue reading Interview with Sakurakan Dojo Chief Instructor David O’Callaghan: Expanding Judo in Washington, Part I

Interview with HDKI Founder Scott Langley: Getting on with Karate, Part II

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Scott Langley first started jujutsu at the age of five. After a move to North Yorkshire, he started karate. During that time, he found an interview with Frank Brennan relating his decision to become a full-time karate instructor. In reading that interview, Langley knew that was what he wanted to do and set himself on … Continue reading Interview with HDKI Founder Scott Langley: Getting on with Karate, Part II

Interview with HDKI Founder Scott Langley: Getting on with Karate, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Scott Langley first started jujutsu at the age of five. After a move to North Yorkshire, he started karate. During that time, he found an interview with Frank Brennan relating his decision to become a full-time karate instructor. In reading that interview, Langley knew that was what he wanted to do and set himself on … Continue reading Interview with HDKI Founder Scott Langley: Getting on with Karate, Part I

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Bob Toabe: Training Under Mitsunari Kanai, Part II

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In 1974, Bob Toabe stepped onto the mats of Shodokan to learn aikido under Fred Newcomb. Mitsunari Kanai, Newcomb’s instructor and New England Aikikai founder, made the trip on the last Friday of each month to teach. When Toabe enrolled into Boston University, he was able to train at both Shodokan and New England Aikikai, … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Bob Toabe: Training Under Mitsunari Kanai, Part II