Category: Interviews

Interview with Shin-Budo Kai Instructor Andrew Bordwin: Shizuo Imaizumi and Beyond

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Because of a friend’s recommendation, Andrew Bordwin entered Shizuo Imaizumi’s dojo in November of 1990 and was immediately captivated. In addition to Imaizumi’s vigorous aikido instruction, Bordwin was drawn to Imaizumi’s emphasis on weapons. Today, Bordwin took some time to talk about his aikido journey, how Shin-Budo Kai interacts with other aikido styles, and the … Continue reading Interview with Shin-Budo Kai Instructor Andrew Bordwin: Shizuo Imaizumi and Beyond

Interview with Mushinkan Dojo Founder Mark Uchida: Training with Giants, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Mark Uchida first saw Chūshingura when he was a child and was immediately hooked on Japanese swordsmanship. Unfortunately, he never really found a place to train until 1973. From there, he dived deeply into both kendo and iaido, which he started learning a year after kendo. He would later become the first head of the … Continue reading Interview with Mushinkan Dojo Founder Mark Uchida: Training with Giants, Part II

Interview with Mushinkan Dojo Founder Mark Uchida: Training with Giants, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Mark Uchida first saw Chūshingura when he was a child and was immediately hooked on Japanese swordsmanship. Unfortunately, he never really found a place to train until 1973. From there, he dived deeply into both kendo and iaido, which he started learning a year after kendo. He would later become the first head of the … Continue reading Interview with Mushinkan Dojo Founder Mark Uchida: Training with Giants, Part I

Interview with Retired HEMAist Michael Edelson: HEMA in the Northeast, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Michael Edelson began studying Yagyu Shinkage-ryu in the early 1990s and happened onto historical fencing by chance. From there, he bought himself a fight book, gathered some friends together, and started figuring out what the historical sources said to do. In 2005, Edelson established his New York Historical Fencing Association. Becoming friends with influential personality … Continue reading Interview with Retired HEMAist Michael Edelson: HEMA in the Northeast, Part II

Interview with Retired HEMAist Michael Edelson: HEMA in the Northeast, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Michael Edelson began studying Yagyu Shinkage-ryu in the early 1990s and happened onto historical fencing by chance. From there, he bought himself a fight book, gathered some friends together, and started figuring out what the historical sources said to do. In 2005, Edelson established his New York Historical Fencing Association. Becoming friends with influential personality … Continue reading Interview with Retired HEMAist Michael Edelson: HEMA in the Northeast, Part I

Interview with Hawaiian Ki-Aikidoka Christopher Curtis: Ki and Shinichi Suzuki in Hawaii

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Christopher Curtis first encountered aikido through a meeting with Yoshimitsu Yamada as part of a theatre group. Later, when participating in a three-year meditation retreat, he found his lifelong instructor Shinichi Suzuki and quickly joined the Maui Aikido Dojo. Staying with Suzuki, Curtis had the opportunity to train in Japan at the Ki-Aikido/Ki Society Hombu … Continue reading Interview with Hawaiian Ki-Aikidoka Christopher Curtis: Ki and Shinichi Suzuki in Hawaii

Interview with Shin-Budo Kai Instructor Warren Wynshaw: Past, Present, and Future with Shizuo Imaizumi

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Inspired by his uncle, Warren Wynshaw set out to find a martial art; he did not know what martial art to do, but he was determined to find one that was for him. He found Shizuo Imaizumi in New York City while waiting for his results for the bar exam in 1977. From watching his … Continue reading Interview with Shin-Budo Kai Instructor Warren Wynshaw: Past, Present, and Future with Shizuo Imaizumi

Interview with HMA Instructor and Researcher Guy Windsor: Growth of the Movement in Europe

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

When Guy Windsor enrolled in University in 1992, he quickly joined every martial arts club that was available. Soon, he found that fencing was his calling, but not the modern sport. In 1994, he co-founded the Dawn Duellists' Society to explore historical fencing. That exploration has led him to author numerous books, create a swordfighting … Continue reading Interview with HMA Instructor and Researcher Guy Windsor: Growth of the Movement in Europe

Interview with Longtime Kenshi Jim Dixon: Nobuto Omoto and Kendo Politics

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Rob Nobuto Omoto left a big impression of a young Jim Dixon after teaching a class at the Seattle Kendo Kai. Throughout his kendo training, Dixon always returned back to Omoto’s teachings and kept in contact often. Where Dixon went, Hawaii, New York, California, New Mexico, he always found a way to practice kendo and … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Jim Dixon: Nobuto Omoto and Kendo Politics

Interview with Ken-Zen Iaido Instructor Pam Parker: Her American Iaido Journey

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Pam Parker first started martial arts with taekwondo, then moving to aikido at the New York Aikikai. At one class at the New York Aikikai, she attended an iaido class and she was hooked. She found the late John Prough of Nichibukan, and later Shunshin Kan of Ken-Zen. In July 2014, she passed her nanadan, … Continue reading Interview with Ken-Zen Iaido Instructor Pam Parker: Her American Iaido Journey