Category: Interviews

Interview with Bay Area Shodokan Aikido Chief Instructor Warren Pottebaum: Tomiki Aikido From Japan to America, Part II

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Warren Pottebaum began training aikido in 1993, at the University of Southern California, under the tutelage of Robert Dziubla, the current shihan of the Tomiki Aikido of the Americas. After moving to Berkeley and spending ten months at Shodokan Hombu Dojo in Osaka, Japan, he returned with a new set of skills and knowledge and … Continue reading Interview with Bay Area Shodokan Aikido Chief Instructor Warren Pottebaum: Tomiki Aikido From Japan to America, Part II

Interview with Bay Area Shodokan Aikido Chief Instructor Warren Pottebaum: Tomiki Aikido From Japan to America, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Warren Pottebaum began training aikido in 1993, at the University of Southern California, under the tutelage of Robert Dziubla, the current shihan of the Tomiki Aikido of the Americas. After moving to Berkeley and spending ten months at Shodokan Hombu Dojo in Osaka, Japan, he returned with a new set of skills and knowledge and … Continue reading Interview with Bay Area Shodokan Aikido Chief Instructor Warren Pottebaum: Tomiki Aikido From Japan to America, Part I

Interview with Kenshi Joshua Bogin: The Virginia Tech Kendo Club

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Joshua Bogin found his way into the Virginia Tech Kendo Club through his practices at Koryo in Richmond. From there, he became a critical part of the club, even after his graduation. Throughout his years in connection with the club, Joshua began hearing stories of an earlier time, when the club first started. Today, he … Continue reading Interview with Kenshi Joshua Bogin: The Virginia Tech Kendo Club

Interview with Kihara Aikido Instructor Timothy Larson: A Personal Look at Karl Geis

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Timothy Larson walked in on one of Karl Geis’ weekend-long seminars in Oklahoma City and was quickly impressed by what was happening on the mat, training for six days a week. Today, Larson takes some time to talk about that journey and Geis’ legacy. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Hello and welcome Larson … Continue reading Interview with Kihara Aikido Instructor Timothy Larson: A Personal Look at Karl Geis

Interview with Sanbukan Dojo: Mits Yamashita, In Memoriam

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Mits Yamashita was a powerful force for Yoshinkan Aikido in California. In this special interview, eleven of his black belts and senior students came together to issue a few words of remembrance and memorial for Yamashita. In it, they narrate important parts of their teacher’s life, how they began training under him, and what kind … Continue reading Interview with Sanbukan Dojo: Mits Yamashita, In Memoriam

Interview with Senior Shindai Aikikai Instructor Brain Canin: Dennis Hooker and Aikido

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Brian Canin first started tai chi until he tried aikido with David Jones after one of his tai chi classes. He never looked back. A little bit later into his aikido journey, he met Dennis Hooker and began training under him. Canin would train under Hooker until the latter’s passing, assuming a leadership role at … Continue reading Interview with Senior Shindai Aikikai Instructor Brain Canin: Dennis Hooker and Aikido

Interview with Southwinds Aikido Founder Jimmie Villarreal: Karl Geis and Kihara Aikido

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It happened almost by accident. Jimmie Villarreal was on vacation when he saw aikido in action and was completely enamored with what he saw. Unfortunately, he had to wait until 1990 to find a school and that is where he found Karl Geis. Today, Villarreal talks about first meeting and later training under Geis, in … Continue reading Interview with Southwinds Aikido Founder Jimmie Villarreal: Karl Geis and Kihara Aikido

Interview with Longtime Kenshi Masaharu Makino: Kendo and University

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Masaharu Makino began training kendo in Japan at a young age, later joining the Kagoshima Police Department, continuing his training. In the late 1970s, Masaharu relocated to Los Angeles, taking an administrative role in both the All United States Kendo Federation and the Southern California Kendo Organization. With the help of his son, Nathan, he … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Masaharu Makino: Kendo and University

Interview with Tri-State Historical Fencing Founder Alex Meloi: Mounted Combat Within Fiore dei Librei’s Manuscript

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Alex Meloi first started aikido after getting the wind knocked out of him by a karate friend. After that, it opened him up to the world of martial arts, eventually coming the Historical European Martial Arts in 2015. Over the years, he has honed and refined his knowledge of Fiore dei Librei’s manuscript, later establishing … Continue reading Interview with Tri-State Historical Fencing Founder Alex Meloi: Mounted Combat Within Fiore dei Librei’s Manuscript

Interview with Tomiki Aikido of the Americas Cofounder Robert Dziubla: Tomiki Aikido on the International Stage, Part III

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Robert Dziubla entered the martial arts out of necessity, studying both aikido and karate as a teenager. In an effort to earn his black belt, he traveled to Japan in the early 1970s, training directly under Tomiki aikido founder Kenji Tomiki. Later, Tomiki tasked Dziubla with spreading Tomiki Aikido and the ensuing interview is his … Continue reading Interview with Tomiki Aikido of the Americas Cofounder Robert Dziubla: Tomiki Aikido on the International Stage, Part III