Category: Interviews

Interview with Arielle Herman, Part I: The Independent Coalition of USAF Women and the Future of Aikido in America

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Arielle Herman of Rivertide Martial Arts and Yoga became a part of the Independent Coalition of USAF Women in late 2019, and soon became a representative of the Coalition in meetings with the USAF. Today, Arielle talks about her experiences with the Coalition and the future of aikido in America in relation to the event. … Continue reading Interview with Arielle Herman, Part I: The Independent Coalition of USAF Women and the Future of Aikido in America

Interview with Aikido Shihan Bill Witt: The Early Days of Aikido in Northern California

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Bill Witt Sensei began training in aikido in 1967, under Ueshiba Morihei – O-Sensei – at Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. After O-Sensei passed away in 1969, Witt Sensei began training under Saito Morihiro Sensei in Iwama, Japan. He cofounded the Takemusu Aikido Association in 2002, based in California, and currently has been teaching at Aikido … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Bill Witt: The Early Days of Aikido in Northern California

Interview with Art Bourgeau, Part II: History of the Philadelphia Judo Club and J.B. Gross

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Beginning his judo training under the famed Takahiko Ishikawa at the Ishikawa Judo Club in 1968, Art Bourgeau soon inherited the club in 1983, being the head instructor for twenty-five years, under the Philadelphia Judo Club namesake. Today, Art discusses the history of one of the longest judo clubs in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Judo Club, … Continue reading Interview with Art Bourgeau, Part II: History of the Philadelphia Judo Club and J.B. Gross

Interview with Art Bourgeau, Part I: Training Under Takahiko Ishikawa

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Beginning his judo training under the famed Takahiko Ishikawa at the Ishikawa Judo Club in 1968, Art Bourgeau soon inherited the club in 1983, being the head instructor for twenty-five years, under the Philadelphia Judo Club namesake. Today, Art discusses his relationship with Ishikawa and his training under him. This is part one of a … Continue reading Interview with Art Bourgeau, Part I: Training Under Takahiko Ishikawa

Interview with Former Independent Coalition of USAF Women Member Claire Keller: The Cause and the Future

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Claire Keller began her aikido journey in 1980, having the chance to train under Kazuo Chiba, Mitsunari Kanai, Seichi Sugano, and Yoshimitsu Yamada. She trained with the latter until she became the only signatory on the Independent Coalition of USAF Women from the New York Aikikai and was subsequently expelled in late 2019. In this … Continue reading Interview with Former Independent Coalition of USAF Women Member Claire Keller: The Cause and the Future

Interview with Hiroshi Ikeda: Aikido’s Current State in the United States

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Hiroshi Ikeda began his Aikido training in 1968 in Tokyo. He holds the rank of seventh dan and is founder and chief instructor of Boulder Aikikai, in Boulder Colorado. The following is a transcript of an interview in the summer of 2019. We had the chance to discuss the current state of aikido in the … Continue reading Interview with Hiroshi Ikeda: Aikido’s Current State in the United States

Interview with Todd Jones: Thomas “Doc” Walker and Growing Aikido in Florida

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Todd Jones, founder of American Butokukan, began his martial arts journey in 1971 with taekwondo, moving to aikido two years later. This is a transcript of an interview conducted the fall of 2018 for research of my upcoming American aikido history book. Here, we discuss his time under Thomas “Doc” Walker, the early days of … Continue reading Interview with Todd Jones: Thomas “Doc” Walker and Growing Aikido in Florida

Interview with Canadian Judo Champion Kathy Hubble: From Judo to Stunt Work and Back Again

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Starting judo at a young age, Kathy Hubble quickly jumped into competitions, and by 1985, she was a member of the Judo Canada Team. She soon quit judo and spent twenty-five years as a stunt performer in Hollywood North. In 2013, she returned to judo, winning gold in the Masters World Championships in Abu Dhabi, … Continue reading Interview with Canadian Judo Champion Kathy Hubble: From Judo to Stunt Work and Back Again

Interview with Secretary of Technical Committee Cathy Cline: Her Karate Journey

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This is a transcript of an interview with Secretary of Technical Committee of the International Shotokan Karate Federation in the spring of 2019. Here, we discuss the current state of karate in the United States, her early years of training, and her thoughts and feelings on being the first woman in Shotokan Karate to earn … Continue reading Interview with Secretary of Technical Committee Cathy Cline: Her Karate Journey

Interview with Robert Stroud: Kendo in Pacific Northwest and Mountain Regions of the United States Part II

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Robert Stroud has been commuting between many kendo schools in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain regions of the United States since 1979, becoming one of the first non-Asian US kenshi to receive the rank of seventh dan. In this second part of the interview, Stroud discusses his kendo journey, his time as head instructor of … Continue reading Interview with Robert Stroud: Kendo in Pacific Northwest and Mountain Regions of the United States Part II