Category: Interviews

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

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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 first part of the interview, Stroud discusses his kendo journey, his time at Noma Dojo in … Continue reading Interview with Robert Stroud: Kendo in Pacific Northwest and Mountain Regions of the United States Part I

Interview with Independent Coalition of USAF Women Founder Janice Taitel

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Janice Taitel began her aikido journey in 1992, first training under Mitsunari Kanai then Greg O’Connor, before establishing her Aikido Center of Dover. In the summer of 2019, she and others formed the Independent Coalition of USAF Women in an effort to bring awareness and discuss a solution to the gender equity in the organization. … Continue reading Interview with Independent Coalition of USAF Women Founder Janice Taitel

Interview with Aikido Author Walther von Krenner: Training in America and Japan in the Early Years

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Beginning his martial arts journey in Germany in 1957 with judo, Walther von Krenner spent the next sixty years training in various martial arts, from aikido to kendo. Today, Krenner took the time to talk about his aikido journey, which started in 1961 with Isao Takahashi in Los Angeles, and took him to Japan to … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Author Walther von Krenner: Training in America and Japan in the Early Years

Interview with Evolene Premillieu: Aikido for Tomorrow

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Evolene Premillieu began training aikido in France when she was eleven, under Mariano Aristin Sensei. Once he retired, Evolene moved to Boulder, Colorado to train under Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei and Tres Hofmeister Sensei and pursue a degree in science. It was the encouragement of Ikeda Sensei that pushed Evolene to start Aikido for Tomorrow, a … Continue reading Interview with Evolene Premillieu: Aikido for Tomorrow

Interview with Sam Combes: Yoshinkan Aikido in Southern California Part II

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Currently holding the rank of nanadan in Yoshinkan Aikido and teaching at the Kadokan Dojo, Sam Combes began his aikido journey in 1963, in Hawaii, studying under Yukio Noguchi. After moving to Norwalk, California in 1967, he began his own school and has stayed within the Los Angeles area for more than thirty years. In … Continue reading Interview with Sam Combes: Yoshinkan Aikido in Southern California Part II

Interview with Sam Combes: Yoshinkan Aikido in Southern California Part I

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Currently holding the rank of nanadan in Yoshinkan Aikido and teaching at the Kadokan Dojo, Sam Combes began his aikido journey in 1963, in Hawaii, studying under Yukio Noguchi. After moving to Norwalk, California in 1967, he began his own school and has stayed within the Los Angeles area for more than thirty years. In … Continue reading Interview with Sam Combes: Yoshinkan Aikido in Southern California Part I

Interview with Kevin Bradley: Midwest Aikido

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In an effort to better understand the happenings and key characters in aikido’s history in the American Midwest, Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow reached out to Kevin Bradley Sensei to discuss his instructor, Gilbert James Sensei, and Yoshinkan Aikido. All images provided by Kevin Bradley. MAYTT: Welcome Kevin Bradley Sensei! I appreciate you … Continue reading Interview with Kevin Bradley: Midwest Aikido

Interview with Bruce Wonnacott: Experiences Under Frank Doran

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Bruce Wonnacott, a long-time student of aikido pioneer Frank Doran, began his training in 1991 at the height of Steven Seagal’s popularity while in college. By 1997, he found Doran and accompanied him on his many national and international seminars. Here, we discuss what it was like training during the height of Seagal’s popularity and … Continue reading Interview with Bruce Wonnacott: Experiences Under Frank Doran

Interview with Aikido Shimbokukai Founder Lisa Tomoleoni: Aikido Training and Future

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Lisa Tomoleoni, founder of Aikido Shimbokukai, began her aikido training in the early 1990s and traveled to Japan shortly after. In her time there, she trained under both Second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Third Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba. Upon returning America, she co-published Along the Way with Michelle Tate. In this interview, we discuss her initial … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shimbokukai Founder Lisa Tomoleoni: Aikido Training and Future

Interview with Thomas Blair: Takahiko Ishikawa and Growing Judo in the Modern World

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This is a transcript of an interview with Thomas Blair of Main Line Judo from the spring of 2019. In it, we discuss his time under Takahiko Ishikawa, judo in the Philadelphia area, and growing the art in today’s social climate. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: Hello Thomas Blair Sensei! I would like … Continue reading Interview with Thomas Blair: Takahiko Ishikawa and Growing Judo in the Modern World