Joe DeCapua’s introduction to aikido was in the mid-1970s, watching an old, black and white film of Morihei Ueshiba. It was not until he relocated to Maryland, near Washington, D.C., that he attended his first aikido class in 1982. The class was part of the Eastern Ki Society, one of the groups belonging to Shin … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Ki-Aikido Joe DeCapua: Ki-Aikido Curriculums
Jeffery Prather first began karate before finding ninjutsu from the Bujinkan. After earning a shodan in karate and an epic fight later, Prather found ninjutsu and started to study under Stephen Hayes, traveling long distances to learn this new art. When Hayes brought over Masaaki Hatsumi from Japan, Prather’s interest soared. Staying under the tutelage … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Ninjutsu Practitioner Jeffery Prather: From Special Forces to Everyday Life
Cyndy Hayashi began her training at Aikido of San Francisco in 1977. She trained there under Frank Doran, Robert Nadeau, and Bill Witt. She traveled to Iwama, Japan to train with Morihiro Saito where she received her shodan. After returning to the United States, she trained and taught at the Aikido Institute of Oakland and … Continue reading Interview with New Aikido West Chief Instructor Cyndy Hayashi: Leadership and the Future
Charley Cummings joined The Saber Legion’s founders Josh Linden and Terry Birnbaum in the first six months of the organization’s existence. From there, it was nowhere but up, becoming the owner and president in 2021. Today, Cummings talks about how The Saber Legion approaches it curriculum, scoring, martial ethos, and its community. Martial Arts of … Continue reading Interview with The Saber Legion President Charley Cummings: Playing Star Wars
JW Bode found Karl Geis in 1978 and was enamored with the effectiveness of Tomiki Aikido. He took what he already knew and brought the Tomiki Aikido foundations into teaching and training law enforcement and security personnel in Texas, Oklahoma, and all around the Southeast of the United States. In his quest for tactical correctness, … Continue reading Interview with Lawman Trainer JW Bode: Aikido and Tactical Correctness
Glen Matsuda began training aikido in 1970 at the Illinois Aikido Club. In four years, he would follow his local teacher in the transition to Ki Society and it was there that he found Fumio Toyoda. Today, Matsuda talks about his journey with Toyoda, the forming of the Aikido Association of America, Toyoda’s teaching methodology, … Continue reading Interview with Rockland Aikido Founder Glen Matsuda: Fumio Toyoda and the Early Days
Liese Klein first stepped onto the mat after one of her friends cajoled her to tag along in 1989. She liked Aikido enough that she found a dojo when she moved to Florida. She then spent the better part of her Aikido career training with Kazuo Chiba and moved to Japan to train at Hombu … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Author Liese Klein: Aikido’s Strengths and Weaknesses, Part II
Liese Klein first stepped onto the mat after one of her friends cajoled her to tag along in 1989. She liked Aikido enough that she found a dojo when she moved to Florida. She then spent the better part of her Aikido career training with Kazuo Chiba and moved to Japan to train at Hombu … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Author Liese Klein: Aikido’s Strengths and Weaknesses, Part I
Eugene Morales walked into James Nakayama’s school because his family decided aikido was an activity they could do together. While his son stayed only for a year, Morales and his wife found something deeper in the art. In his training with Nakayama, Morales received a teaching methodology from Fumio Toyoda. While Morales did not train … Continue reading Interview with Pro-Sessions Aikido Founder Eugene Morales: Fumio Toyoda’s Teaching Methodology
The following is an excerpt of an interview conducted for the upcoming Takahiko Ishikawa: Judo’s Quiet Master, which recounts the life, times, and impact of Ishikawa on East Coast Judo in the United States. Susan Oles retells some of her memories learning from Ishikawa and training judo as a woman. Susan Oles began judo while … Continue reading Susan Oles: Randori and Shiai
Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 