Tag: Aikido in Florida

Interview with Boulder Aikikai Founder Hiroshi Ikeda: A Journey with Mitsugi Saotome

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Hiroshi Ikeda first trained judo in his high school years before finding aikido at Kokugakuin University, in 1969. There, he began studying directly under Mitsugi Saotome, and soon enrolled in his Reimei Juku Dojo the next year. When an American aikidoka (Bill McIntyre) invited Saotome to teach in Florida in 1976, Ikeda followed him to … Continue reading Interview with Boulder Aikikai Founder Hiroshi Ikeda: A Journey with Mitsugi Saotome

Interview with Sunday Morning Keiko Founder Rick Hotton: Karate, Aikido, and Body Intelligence, Part III

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Rick Hotton began training Shotokan Karate in the early 1970s, being one of the youngest practitioners to join the dojo. After taking responsibility for the dojo he once trained in, curiosity led him to aikido pioneer Mitsugi Saotome, who, to Hotton, is his best karate teacher. Today, Hotton discusses his karate journey, how Saotome influenced … Continue reading Interview with Sunday Morning Keiko Founder Rick Hotton: Karate, Aikido, and Body Intelligence, Part III

Interview with Sunday Morning Keiko Founder Rick Hotton: Karate, Aikido, and Body Intelligence, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Rick Hotton began training Shotokan Karate in the early 1970s, being one of the youngest practitioners to join the dojo. After taking responsibility for the dojo he once trained in, curiosity led him to aikido pioneer Mitsugi Saotome, who, to Hotton, is his best karate teacher. Today, Hotton discusses his karate journey, how Saotome influenced … Continue reading Interview with Sunday Morning Keiko Founder Rick Hotton: Karate, Aikido, and Body Intelligence, Part II

Interview with Sunday Morning Keiko Founder Rick Hotton: Karate, Aikido, and Body Intelligence, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Rick Hotton began training Shotokan Karate in the early 1970s, being one of the youngest practitioners to join the dojo. After taking responsibility for the dojo he once trained in, curiosity led him to aikido pioneer Mitsugi Saotome, who, to Hotton, is his best karate teacher. Today, Hotton discusses his karate journey, how Saotome influenced … Continue reading Interview with Sunday Morning Keiko Founder Rick Hotton: Karate, Aikido, and Body Intelligence, Part I

Interview with Florida Aikikai Cofounder Peter Bernath: Starting From Scratch

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After seeing a poster for aikido in San Francisco in 1972, Peter Bernath quickly signed up. After moving to New York, he lost no time in joining Yoshimitsu Yamada’s New York Aikikai. By 1980, Bernath found himself in Florida at the request of Yamada, working with Florida native and future wife Penny. Today, Bernath joined … Continue reading Interview with Florida Aikikai Cofounder Peter Bernath: Starting From Scratch

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 Shindai Aikikai Chief Instructor Steve Fasen: Dennis Hooker and His Legacy, Part II

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Steve Fasen found aikido almost by accident. After training in karate for a number of years before coming to the Orlando area, he wandered into an aikido class when his kids’ gymnastics class ran over. A few weeks later, Fasen met Dennis Hooker and proceeded to follow his teachings and later became friends with his … Continue reading Interview with Shindai Aikikai Chief Instructor Steve Fasen: Dennis Hooker and His Legacy, Part II

Interview with Shindai Aikikai Chief Instructor Steve Fasen: Dennis Hooker and His Legacy, Part I

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Steve Fasen found aikido in Central Florida almost by accident. After training in karate for a decade prior to moving to the Orlando area, he wandered into an aikido class when his kids’ gymnastics class ran over. A few weeks later, Fasen met Dennis Hooker and proceeded to follow his teachings. Today, Fasen met up … Continue reading Interview with Shindai Aikikai Chief Instructor Steve Fasen: Dennis Hooker and His Legacy, Part I

Interview with North Florida School of Aikido Chief Instructor Mike Page: Florida Aikido and Individualized Training

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Mike Page wanted to start aikido sooner, but the stars did not align until his graduate career at Florida State University, where he quickly joined the college’s club. From there, he trained under Yoshimitsu Yamada and Thomas “Doc” Walker, soon learning from Mitsugi Saotome, Dennis Hooker, and John Messores. Today, Page took some time to … Continue reading Interview with North Florida School of Aikido Chief Instructor Mike Page: Florida Aikido and Individualized Training