Tag: Aikido

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Kiyoshi Yasutake: Aikido After O-Sensei’s Direct Students

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Kiyoshi Yasutake was Akira Tohei’s first student to go from white belt to black belt under him. Beginning in 1973, Yasutake took to aikido with much vigor, learning from and supporting Tohei in his many endeavors through the Midwest Aikido Center and the Midwest Aikido Federation. Today, Yasutake took some time to discuss aikido of … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Kiyoshi Yasutake: Aikido After O-Sensei’s Direct Students

Interview with Athen Ohio Ki-Aikido Founder Stan Haehl: Changing for the Future

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Stan Haehl heard of aikido before, but it was not until 1978 that he found a class in his small town in Kansas. He first learned the art under Barbra Bloom, then traveled to Boulder, Colorado to train under the Midland Ki Federation head Koichi Kashiwaya, and lastly, under Andrew T. Tsubaki. In 2008, his … Continue reading Interview with Athen Ohio Ki-Aikido Founder Stan Haehl: Changing for the Future

Interview with North County Aikikai Founder Coryl Crane: Kazuo Chiba and Changes in Aikido

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Coryl Crane was first introduced to aikido through Tai Chi, beginning her training with Ki Society. By 1981, she heard of Kazuo Chiba’s arrival in San Diego and decided to see what the commotion was all about. She never looked back afterwards. Ten years later, she opened her own dojo, North County Aikikai and has … Continue reading Interview with North County Aikikai Founder Coryl Crane: Kazuo Chiba and Changes in Aikido

Interview with Takemusu Aikido Association Founder Bill Witt: A Future for Aikido

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

Interview with NOVA Ki-Aikido Instructor Steven Wolf: The Uniqueness of Ki-Aikido

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Steven Wolf found himself in aikido by 1980, after training in judo and jujutsu as a child. By the next year, Wolf had joined Geroge Simcox’s dojo and attending summer camps with other Ki-Aikidoka. During that time, he learned much from Simcox until his death in 2000. Wolf assumed the role of head instructor of … Continue reading Interview with NOVA Ki-Aikido Instructor Steven Wolf: The Uniqueness of Ki-Aikido

Interview with Lifelong Martial Artist Hugh Cassidy: From Jujutsu to Karate to Daito-ryu

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Hugh Cassidy first found the martial arts in 1973 with Minna Jujutsu, a combination of judo, karate, and savate. By 1995, he transitioned to Shotokan Karate and Aiki-Budo in 2009. Today, Cassidy took some time to talk about his exciting journey through many different martial arts. All images provided by Hugh Cassidy. Martial Arts of … Continue reading Interview with Lifelong Martial Artist Hugh Cassidy: From Jujutsu to Karate to Daito-ryu

Interview with Longtime Ki-Aikido Joe DeCapua: Ki-Aikido Curriculums

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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

Interview with New Aikido West Chief Instructor Cyndy Hayashi: Leadership and the Future

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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

Interview with Lawman Trainer JW Bode: Aikido and Tactical Correctness

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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

Interview with Rockland Aikido Founder Glen Matsuda: Fumio Toyoda and the Early Days

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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