Tag: Birankai

Interview with Korinji Founder Meido Moore: Being the Uchi Deshi of Fumio Toyoda, Part III

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Meido Moore began aikido as a way to complement his Buddhist studies in college. After training at an Indian monastery and returning to New Jersey, he met Fumio Toyoda at a seminar. There, Moore was enamored with Toyoda’s approach to both aikido and Zen and found himself quickly moving to Chicago, Illinois to be Toyoda’s … Continue reading Interview with Korinji Founder Meido Moore: Being the Uchi Deshi of Fumio Toyoda, Part III

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 Aikido Author Liese Klein: Aikido’s Strengths and Weaknesses, Part II

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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

Interview with Aikido Author Liese Klein: Aikido’s Strengths and Weaknesses, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

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

Interview with Brooklyn Aikikai Founder Ryūgan Savoca: Kazuo Chiba, Aikido, and Inclusivity

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Ryūgan Robert D. Savoca began training judo at 12 years old and took up aikido after his judo instructor suggested it to him. After that he learned from many teachers in California until he met Juba Nour, who taught him the “essence of Chiba Sensei.” Shortly afterwards, Savoca became Chiba’s uchi deshi, learning the intensity … Continue reading Interview with Brooklyn Aikikai Founder Ryūgan Savoca: Kazuo Chiba, Aikido, and Inclusivity

Interview with Albuquerque Shin-Budo Kai Chief Instructor Ralph Bryan: Always Coming Back to Aikido

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Ralph Bryan experienced many different styles of aikido throughout his time before settling with Shizuo Imaizumi. He first started in Hawaii with Aikikai, and then with Bill Lee of Ki Society in Austin, Texas, and later with Mitsugi Saotome’s Aikido Schools of Ueshiba in Takoma Park, Maryland. He joined Shin-Budo Kai in 1994 with Wade … Continue reading Interview with Albuquerque Shin-Budo Kai Chief Instructor Ralph Bryan: Always Coming Back to Aikido

Interview with Aikido of Kohala Founders Rikko and Kristina Varjan: Aikido, Hawaii, and Kazuo Chiba Legacy, Part II

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Kristina Varjan found aikido after watching Koichi Tohei Sensei at a Manhattan high school while Rikko assumed the role as uke during his first-ever aikido demonstration. By the late 1980s, they found Kazuo Chiba Sensei, and enrolled in his Kenshusei teacher program. After four intensive years of aikido, iaido, and zazen, the couple emerged as … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Kohala Founders Rikko and Kristina Varjan: Aikido, Hawaii, and Kazuo Chiba Legacy, Part II

Interview with Aikido of Kohala Founders Rikko and Kristina Varjan: Aikido, Hawaii, and Kazuo Chiba Legacy, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Kristina Varjan found aikido after watching Koichi Tohei Sensei at a Manhattan high school while Rikko assumed the role as uke during his first-ever aikido demonstration. By the late 1980s, they found Kazuo Chiba Sensei, and enrolled in his Kenshusei teacher program. After four intensive years of aikido, iaido, and zazen, the couple emerged as … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Kohala Founders Rikko and Kristina Varjan: Aikido, Hawaii, and Kazuo Chiba Legacy, Part I

Interview with San Diego Aikikai Chief Instructor Deena Drake: Kazuo Chiba’s Legacy

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Deena Drake discovered aikido while driving to and from work, happening to stop in one day. Immediately, she was hooked. She trained under Michael Flynn for a number of years until moving to San Diego to train under Kazuo Chiba. As Chiba’s health declined, he approached Drake in 2007 to assume operations of San Diego … Continue reading Interview with San Diego Aikikai Chief Instructor Deena Drake: Kazuo Chiba’s Legacy