Tag: Black Belt Magazine

Interview with Aikido of San Leandro Founder Patricia Hendricks: Morihiro Saito, Iwama, and the Legacy, Part I

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Patricia Hendricks Sensei stumbled into an aikido class led by Mary Heiny in the San Francisco Bay area in 1974, quickly finding a teacher and lifelong friend in Stanley Pranin. They eventually moved to train at the Oakland Dojo – Aikido Institute – that focused on Iwama-ryu, propagated by Morihiro Saito Sensei. After a handful … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of San Leandro Founder Patricia Hendricks: Morihiro Saito, Iwama, and the Legacy, Part I

Interview With Aikido of Monterey Dojo-Cho Danielle Smith: Aikido in Northern California, Part II

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Danielle Smith began training under Stanley Pranin in 1973, eventually taking over Pranin’s Aikido of Monterey three years later. As she continued through her aikido journey, she had the opportunity to experience many different early instructors, like Frank Doran, Mary Heiny, Linda Holiday, and Motomichi Anno. She also trained in Hakko-ryu Jujutsu, Seibukan Jujutsu, and … Continue reading Interview With Aikido of Monterey Dojo-Cho Danielle Smith: Aikido in Northern California, Part II

Interview with Longtime Kenshi Cary Mizobe: Kendo and Life, Part II

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Cary Mizobe began kendo training later than most, however, his love for the art has remained strong. Starting out at the Torrance Kendo Dojo, he later established his Westside Kendo Dojo in 1987. Today, Mizobe talks about his time training under Chris Mori, Torao Mori’s son, the philosophical side of kendo, and some personal experiences … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Kenshi Cary Mizobe: Kendo and Life, Part II

Interview with Californian Aikidoka Robert Noha: Aikido’s Spiritual Aspect

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Robert Noha began his aikido journey in 1966 and never looked back after finding a lifelong teacher and friend in Robert Nadeau. Under Nadeau’s guidance, Noha began to experience something more than the technical aspects of aikido – he began to see that the spiritual message left by O-Sensei would influence him for the rest … Continue reading Interview with Californian Aikidoka Robert Noha: Aikido’s Spiritual Aspect

Martial Arts and Police Training: Where Do They Intersect? Part II

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Originally written for an American History course during my graduate career, the following is the second part of a study that describes how continued martial arts training within the American police force can help better prepare officers for the situations that await them. This is the second part of a two part article. Read the … Continue reading Martial Arts and Police Training: Where Do They Intersect? Part II

Interview with Tambuli Media Founder Mark Wiley: Publishing Martial Art and Wellness Books Today

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Mark Wiley began Tambuli Media with the purpose of providing the public with mind-body practices, including martial arts. Additionally, he has spent many years in the martial arts, authoring fifteen books, including five on Filipino martial arts. Today, Wiley took some time to talk about Tambuli Media and the publishing house’s first feature film, Made … Continue reading Interview with Tambuli Media Founder Mark Wiley: Publishing Martial Art and Wellness Books Today

Interview with Guy Power: His Iaido Journey

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After seeing a Black Belt Magazine, Guy Power was hooked on the martial arts, first starting in taekwondo in Thailand. He later took up iaido, which became his life-long art, studying under Toshishiro Obata and Taizaburo Nakamura. Power opened his Kenshinkan Dojo in 1996. Today, Power took some time to discuss his iaido journey, taking … Continue reading Interview with Guy Power: His Iaido Journey

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 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