Tag: Greece

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

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

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 II

Interview with Aikido World Alliance Founder Andrew Sato: Fumio Toyoda and Moving Forward, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

In the spirit of finding an activity to further connect with his Japanese ancestry, Andrew Sato found aikido through the help of two community members. After trying out a single class with Fumio Toyoda, Sato was hooked and proceeded to train relentlessly with Toyoda until the latter’s passing. In the aftermath, Sato, under the direction … Continue reading Interview with Aikido World Alliance Founder Andrew Sato: Fumio Toyoda and Moving Forward, Part I

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka John Bieszk: Fumio Toyoda in the Midwest, Part II

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John Bieszk first started judo after going through not the nicest part of Chicago. After finding some time between schooling, he arrived at the Illinois Aikido Club under Akira Tohei. After taking a leave of absence due to college work, he found Fumio Toyoda in 1980 and he never stopped. Once he earned his shodan … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka John Bieszk: Fumio Toyoda in the Midwest, Part II

COVID-19 and the Aikido Community: The Aiki Extensions Initiative

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

On April 16th, Aiki Extensions hosted what would become the first of many conferences, bringing together aikido practitioners from all around the world. In an effort for solidarity, event organizers Robert Kent, Jamie Zimron, and Quentin Cooke invited speakers from Israel, Turkey, Greece, Poland, and other locations to convey the effects of the recent COVID-19 … Continue reading COVID-19 and the Aikido Community: The Aiki Extensions Initiative