Tag: Hiroshi Ikeda

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

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

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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 II

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Kirk Scott: Aikido of Tamalpais

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This interview was originally conducted in the fall of 2020, as the first of many planned interviewed within an organizational project. Kirk Scott first started out in Koei Kan karate-do until he needed a break from training after the injuries he sustained. He later found aikido and has continued with it ever since. Today, Scott … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Kirk Scott: Aikido of Tamalpais

Interview with Aikido of Madison Cofounders Robin Cooper and John Stone: Their Journey Through Aikido and Beyond, Part II

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Both Robin Cooper and John Stone started aikido at the same time, beginning their study in a dojo affiliated with Akira Tohei. After moving to California in the late 1970s, both of them trained with a variety of aikidoka and schools, ranging from Frank Doran, Bob Bryner, Bob Nadeau, and Bill Witt, to LA Aikikai … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Madison Cofounders Robin Cooper and John Stone: Their Journey Through Aikido and Beyond, Part II

Interview with Aikido of Madison Cofounders Robin Cooper and John Stone: Their Journey Through Aikido and Beyond, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Both Robin Cooper and John Stone started aikido at the same time, beginning their study in a dojo affiliated with Akira Tohei. After moving to California in the late 1970s, both of them trained with a variety of aikidoka and schools, ranging from Frank Doran, Bob Bryner, Bob Nadeau, and Bill Witt, to LA Aikikai … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Madison Cofounders Robin Cooper and John Stone: Their Journey Through Aikido and Beyond, Part I

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 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 Aikido of Monterey Dojo-Cho Danielle Smith: Aikido in Northern California, Part I

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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 I

Interview with Dan Fernandez: Aikido in the Modern Era

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In this transcript of an interview done in the summer of 2019, Dan Fernandez of Tampa Aikikai discuses aikido in America and what the art currently faces in the modern era. All images provided by Dan Fernandez. Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Welcome, Fernandez Sensei! Thank you for taking the time to discuss the … Continue reading Interview with Dan Fernandez: Aikido in the Modern Era

Interview with Hiroshi Ikeda: Aikido’s Current State in the United States

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Hiroshi Ikeda began his Aikido training in 1968 in Tokyo. He holds the rank of seventh dan and is founder and chief instructor of Boulder Aikikai, in Boulder Colorado. The following is a transcript of an interview in the summer of 2019. We had the chance to discuss the current state of aikido in the … Continue reading Interview with Hiroshi Ikeda: Aikido’s Current State in the United States