Tag: Jo

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka George Ledyard: The Past and the Future of Aikido, Part II

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During a time of anti-violent movements, George Ledyard stumbled upon an aikido demonstration while living in Washington DC. After watching the demonstration and talking with the leader of the group, Mitsugi Saotome, Ledyard was convinced to try out a class. From that moment, he was hooked. As the years went by, Ledyard trained in other … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Aikidoka George Ledyard: The Past and the Future of Aikido, Part II

Interview with Yobushin Dojo Founder Paul Smith: Tomiki Aikido and the Jiyushinkai

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Paul Smith began training in aikido at the Indiana University Club in 1986, learning Tomiki Aikido. He and the club had an affiliation with a group of Tomiki practitioners in Chicago where Bob Dziubla originated. In 1998, he joined and began following the teachings of the Jiyushinkai under the direction of Chuck Clark, being captivated … Continue reading Interview with Yobushin Dojo Founder Paul Smith: Tomiki Aikido and the Jiyushinkai

Interview with Longtime Shin-Budo Kai Practitioner Bob Tullman: Finding Shizuo Imaizumi

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Always interested in the martial arts, Bob Tullman always kept an eye out for possible training opportunities. After training in Sanuces-ryu jujutsu and Goju-ryu Karate, he heard about this mystical martial art called aikido. He could not find a program near him immediately but while working on his graduate school in Kansas, he found aikido … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Shin-Budo Kai Practitioner Bob Tullman: Finding Shizuo Imaizumi

Interview with Chicago Aikikai Chief Instructor Marsha Turner: Reminiscing About Aikido

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Marsha Turner began aikido in 1986 under Kevin Choate after experiencing ballet, gymnastics, and foil fencing. Her reasons for trying and for her continued stay changed and evolved over the course of her tenure in aikido. She currently heads Chicago Aikikai and took some time today to discuss her early years of training, the late … Continue reading Interview with Chicago Aikikai Chief Instructor Marsha Turner: Reminiscing About Aikido

Interview with Shinju Dojo Cofounder Aikidoka Roy Gawlick: Karl Geis, Nick Lowry, and a Lifelong Study

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After a friend described to him what aikido is, Roy Gawlick quickly searched for a dojo to find out more. He came across Karl Geis’ school in Houston, Texas and never left the art. In 2001, Gawlick opened his first school in Vancouver, British Columbia then, in 2018, helped his wife Heather establish Shinju Dojo. … Continue reading Interview with Shinju Dojo Cofounder Aikidoka Roy Gawlick: Karl Geis, Nick Lowry, and a Lifelong Study

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 I

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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 I

Interview with David Witt: Judo, Aikido, and Karl Geis

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

Karl Geis became a martial arts force in the Houston, Texas area, training and producing national and international judo champions, and competent aikidoka in the Shodokan variety after studying judo at the Kodokan and aikido under Shodokan founder, Kenji Tomiki. Today, longtime student of Geis, David Witt, talks to Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and … Continue reading Interview with David Witt: Judo, Aikido, and Karl Geis