Interview with Longtime UK Kenshi and Historian Paul Budden: Kendo’s Varied History and its International Future, Part I

Growing up close to Hadrian’s Wall – erected during Rome’s reign of the British Isles – Paul Budden found his interest in history. His interest of Japanese sword – born out of his love of history – led him into a kendo dojo and has not looked back since. Throughout his time in kendo, he … Continue reading Interview with Longtime UK Kenshi and Historian Paul Budden: Kendo’s Varied History and its International Future, Part I

Interview with Lawman Trainer JW Bode: Aikido and Tactical Correctness

JW Bode found Karl Geis in 1978 and was enamored with the effectiveness of Tomiki Aikido. He took what he already knew and brought the Tomiki Aikido foundations into teaching and training law enforcement and security personnel in Texas, Oklahoma, and all around the Southeast of the United States. In his quest for tactical correctness, … Continue reading Interview with Lawman Trainer JW Bode: Aikido and Tactical Correctness

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

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 Mokuren Dojo Founder Patrick Parker: Judo, Aikido, and Everything Else

1986 started Patrick Parker into the martial arts world with taekwondo, switching to karate while in college. At that time, he came across some people “holding hands and dancing around,” training aikido. After investigating and experiencing one class, Parker was hooked, beginning his journey in aikido, judo, and jodo. Following the Karl Geis lineage of … Continue reading Interview with Mokuren Dojo Founder Patrick Parker: Judo, Aikido, and Everything Else

Interview with Kaze Uta Budo Kai Founder Nick Lowry: Karl Geis and Striking Out on His Own, Part II

After spending his teenage years participating in competitive stick fighting, Nick Lowry found aikido by reading a magazine and finding a local dojo. Upon his first watch, he was hooked and quickly became uchi deshi to Chuck Caldwell. He later learned from Caldwell’s instructor, Karl Geis not only aikido but judo and jodo as well. … Continue reading Interview with Kaze Uta Budo Kai Founder Nick Lowry: Karl Geis and Striking Out on His Own, Part II

Interview with Kaze Uta Budo Kai Founder Nick Lowry: Karl Geis and Striking Out on His Own, Part I

After spending his teenage years participating in competitive stick fighting, Nick Lowry found aikido by reading a magazine and finding a local dojo. Upon his first watch, he was hooked and quickly became uchi deshi to Chuck Caldwell. He later learned from Caldwell’s instructor, Karl Geis not only aikido but judo and jodo as well. … Continue reading Interview with Kaze Uta Budo Kai Founder Nick Lowry: Karl Geis and Striking Out on His Own, Part I

Interview with Chushin Aikido Founder Erik DiVietro: Tomiki Aikido and Aiki

Erik DiVietro has a different take on Tomiki Aikido. He had a chance to participate in three different Tomiki Aikido organizations and has studied other styles of aikido to explore the root of the art – aiki. DiVietro currently teaches what he has discovered about aiki at his Chūshin Aikido. Today, DiVietro discusses his time … Continue reading Interview with Chushin Aikido Founder Erik DiVietro: Tomiki Aikido and Aiki

Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part II

Katie Roche wanted to find out what naginata was as a child after hearing her grandmother talk about her time in the art. After some time and breaking up with her high school boyfriend, she enrolled herself into naginata, studying first under Sachiko Yamauchi. When she relocated for undergraduate studies at Mount Holyoke College and … Continue reading Interview with GNYNF President Katie Roche: Naginata Adventures and Implementing Technology, Part II

Interview with Shinju Dojo Cofounder Heather Gawlick: Exploring Aikido and Karl Geis’ Legacy

Between volleyball and aikido – something she had never heard of before – Heather Gawlick chose aikido and has not looked back since. Over the years, she has learned from Nick Lowry of Kaze Uta Budo Kai and Karl Geis of Fugakukai. At Geis’ suggestion, she opened her first school in 1999 in Albuquerque, New … Continue reading Interview with Shinju Dojo Cofounder Heather Gawlick: Exploring Aikido and Karl Geis’ Legacy

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

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