Tag: Karate

Interview with Longtime Hawaiian Kenshi Braxton Fukutomi: Continuing His Family’s Legacy

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Hailing from a multigenerational kendo family, Braxton Fukutomi began training in the art at the age of four. As he progressed through kendo, Fukutomi became the head instructor of the Aiea Taiheiji Kendo Club, while his mother continues to run the Waipahu Seibukan Kendo Club. At the Aiea Taiheiji kendo Club, Fukutomi tries to develop … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Hawaiian Kenshi Braxton Fukutomi: Continuing His Family’s Legacy

Interview with Longtime Karateka Eon Waldron: The Americanization of Shotokan Karate

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

This is a transcript of an interview with Eon Waldron in the spring of 2019. Here, we discuss the early current state of karate in the United States.   Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: I would like to welcome you and thank you for taking some time to talk about karate. Eon Waldron: … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Karateka Eon Waldron: The Americanization of Shotokan Karate

Interview with Longtime Karateka Robert Hoffman: The State of Karate in America

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Robert Hoffman began training Shotokan Karate in 1970 under Teruyuki Okazaki and about a decade later, opened his Chester County Shotokan Karate Club. In the summer of 2019, Hoffman joined in discussing the current state of karate in the United States. All images provided by Robert Hoffman.   Martial Arts of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow: … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Karateka Robert Hoffman: The State of Karate in America

Interview with Dan Fernandez: Aikido in the Modern Era

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

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 … Continue reading Interview with Dan Fernandez: Aikido in the Modern Era

Interview with Aikido Instructor Salvatore Forestieri: Aikido in the Martial Arts Industry

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Salvatore Forestieri began his aikido training under Fumio Toyoda. After his passing, Forestieri became an understudy of Steven Seagal. This is a transcript of an interview conducted in the spring of 2019, discussing the current state of aikido and its place in the martial arts industry. All images provided by Salvatore Forestieri. Martial Arts of … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Instructor Salvatore Forestieri: Aikido in the Martial Arts Industry

Interview with Boulder Shotokan Karate Chief Instructor Bruce Green: The Current State of Karate in America

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Beginning his karate training in 1970, Bruce Green placed as a finalist in the Japanese Karate Association National Collegiate Karate Championships consecutively from 1973 to 1975. He became the chief instructor of Boulder Shotokan Karate in 1980. The following is a transcript from Spring 2019 discussing the current state of karate in America. All images … Continue reading Interview with Boulder Shotokan Karate Chief Instructor Bruce Green: The Current State of Karate in America

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

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

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

Interview with Secretary of Technical Committee Cathy Cline: Her Karate Journey

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

This is a transcript of an interview with Secretary of Technical Committee of the International Shotokan Karate Federation in the spring of 2019. Here, we discuss the current state of karate in the United States, her early years of training, and her thoughts and feelings on being the first woman in Shotokan Karate to earn … Continue reading Interview with Secretary of Technical Committee Cathy Cline: Her Karate Journey

Interview with Sam Combes: Yoshinkan Aikido in Southern California Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

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 I

Interview with Bruce Wonnacott: Experiences Under Frank Doran

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Bruce Wonnacott, a long-time student of aikido pioneer Frank Doran, began his training in 1991 at the height of Steven Seagal’s popularity while in college. By 1997, he found Doran and accompanied him on his many national and international seminars. Here, we discuss what it was like training during the height of Seagal’s popularity and … Continue reading Interview with Bruce Wonnacott: Experiences Under Frank Doran