Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part II

Laurin Herr found himself training under Robert Nadeau after a company merger and spending time in Japan training under Michio Hikitsuchi in Shingu. Bob Noha, on the other hand, trained with Nadeau since he was a teenager. Herr, Noha, and four other students of Nadeau came together during the Covid Pandemic to co-author what is … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part II

Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part I

Laurin Herr found himself training under Robert Nadeau after a company merger and spending time in Japan training under Michio Hikitsuchi in Shingu. Bob Noha, on the other hand, trained with Nadeau since he was a teenager. Herr, Noha, and four other students of Nadeau came together during the Covid Pandemic to co-author what is … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part I

A Layman’s Observation: Who Really has Authority in the Martial Arts?

Part of this editorial was inspired by a chapter from my 2020 book, Aikido Comes to America, and my 2024 book, Takahiko Ishikawa, bringing two related ideas together and pairing them with a third. Authority is something people look for, whether it is to wield it or to seek those who are in similar positions. … Continue reading A Layman’s Observation: Who Really has Authority in the Martial Arts?

Interview with Aikido of Madison Founder Robin Cooper: Aikido’s Future of Leadership

Robin Cooper started aikido in a dojo affiliated with Akira Tohei. After moving to California in the late 1970s, Cooper trained with a variety of aikidoka and schools, ranging from Frank Doran, Bob Bryner, Bob Nadeau, and Bill Witt, to LA Aikikai and Ki Society Schools. It was not until 1977 that she encountered Mitsugi … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Madison Founder Robin Cooper: Aikido’s Future of Leadership

Interview with New Aikido West Chief Instructor Cyndy Hayashi: Leadership and the Future

Cyndy Hayashi began her training at Aikido of San Francisco in 1977. She trained there under Frank Doran, Robert Nadeau, and Bill Witt. She traveled to Iwama, Japan to train with Morihiro Saito where she received her shodan. After returning to the United States, she trained and taught at the Aikido Institute of Oakland and … Continue reading Interview with New Aikido West Chief Instructor Cyndy Hayashi: Leadership and the Future

Interview with Aikido Author Liese Klein: Aikido’s Strengths and Weaknesses, Part II

Liese Klein first stepped onto the mat after one of her friends cajoled her to tag along in 1989. She liked Aikido enough that she found a dojo when she moved to Florida. She then spent the better part of her Aikido career training with Kazuo Chiba and moved to Japan to train at Hombu … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Author Liese Klein: Aikido’s Strengths and Weaknesses, Part II

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

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

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 I

Interview with Longtime Aikidoka Kirk Scott: Aikido of Tamalpais

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