Interview with Korinji Founder Meido Moore: Being the Uchi Deshi of Fumio Toyoda, Part III

Meido Moore began aikido as a way to complement his Buddhist studies in college. After training at an Indian monastery and returning to New Jersey, he met Fumio Toyoda at a seminar. There, Moore was enamored with Toyoda’s approach to both aikido and Zen and found himself quickly moving to Chicago, Illinois to be Toyoda’s … Continue reading Interview with Korinji Founder Meido Moore: Being the Uchi Deshi of Fumio Toyoda, Part III

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

Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part II

Ron Breines began learning Kakuto-ryu, a strip down and straightforward martial art, from his uncle and his friend Bob in 1970. Stressing combat readiness, Breines found that his training assisted him in acquiring and internalizing many different martial arts and military combatives. Framing Kakuto-ryu in the similar fashion of Ryukyute, Breines emphasizes the combative elements … Continue reading Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part II

Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part I

Ron Breines began learning Kakuto-ryu, a strip down and straightforward martial art, from his uncle and his friend Bob in 1970. Stressing combat readiness, Breines found that his training assisted him in acquiring and internalizing many different martial arts and military combatives. Framing Kakuto-ryu in the similar fashion of Ryukyute, Breines emphasizes the combative elements … Continue reading Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part I

Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part II

Dai Andrews has always been interested in the sword, beginning with classical fencing as a teenager. After getting himself into Kung Fu, he found himself studying Chinese swordsmanship, eventually finding his current teacher Scott Rodell. Such background prepared him for entering the Historical European Martial Arts community, taking one fight book and learning from it. … Continue reading Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part II

Interview with North County Aikikai Founder Coryl Crane: Kazuo Chiba and Changes in Aikido

Coryl Crane was first introduced to aikido through Tai Chi, beginning her training with Ki Society. By 1981, she heard of Kazuo Chiba’s arrival in San Diego and decided to see what the commotion was all about. She never looked back afterwards. Ten years later, she opened her own dojo, North County Aikikai and has … Continue reading Interview with North County Aikikai Founder Coryl Crane: Kazuo Chiba and Changes in Aikido

Interview with Bushikan Aikido Kai Founder Greg Sinclair: Searching for Functionality in Aikido

After starting out in the striking arts and getting into his fair share of fights, Greg Sinclair was trying to find something that would help him in situations where he was physically outmatched. He found aikido in 1992. After training for a number of years and by a lucky chance, Sinclair found himself learning directly … Continue reading Interview with Bushikan Aikido Kai Founder Greg Sinclair: Searching for Functionality in Aikido

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 Yobushin Dojo Founder Paul Smith: Tomiki Aikido and the Jiyushinkai

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 Atlanta School of Aikido Founder Larry Feldman: Mark Leidig, Shizuo Imaizumi, and Internal Power

Larry Feldman first started with Hakko-ryu Jujutsu by the end of his high school career. He later moved to Texas and looked for aikido at the suggestion of his former high school gym teacher. Feldman began training with Greg Swarens and later learned from Mark Leidig. Under Leidig, Feldman experienced Shizuo Imaizumi’s approach to aikido. … Continue reading Interview with Atlanta School of Aikido Founder Larry Feldman: Mark Leidig, Shizuo Imaizumi, and Internal Power