Tag: Ukemi

Interview with Aikido of Ramapo Valley Founder Eran Vardi: Memories of Donovan Waite

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Eran Vardi first saw Donovan Waite at New York Aikikai, who was teaching both regular and ukemi classes. Intrigued by Waite’s style and approach, Vardi made it a point to visit Waite regularly when the latter opened his Philadelphia dojo, ultimately having a major influence on Vardi. Today, Vardi took some time to discuss the … Continue reading Interview with Aikido of Ramapo Valley Founder Eran Vardi: Memories of Donovan Waite

Interview with Shobu Aikido Founder William Gleason: The Spirituality Elements of Aikido

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

After training with Mitsunari Kanai for six months in Boston and meeting a relative of Seigo Yamaguchi, William Gleason relocated to Tokyo to train with Yamaguchi and explore the philosophical aspects of aikido. In 1980, he returned to Boston to establish Shobu Aikido and five years later, he joined Aikido Schools of Ueshiba headed by … Continue reading Interview with Shobu Aikido Founder William Gleason: The Spirituality Elements of Aikido

Interview with Siskiyou Aikikai Founder Darrell Bluhm: Aikido, Kazuo Chiba, and the Future, Part III

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Darrell Bluhm found aikido and started learning the art in 1970 while in college. Very enamored with aikido, after graduating in 1973 he traveled to Japan where he trained from June through August primarily in Iwama with Morihiro Saito Sensei, with visits to Hombu Dojo and to Shingu with Michio Hikitsuchi Sensei. When he returned … Continue reading Interview with Siskiyou Aikikai Founder Darrell Bluhm: Aikido, Kazuo Chiba, and the Future, Part III

Interview with Siskiyou Aikikai Founder Darrell Bluhm: Aikido, Kazuo Chiba, and the Future, Part II

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Darrell Bluhm found aikido and started learning the art in 1970 while in college. Very enamored with aikido, after graduating in 1973 he traveled to Japan where he trained from June through August primarily in Iwama with Morihiro Saito Sensei, with visits to Hombu Dojo and to Shingu with Michio Hikitsuchi Sensei. When he returned … Continue reading Interview with Siskiyou Aikikai Founder Darrell Bluhm: Aikido, Kazuo Chiba, and the Future, Part II

Interview with Chester County Kokikai Founder Jason Martin: Kokikai’s Future

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Growing up with a fascination for the martial arts, it was no wonder Jason Martin found himself in an aikido school under Philadelphia pioneer Sensei Shuji Maruyama. Since then, he has continued following the teachings of Maruyama, even opening his own school, Chester County Kokikai Dojo in 2010, spreading what he learned from the Silent … Continue reading Interview with Chester County Kokikai Founder Jason Martin: Kokikai’s Future

Interview with Longtime Shin-Budo Kai Practitioner Bob Tullman: Following the Change

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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 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: Following the Change

Interview with Longtime Ki-Aikido Joe DeCapua: Ki-Aikido Curriculums

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Joe DeCapua’s introduction to aikido was in the mid-1970s, watching an old, black and white film of Morihei Ueshiba. It was not until he relocated to Maryland, near Washington, D.C., that he attended his first aikido class in 1982. The class was part of the Eastern Ki Society, one of the groups belonging to Shin … Continue reading Interview with Longtime Ki-Aikido Joe DeCapua: Ki-Aikido Curriculums

Interview with Tenshin Aikidoka John Araujo: The Balance Between Tenshin and Traditional

~ Antonio Aloia ~ 1 Comment

After starting Shotokan Karate and judo at a young age, John Araujo found aikido, feeling that it was time to explore this new art. He trained in traditional aikido for a decade until he sought out something more. Araujo searched and found Luis Santos in Florida. After participating in a grueling initiation and relearning process, … Continue reading Interview with Tenshin Aikidoka John Araujo: The Balance Between Tenshin and Traditional

Interview with Sakurakan Dojo Chief Instructor David O’Callaghan: Expanding Judo in Washington, Part I

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What follows are the transcripts of an interview with Sakurakan Dojo president David O’Callaghan from the summer of 2019 for one of my graduate projects. In this interview, O’Callaghan talks about how he runs his school and how it interacts with the larger community in Sumner, Washington. This is the first part of a two … Continue reading Interview with Sakurakan Dojo Chief Instructor David O’Callaghan: Expanding Judo in Washington, Part I

A Distinctive Dilemma: How Aikido Struggles to Find an Identity in the Modern World by Michael Aloia

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Even during its formation, Aikido has taken on many permutations and multiple interpretations. In brief, its origins are a mixture of physical movements, battlefield ideologies, cultural philosophies, and religious beliefs. More than 80 years after its coining, Aikido continues to take on many forms and interpretations. With the art now moving into a new era … Continue reading A Distinctive Dilemma: How Aikido Struggles to Find an Identity in the Modern World by Michael Aloia