The list of USAF Shihan has been updated to include the 2016 candidates who have received recognition from Aikikai. Congratulations to them all. Click here to view list
2016 USAF Shihan Appointments
March 8, 2016 by
Dan Promotions August 1, 2015 – January 1, 2016
February 17, 2016 by
Test applications received and dated between August 1st 2015 and January 1st, 2016 (some listings represent applications prior to Hombu approval).
Shodan
- Kathryn Bennett – Peachtree Aikikai Atlanta
- Jorge Borges – Gold Coast Aikikai
- Javier Calduch – Gold Coast Aikikai
- Benoit Charra – Dairyukai Aikikai
- Gustavo Colon – Aikido Chiheisen
- Philip Cortina – Kern River Aikikai
- Ismaer Cotto – Suffolk Aikikai
- Paolo Dalla Fina – Notting Hill Aikikai
- Demy De Jesus – San Juan Aikikai
- Peter Dorsey – Aikido of Prescott
- Chris Emanuel – Aikido of Westchester
- Ivan Ferran – Gold Coast Aikikai
- Deborah Fisher – New York Aikikai
- Parvz Ghahramani – Aikido Schools of New Jersey
- Osiris Gomez – Gold Coast Aikikai
- Robert Gutierrez – Twin Cities Aikido Center
- Susan Hauser – Austin Aikikai
- David Hernandez – Aikido of Nassau County
- Derek Hoagland – San Juan Aikikai
- Paul Michael Jones – Aikido of Scottsdale
- Robert-Jan Kastelijns
- Jason Marrero – New York Aikikai
- Omar Morales – Florida Aikikai
- Bob Nevins – Raleigh Aikikai
- Robert Poyer III – Aikido of Chester County
- Christopher Rodriguez – Sadkane School for Aikido
- Alan Rodriguez – San Juan Aikikai
- William Runyan – Gold Coast Aikikai
- Andres Samayoa – New York Aikikai
- Diane Samsel – Aikido Club of Try-Co-Lan
- Monica Sasaki – Florida Aikikai
- Osamu Sekiguchi – Shodokan
- Dmitry Shimelfarb – New York Aikikai
- Joanna Smart – Shodokan
- Spencer Sweeney – New York Aikikai
- Clifford Tanaka – Aikido of Cincinnati
- Conrad Turner – New York Aikikai
- Yvonne Vardi – Aikido of Ramapo Valley
- Jeffrey Waterman – North Coast Aikikai
- Jose Webster – Aikido Schools of New Jersey
- Derek Wilson – New York Aikikai
Nidan
- Roger Bacon – Aikido of Santa Barbara
- Celia Batan – Aikido of Fairfield County
- Kathy Berliner – Aikido of Park Slope
- Michael Boeder – Two Rivers Aikikai
- Clayton Broomes – Aikido of Park Slope
- Massimo Caiati – Aikido of Raritan Valley /Ren Sei Kan
- Abelardo Cuevas, Jr. – Aikido of Nassau County
- Binh Dam – Peachtree Aikikai Atlanta
- Damon Grace – Kingston Aikido
- Todd Granoff – Peachtree Aikikai Atlanta
- Albert Graziosa – Aikido of Westchester
- Frank Griffin – Aikido of El Paso
- Christoper Hawke – Litchfield Hills Aikikai
- Sachiyo Hotta – Aikido of Westchester
- Jan Ksel – Brevard Aikikai
- Beata Ksel – Breverad Aikikai
- Ignacio Mena – NY Eastside Aikikai
- Keith Miller – Aikido of Park Slope
- Alexander Milton – Gold Coast Aikikai
- Helena Neves-Pelchat – Aikido de la Montagne
- Matthew Odell – Aikido of Westchester
- Eric Pierce – Aikido of Norfolk
- Dale Roznowski – Florida Aikido Center
- Sergio Santiago – San Juan Aikikai
- Fred Serricchio – Aikido of Fairfield County
- Stephanie Spiller – Aikido Center of Atlanta
- Myron Thomas – Maru Aikikai South
- Bernardo Vega-Smith – San Juan Aikikai
- Alexandra Vinarov – New York Aikikai
- Steve Wachtel – Aikido North Jersey
- Jean-Marc Waiter – Palm Beach Aikikai
Sandan
- Gabriele Bixel – Aiki Muenster
- Zbigniew Bloch – Toronto Aikikai
- Mick Cipra – Twin Cities Aikido Club
- James De Furia – Portland Aikikai
- Jay Golding – Florida Aikikai
- Nelson Hayes – Aikido North Jersey
- Robert LaPalme – Valle Aikido
- Dya Levitt – MIT Aikido CLub
- Keith Lit – Florida Aikikai
- Edward Manalang – Aikido of Nassau County
- Alan Mandell – Aikido of Nassau County
- Mario Marquez – Aikido of El Paso
- Peter McDade – Shodokan
- Jason Parsons – Kern River Aikikai
- Alexander Socia – Florida Aikikai
- Armando Valeriano – New York Aikikai
- Roberto Velez – New York Aikikai
Yondan
- Louis Agliardo – Aikido of Nassau County
- Richard Backer – New York Aikikai
- Colleen Bothwell – New York Aikikai
- Jesse Earl Brown – Naka Ima Aikikai
- Aaron Cass – Portsmouth Aikido
- Richard Colacino – Aikido of Park Slope
- Stephanie Cook – New York Aikikai
- Simon Cruz – Aikido North Jersey
- Danny Dean – Aikido of Cincinnati
- Larry DeCarmine – Palm Beach Aikikai
- Jorge Del Castillo – Florida Aikikai
- Javier Dominguez – New York Aikikai
- Neal Earhart – Aikido of Westchester
- Graham Fraser – Mount Saint Vincent Aikikai
- Indra Gandy – New York Aikikai
- James Goeman – Aikido of Austin
- Daniel Hayes – Chushin Aikikai
- John Huang – Aikido of Ramapo Valley
- David Katz – Aikido of Westchester
- David Kilroy – Valley Aikido
- Pascal Kim – New York Aikikai
- Steve Kopka – Midwest Aikido Center
- David Law – Aikido of Nassau County
- Stephen Leigh – Aikido of Cincinnati
- Joan Nakatsugawa – New York Aikikai
- Jason Pepe – Aikido of Champlain Valley
- Octavia Pereyra – Florida Aikikai
- Guy Pharand – Budoka Aikikai
- Keith Pray – Albany Aikido
- Ramon Ruilopez – Florida Aikikai
- Garn Sherman – West Georgia Aikikai
- Asi Shnabel – City Aikido of Los Angeles
- Donald Slater – Georgia Southern University Aikido Club
- Derrell Thomas – Newark Aikido
- Brian Vacante – Aikido North Jersey
- Bill Witthar – Zanshin Aikido School
Godan
- Leslie Babish – Aikido North Jersey
- Wayne Brown – Twin Cities Aikido Center
- James Constable – Lunenburg Aikikai
- Jean-Rene David – Aikido de al Montagne
- Jesus Delgado- Arias – Miami Aikikai
- Silvia Eschenlauer – Florida Aikikai
- Anthony Fiore – Aikido of Chester County
- Paul Forhan – Aikido of El Paso
- Gordon Hannah – East End Aikikai
- Stephen Johnson, Jr. – Woodstock Aikido
- Lenore Killam – Sangamon Aikikai
- Matthias Lynch – Glen Ellyn Aikido Club
- Luke Machado – New York Aikikai
- Paul Manogue – Aikido of Raritan Valley/Ren Sei Kan
- Wayne Massey – El Pas0 Aikikai
- Matthew May – Midwest Aikido Center
- David Norton – Pax River Aikikai
- Eugene O’Connor – Bermuda Aikikai
- Arturo Peal – Aikido of Santa Barbara
- Ismael Rangel – Aikido of Austin
- Gary Roberts – Ottawa Aikido Centre
- Youssef Sadkane – Sadkane School of Aikido
- Sidney Shiba – Plano Aikido Center
Rokudan
- Matthew Bagedonow – MIT Aikido Club
- Paul Buchanan – Aikido of Try-Co-Lan
- Gary Bushorn – Aikido of Cincinnati
- John Conlin – Woodstock Aikido
- Cathy Conlin – Woodstock Aikido
- Emmanuel Herzog – Florida Aikikai
- Stephane Janczuk – Aikido la Forge
- Barry Kushel – Aikido of Nassau County
- Michael Patino – Florida Aikikai
- Annette Schediwy-Mackrel – Woodstock Aikido
- Claire Widen – Asheville Aikikai
- Robert Wilcox – Kingston Aikido
- Donald Wyckoff – Asheville Aikikai
- Kyoshi Yasutake – Midwest Aikido Center
2016 New USAF Dojo
January 7, 2016 by
The USAF would like to welcome the following new member dojo:
1/1/2016:
Barbados Aikikai
Chief Instructor: Christopher Charles
Trents Community Center
Holetown, Barbados
1/11/2016:
Niagara Falls Aikikai
Chief Instructor: Raymond Caldwell
7637 Lundy’s Lane
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2G 3G3
2/1/2016:
McGill Aikido
Chief Instructor: Daniel Laurendeau
475 ave. des Pins ouest
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2W 1S4
2/9/2016:
Aikido Aruba
Chief Instructor: Bryan Coffie
Tanki Leendert 59-A
Aruba
https://www.facebook.com/groups/118112464893993/
2/24/2016
Montreal Aikikai
Chief Instructor: Massimo di Villadorata
6530 Avenue Papineau
Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2G 2X2
2/24/16
Cloud Mountain Aikido
Chief Instructors: Benjamin Pincus, Heidi Albrights
111 Pincus Road
Roxbury, VT 05669
8/29/2016
Regent Park Community Aikido
Chief Instructor: Kali Hewitt-Blackie
402 Shuter Street
Toronto, Canada M5A 1X6
New York Aikikai Endowment Fund
January 3, 2016 by
New York, December 2015
Dear friend of New York Aikikai,
As the end of 2015 is nearing, the spirit of the dojo is lively as ever. Hope you’re enjoying it. We are writing you with some good news:
The Board of Directors at New York Aikikai has made a decision to create an Endowment Fund. This Endowment Fund will be a permanent source of support for the growth and development of the New York Aikikai and its programs.
Yamada Sensei’s work during the past 50+ years has resulted in an extraordinary institution, the New York Aikikai. Through his love of and dedication to aikido and its study, Sensei has touched and inspired many people at home in New York as well as across the United States and abroad. The New York Aikikai’s dojo, which also serves as the headquarters for the United States Aikido Federation, is a place where aikidoka from around the globe immerse themselves in the study of aikido. It is our hope that through this Fund, we will help the NYA continue realizing Yamada Sensei’s vision and ensure his legacy will be with us for years to come.
The New York Aikikai is a special community that could not exist without the efforts of the many members who contribute in significant ways. In turn, the school provides a meaningful experience by growing and evolving. Whether developing the kids programs, performing community outreach, creating scholarships for inner city children, or special classes for beginners and advance practitioners alike, our aim is to thrive.
In order to maintain both the high level of training and the spirit of community, it has been important for Sensei that the dojo continues to be open and accessible to as many members as possible. The school strives to keep the monthly dues low, even in the face of mounting costs. As you can imagine, the expenses of maintaining a building and a school in Manhattan are high and only increase over time.
To ensure our school’s economic sustainability, we humbly request that you consider a donation to the New York Aikikai Endowment Fund. Making a gift today, your contribution will help keep the New York Aikikai the vibrant place we treasure. Our goal is for 100 percent participation from our membership. Any amount counts. (Donate here) Or if you prefer to make a donation by check, please make it out to NY Aikikai (Memo: Endowment) and send it to the address found below.
In order to help with the effort of raising funds for an endowment, the Board of New York Aikikai has formed the Endowment Advisory Group comprised of dojo members. Should you have any questions or concerns about the Endowment, this group or any member of the Board should be able to help you.
The Endowment was established out of love and appreciation for a school and community that continues to enrich and inspire us. To all aikidoka, past and present, friends of the NYA worldwide, if the teachings of Yamada Sensei and the New York Aikikai have had an impact on your life, join us and donate today.
We thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
The New York Aikikai Board of Directors
The New York Aikikai is a Nonprofit Organization, (under the 501(c)(3) terms of the Internal Revenue Code) – all contributions to the Fund are 100% tax-deductible.
The New York Aikikai may expend so much of the endowment fund as it deems prudent after considering the factors set forth N-PCL § 553(a)
Perhaps your workplace has a matching program. (Click for information about matching programs).
You can also consider the New York Aikikai Endowment Fund in your estate planning. (Click here for info).
Of course, we will generate a letter for your 2015 tax return.
A Message From Yamada Sensei Regarding Sansuikai
August 14, 2015 by
I recently announced that Sansuikai International is now affiliated with the USAF. Some questions have been asked, so I wanted to explain what this affiliation means. As you know, I created Sansuikai so the dojo in South America and Europe can join and I can help these dojo by submitting Sansuikai dan applications to Aikikai. When I am no longer able to do this, the USAF, as a recognized Aikikai organization, will take my place and forward these applications directly to Aikikai. This is all that will be needed to make sure everyone can still have their dan ranks registered at hombu. We have so many friendly relationships all over the world, between Sansuikai and the USAF, and this allows me to rest assured that all the years of work I have put in to both organizations will continue, as well as your friendships on and off the mat .
Sincerely,
Y. Yamada
Dan Promotions April 16th – July 31st 2015
August 7, 2015 by
Test applications received and dated between April 16th 2015 and July 31st, 2015 (some listings represent applications prior to Hombu approval).
Shodan
- Michael Britton – Ottawa Aikikai
- Alvin Chan – Aikido of Central New York
- George Gregory Ellis – Austin Aikikai
- Sean Emrick – New Castle Aikikai
- A. J. Ermenc – Ottawa Aikikai
- Juan Hiedra Cobo – Fudoshin Aikikai
- David Goldberger – Two Rivers Aikikai
- Claudio Gomes – Skylands Aikikai
- Benny Goolsby – Zanshin Aikido School
- Jack Hanlon – Skylands Aikikai
- Michael Hewitt – Boston Aikikai
- Joshu Jones – Springfield Aikido School
- Lachlan Kadick – Summit View Aikido
- Jennifer Kane – Midwest Aikido Center
- Robert Kolada – Midwest Aikido Center
- May Lane – Twin Cities Aikido Center
- Donald Learning – Ottawa Aikikai
- Catherine Lefebvre – Aikido de la Montagne
- Jason Martell – Lunenburg Aikikai
- Indigo Moorhead – Framingham Aikikai
- Carolyn Moss – New Castle Aikikai
- Evangelos Moraitis – Aikido of New Orleans
- Gerald Napoli – Vineland Aikikai
- Holly Nesbitt – Boston Aikikai
- Cameron Panee – Open Sky Aikikai
- John Powers – Lunenburg Aikikai
- Jomel Romero – Kenosha Aikikai
- Karry Sarkissian – Providence Aikikai
- Annie Small – Aikido Schools of New Jersey
- Barry Stafford – Aikido Schools of New Jersey
- Gabriel Pablo Szraibman – Aikido de la Montagne
- Robert Warren – Vineland Aikikai
- Matt Wiegand – University of Iowa Aikikai
Nidan
- Matthew Bourbon – Aikido of Denton
- James Branin – Vineland Aikikai
- Joshua Buchman – Aikido of Central New York
- Liliane Bourgouin – Aikido de la Montagne
- Anthony Cumby – Fudoshin Aikikai
- Bradford Delapena – Twin Cities Aikido Center
- Gilberto Ferrer – Austin Aikikai
- Marilene Gelinas – Monteregie Aikikai
- John Graham – Aikido of Fairfield County
- John Kivlehan – Aikido of Central New York
- Steven Lasher – Aikido of Central New York
- Frank Pere – Aikido of Austin
- Karim Rholem – Aikido de la Montagne
- Henry Schoeneck – Aikido of Central New York
- Jay Shoemaker – Austin Aikikai
- Chris Schulz – Aikido de la Montagne
- Court Spooner – Aikido of Austin
- Slawomir Swierbinski – Toronto Aikikai
Sandan
- Heath Atchley – Aikido of Amherst
- Colin Baird – Albany Aikido
- Yeltiza Cuevas – Toronto Aikikai
- Lois Miraucourt – Aikido de la Montagne
- Jonathan Olson – Aikikai de l’Universite Laval
- Kris Onishi – Aikido de la Montagne
- Alexander Perry – Aikido of Champlain Valley
- Guy Ponko – Midwest Aikido Center
- Jamal Teymouri – Albany Aikido
Yondan
- David Cormalleth – Midwest Aikido Center
- Kevin Egan – Ottawa Aikikai
- Neil Quigley – Aikido Institute of Newfoundland
- Kaori Sakurai – Ottawa Aikikai
- Mazda Salmanian – Ottawa Aikikai
Dan Promotions January 2nd 2015 – April 15th 2015
August 7, 2015 by
Test applications received and dated between January 2 2015 and April 15th, 2015 (some listings represent applications prior to Hombu approval).
Shodan
- Philip Amisano – New England Aikikai
- Jonathan Aguillon – San Francisco Aikikai
- Scott Bennet-Jeffreys – New England Aikikai
- Milton Cadogan – Florida Aikikai
- Sylvain Choisel – San Francisco Aikikai
- Francisco del Valle – Aikido Schools of New Jersey
- Jorge Espinoza-Derout – Davis Aikikai
- Theophile Komlan Dagba – Toronto Aikikai
- Don Eisele – KSU Aikido/ Tatsumaki Aikikai
- Brian Galozo – North Vancouver Aikikai
- Daniel Holabaugh – New England Aikikai
- Judi Montfort Holley – Kitsap Aikido
- Richard Hubarcak – Harvard Aikikai
- Carol Huben – Aikido of Northampton
- Kaitlyn Hunter – North Vancouver Aikikai
- Christopher Ingham – Bermuda Aikikai
- Kim John-Banks – Bermuda Aikikai
- Brian Ledford – New England Aikikai
- Ari Ming – Bermuda Aikikai
- Phu Nguyen – Aikido of Houston
- Drake Pusey – Commonwealth Aikikai
- Melvin Rasmijin – Aikido Curacao
- Patrick Roux – Seattle Aikikai
- Augustus Sandage – San Francisco Aikikai
- Jay Tall – Aikido of Park Slope
- Chris Twomey – Commonwealth Aikikai
- Matthew Wadsworth – Lake County Aikikai
- Jeff Walker – KSU Aikido/ Tatsumaki Aikikai
- Howard Weitzman – Long Island Aikikai
- Vernon Williams – Lake County Aikikai
- Michael Wong – San Francisco Aikikai
- Jim Zawisza – Framingham Aikikai
Nidan
- Garrett Curry – Davis Aikikai
- Nicholas Howes – St. Ives Aiki Dojo
- Kai Chun Huang – San Francisco Aikikai
- Evan Katsuranis – Davis Aikikai
- Lester Loschky – KSU Aikido/Tatsumaki Aikikai
- Richard Mintz- Prairie Aikikai
- Neland North – USAF Academy Aikido Club
- Richard Schubert – Long Island Aikikai
Sandan
- Thomas Boggs – Aikido of Houston
- Wendy Guyer – Midwest Aikido Center
- Faith Lumsden – Seattle Aikikai
- Gillian Macleod – Aikido of Park Slope
- Rod Yabut – Southland Aikido
Yondan
- Robert Lews Clark – Kitsap Aikido
- Kjarten Clausen – Aikido of Park Slope
- Kali Hewitt-Blackie – Woodstock Aikido
- Mark Goodman – Aikido of Park Slope
- Francesco Grieco – Aikido of Santa Barbara
- Ray Kohl – Midwest Aikido Center
- Wendy Kopka – Midwest Aikido Center
- Anthea Pascaris – Notting Hill Aikikai
- Benjamin Silver – Aikido of Santa Barbara
- Andrew Sloley – Aikido of Houston
- William Tilles – Aikido of Park Slope
Richard M. Stickles Shihan, Aikido Schools of New Jersey
June 22, 2015 by
The USAF has sadly learned that Rick Stickles Sensei, founder and chief instructor of Aikido Schools of New Jersey (ASNJ), passed away on Sunday, June 21st. ASNJ members will be holding a memorial service at their dojo on Wednesday, June 24th at 7pm.
Stickles Sensei began his training in New York Aikikai and was soto deshi to Yamada Sensei. He founded ASNJ in 1977 and dedicated his life to teaching and promoting Aikido at his dojo and around the world. He was also an instructor at New York Aikikai.
Yamada Sensei and the USAF extend their deepest condolences to Stickles Sensei’s family and students for this sudden and unexpected loss.
In Memory of Dick Stroud Shihan
June 18, 2015 by
Dick Stroud Shihan passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 82 on May 30 while on a two-week trip to Japan with his wife and friends.
Stroud Sensei was a dedicated lifelong student of M. Kanai Shihan after starting aikido in Boston during the 1960s. He founded the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Aikido Club in the mid-70s and trained and mentored thousands of aikidoka, many of whom have gone on to become outstanding yudansha.
He was also widely known and admired in the art world. A prodigious artist, his works can be found in museums and private collections around the world. Stroud Sensei was a distinguished educator of fine arts at many museums and universities, as well as at special institutions such as the Charles River Creative Arts Camp in Dover, MA where a scholarship fund for children will be created in his memory.
A memorial training is tentatively scheduled for Saturday September 12 at the New England Aikikai.
Richard Stroud Shihan, MIT Aikido Club
June 8, 2015 by
The USAF has learned that Dick Stroud Sensei, chief instructor of MIT Aikido Club, passed away a week ago while on vacation in Japan with his daughter. An accomplished artist, Stroud Sensei started the MIT Aikido club in 1978 with the permission of Kanai Sensei. We share this sad news as we mourn the loss of another great instructor who dedicated his life to aikido. More information will be circulated when it becomes available.
