20th Memorial Day Gasshuku 2009

at Beautiful North Lake Tahoe

Train with these fabulous instructors:

	Bill Witt Shihan 7^th Dan, Shihan Dai Sempai and President, Takemusu Aikido Association Chief Instructor, Aikido of Palo Alto and Senior Instructor, Aikido of Silicon Valley Witt Sensei began Aikido practice in 1967 at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. His first Aikido teacher was the Founder, Morihei Ueshiba.  Has lived in Japan on several occasions beginning 1967 and was one of the first foreigners to train at the Iwama Dojo, Japan.  He has been described as "the man who built the bridge to Iwama". He translated Volumes One and Two of Saito Shihan's "Traditional Aikido" texts.
Dennis Tatoian Sensei 6^th Dan Chief Instructor, Traditional Aikido of The Philippines Tatoian Sensei started Aikido training with Gozo Shioda Sensei in 1965. In 1969 he was transferred to Sagami-Ono where he trained with Sugawara Sensei and began going to Iwama to train with Saito Sensei under whom he trained from 1970 - 1977. He translated Volumes Three and Four of Saito Sensei's "Traditional Aikido" texts.
	Hans Goto Sensei 6^th Dan Chief Instructor, Bay Marin Aikido, San Rafael, CA Hans Goto Sensei has over 35 years experience in the martial arts. His main focus has been Aikido with extended residential training in Japan in Iwama under Master Morihiro Saito. He has also studied Judo, Tai Qi Quan, and Wushu. His articles have appeared in Aikido Journal and Black Belt magazine. He serves as Director and Secretary of the Takemusu Aikido Association.
Hoa Newens Sensei 6^th Dan Chief Instructor, Aikido Institute Davis, Davis, CA Hoa Sensei began his training in 1967 under Dang Thong Phong Sensei. He studied with Seiichi Sugano Sensei, then came to the Aikido Institute in 1978. He was Dojo Cho at Aikido Institute of Oakland, where he trained in Iwama style Aikido, before establishing the Davis dojo.  He has published six DVDs on Aikido technique. Hoa Sensei's teaching has its foundation in the dojo code: I always look, listen and learn. I bow with humility to receive from O'Sensei, the Sensei and fellow students. I do my best, share and persevere in my practice.
	Kim Peuser Sensei 6^th Dan Chief Instructor, Aikido Institute, Oakland, CA Kim Sensei has studied Aikido in the United States and in Japan beginning in 1974. He studied intensively for several years in Oakland and Iwama. He first traveled to Iwama in 1977 to train under Saito Shihan as uchi-deshi and later spent several additional months as soto-deshi. He is the current Dojo Cho of the Aikido Institute in Oakland, California.
Bernice Tom Sensei 6^th Dan Chief Instructor, Sunset Cliffs Aikido, CA Bernice Tom Sensei began Aikido in 1974 at the Aikido Institute in Oakland.  From 1975 to 2002 she made more then ten visits to Iwama, Japan, to study with Saito Morihiro Shihani, including living in Iwama for four years.  She began teaching at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in 1985 and became Chief Instructor in 1990.  From 1988 to 1995 she hosted Saito Shihan annually.  She holds the fifth level scroll ("Menkyo Kaiden") as a teacher of Aiki-ken and Aiki-jo awarded by Saito Shihan.  She received 6th dan from Saito Shihan in January 1998.
Wolfgang Baumgartner Sensei 6^th Dan Chief Instructor, Aikido Arts Center Santa Fe, NM Wolfgang Sensei is a graduate of the Aikido Institute in Oakland, California. He holds the Menkyo Kaiden from Saito Sensei to teach Iwama-Style weapons. He founded Reno Aikido Co-Op and North Lake Tahoe Aikido before moving to Germany in 1992 to start the Aikido Berlin Karow dojo. He recently moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA and founded Aikido Arts Center Santa Fe. He was uchideshi under Saito Shihan at the Iwama Dojo and has hosted Sensei on numerous occasions. He is an accomplished artist, and professional bodyworker. He is on the Board of Directors of the TAA and is the founder of the Memorial Day Weekend Gasshuku.
Stevan Gengo Sensei 5^th Dan Chief Instructor, Aikido of Noe Valley, CA A practitioner of the art since 1976, and a teacher for twenty-seven years, Stevan Gengo, 5th dan is the Dojo Cho at Aikido of Noe Valley in San Francisco.  For seven years, he was uchideshi at Aikido of San Francisco under Senseis Bob Nadeau, Frank Doran, and Bill Witt.  During that time, Gengo Sensei had the good fortune of training with numerous visiting instructors, including Senseis Nishio, Fujita, Saito, and others.  He earned two certificates in Iwama Style weapons work from Saito Shihan.  He has traveled to Japan on two occasions to visit Hombu, Iwama, and Shingu dojos. He holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, with advanced training in philosophy, religion, bodywork, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, perspectives he integrates into his teaching.
	Michael O'Quin Sensei 5^th Dan Chief Instructor, Aikido of Silicon Valley, CA Michael Sensei has over 30 years of experience in Aikido, with extended residential training in Japan in Iwama under Master Morihiro Saito. He began training at Aikido of San Francisco under Bill Witt Sensei before going to Japan.
Judith Robinson Sensei 5^th Dan Chief Instructor, Aikido at the Center, Tucson, AZ Judith Sensei began aikido under Hans Goto Sensei and has also trained with Saotome Shihan, Witt Shihan, Doran Sensei, Stevens Sensei, and Ikeda Sensei. Her martial arts training began over 20 years ago and includes karate (shodan), wing chun, and tai chi.
	Aviv Goldsmith Sensei 5^th Dan Chief Instructor, Aikido in Fredericksburg, VA Aviv Sensei began studying Aikido in 1975 and has been training Iwama-style since 1986. He was Dojo Cho at Reno Aikido Co-Op in Reno, Nevada, before moving to Virginia in 2002 at the request of the Fredericksburg Aikido Club. He has trained in the Iwama Dojo with Saito Morihiro Shihan and Saito Hitohiro Sensei, and has hosted Saito Morihiro Shihan several times in Reno. He serves on the boards of the Takemusu Aikido Association and Aiki-Extensions, Inc.
Douglas Dale Sensei 5^th Dan Chief Instructor, North Lake Tahoe Aikido, CA Douglas Sensei has been the Chief Instructor of North Lake Tahoe Aikido since 1992. He is responsible for bringing Aikido to the Reno-Tahoe region. He is a master chef, potter, and has extensive experience teaching beginners.  He is the owner and head chef at Wolfdale's restaurant in Tahoe City.
	Rosmarie Herzig Sensei 4^th Dan Chief Instructor, Aikido Ennetbaden, Switzerland Rosmarie Sensei began Aikido in 1984 at Aikikai Zurich and continued at Aikido Institute Zurich and Aikido Limmattal.  After co-organizing several Saito Shihan seminars in Switzerland in the late 80’s, she began regular visits to the Iwama dojo in 1990.  In 2005, she founded Aikido Ennetbaden.