Memorial Day Weekend Gasshuku 2011

at Beautiful North Lake Tahoe

Train with these fabulous instructors:

bill witt shihan photo

 

Bill Witt Shihan

7th 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.

Special Guest Instructor

Paolo Corallini Shihan

7th Dan

Chief Instructor, Takemusu Aikido Association Italy

Paolo Corallini Shihan, Aikikai 7th Dan, is the President of Takemusu Aikido Association Italy. He began martial arts training as a youth and received his 1st dan in 1977.  In 1984 he wrote his first book on Aikido and met Saito Morihiro Shihan in Iwama. He has continuously studied and taught Iwama-style Aikido since then. Saito Shihan awarded him Aikikai dan ranks through 6th dan and the Menkyo Kaiden in Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo. He was awarded 7th dan Aikikai at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in January 2011.

hans goto sensei photo

Hans Goto Sensei

7th 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

6th 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.

hoa newens sensei photo

kim peuser sensei photo

Kim Peuser Sensei

6th 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

6th 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.  

Bernice Tom Sensei

Wolfgang Baumgartner Sensei

6th Dan

Chief Instructor, Aikido Berlin Karow, Germany

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, North Lake Tahoe Aikido, and Aikido Arts Center Santa Fe.  He moved to Germany in 1992 to start the Aikido Berlin Karow dojo.


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.

wolfgang baumgartner sensei photo

Michael OQuin Sensei

Michael O'Quin Sensei

5th 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 Morihiro Saito Shihan. He began training at Aikido of San Francisco under Bill Witt Sensei before going to Japan.

He is a certified Shidoin by the Takemusu Aikido Association.

aviv goldsmith sensei photo

Aviv Goldsmith Sensei

5th 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. As Dojo Cho of Aikido in Fredericksburg he has developed a 7,200 square foot "green" dojo which hosts outstanding seminars and programs.  He serves on the boards of the Takemusu Aikido Association and Aiki-Extensions, Inc.

He is a certified Shidoin by the Takemusu Aikido Association.

Douglas Dale Sensei

5th 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.

douglas dale sensei photo