Memorial Day Gasshuku 2008

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.

Tony Sargeant Sensei

6th Dan

Chief Instructor, Takemusu Iwama Aikido Europe

Tony Sensei began aikido in 1969 and first studied under Morihiro Saito Shihan 1983.  He has since become an instructor and mentor to many dojos and students in the UK, Russia, and Greece.

We welcome him as our Featured Guest Instructor to this year's Gasshuku.

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hans goto sensei photo

Hans Goto Sensei

6th 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.

Wolfgang Baumgartner Sensei

6th 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.

wolfgang baumgartner sensei photo

Michael OQuin Sensei

Michael O'Quin Sensei

5th Dan

Chief Instructor, Aikido of Silicon Valley, CA

Michael Sensei has 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

5th 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.

judith robinson sensei photo

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. He serves on the boards of the Takemusu Aikido Association and Aiki-Extensions, Inc.

 

Special Basics Sessions

Instructors

douglas dale sensei photo

Douglas Dale Sensei

4th 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.

Tim Sheldon Sensei

5th Dan, Bryan Park Aikido, Richmond, VA

 

Tim Sensei began his Aikido training at the legendary Turk Street Dojo in San Francisco. Today he is Dojo Cho at Bryan Park Aikido and teaches at several other locations in the Richmond, Va., area, including Randolph-Macon College and J.S. Reynolds Community College