The bridge format will also include several local guest instructors from the Seattle Aikido Community, including:
George Ledyard, 6th Dan — www.aikieast.com
Ledyard Sensei began his Aikido studies in 1976 under the direct instruction of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan an d has continued this association ever since. He counts Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, William Gleason Sensei, Mary Heiny Sensei and Tom Read Sensei as strong influences on his Aikido. George believes that Aikido should be both a spiritual practice and a martial art. He is known for his work with the staff and sword and als o for an innovative approach to applied empty hand technique which brings in elements from his training i n Japanese Koryu, Iaido, Filipino martial arts and Systema.
Kimberly Richardson, 6th Dan — www.twocranesai kido.com
Richardson Sensei began training with Mary Heiny Sensei in 1978. Kimberly has studied throughout the U.S., Canada and Japan, most notably with Saotome, Ikeda, Dobson and Read Senseis. She has acted as chief instructor at the Apple Computer Aikido School in Cupertino, CA and at Seattle Sch ool of Aikido. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Antioch University where she offers “Aikido as Martial Art and Spiritual Practice”.
Lee Crawford, 5th Dan — www.aikidonorthshore. com
Crawford Sensei began her Aikido training in 1980 under the direction of Akira Tohei Shihan at the Univer sity of Wisconsin Aikido Club. After relocating to Seattle in 1988 she became the Assistant Chief Instruc tor at Aikido Eastside in Bellevue, WA. and in 1995 opened Aikido Northshore. She has trained extensively under the direct instruction of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and Hiroshi Ikeda Shih an. Crawford Sensei also includes John Stone Sensei, Robin Cooper Sensei, George Ledyard Sensei, Raso Hul tgren Sensei, Kevin Choate Sensei and Patty Saotome Sensei as having strong influences on her Aikido.
Joanne Veneziano, 6th Dan — www.emeraldcityaikido. com
Veneziano Sensei began training in 1976 at the New England Aikikai under the direction of Kanai Sensei. In 1979 she moved to Seattle to continue her study with Mary Heiny Sensei at the Seattle School of Aikido. In 1986 she trained in Fukuoka, Japan under Suganuma Sensei. Her teaching style combines warmth and humor with serious physical practice. Veneziano Sensei takes to heart O'Sensei's teaching and applies the art of peace with joy and vigor.
Pam Cooper, 5th Dan — www.aikidows.com
Pam Cooper Sensei started her training in 1975 in Santa Cruz, CA. She moved to Seattle in 1976 and trained with Mary Heiny Sensei at the Seattle School of Aikido until 1988 when she founded Aikido of West Seattle. Cooper Sensei has also taught a variety of classes at Community Centers and Colleges in the Seattle Area - classes ranging from Senior self defense to toddlers with their parents, (Junior High and Senior High) Teacher's Self Defense. In the past 30 plus years she has worked with people of all ages, abilities and some disabilities. She feels there is no limit to someone being able to train in Aikido, only one's own willingness to trust they can.
Sifu Ken Wright — kwright@bellevuecollege.edu
Ken has studied Tai Chuan and Qigong for 20 years and has taught for 18 years. His teachers include Chris Luth, Bill Helm, and Abraham Lui in the Yang style tradition of Cheng Man Ching. For the several years h e has been studying Chen style with Master Gau Fu. (phone: 425-486-6966)
Darren McKee, 5th Dan — www.westseattleaiki kai.com
McKee Sensei began his Aikido training in 1980. He has been teaching Aikido since 1982, when he was asked to take over responsibility for the Cal Poly Pomona Aikido Club. Subsequently he has taught regular clas ses at many dojo around the country (including Los Angeles, Boulder, Mill Valley, Kirkland and Kalamazoo. He has trained directly under Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan and Mitsugi Saotome Shihan for many years, in additio n to many other Shihan and Sensei around the world, most notably, Shoji Nishio Shihan. Besides his Aikido training Darren also holds a nidan in Iaido.
Malory Graham, 5th Dan, Shidoin — www.pugetsoundaikikai.com
Graham Sensei started training in Aikido in 1988 with Paul Sylvain Sensei in Amherst, Massachusetts. She continued her early training in both Seattle and Switzerland. In 1997 she became a USAF certified ins tructor and helped to found Puget Sound Aikikai, a not-for-profit dojo in Seattle, WA. She received her 5th Dan from Yamada Shihan in 2008 and currently serves on the national USAF Board of Di rectors. She is also a filmmaker, specialized in making educational documentaries as well as numerous Aikido prod uctions. In 2004 she produced “Holding up Half the Sky: A video portrait of women aikido i nstructors”, which features 10 of the top pioneering women from the USAF.
A printable copy of the guest instructor schedule is located on the files page