The Martial Arts

I found myself, one morning, wandering on the aikido networks with a longing to once again practice. I am surprised that this has happened! The journey has caused me to pause and think about my journey in the martial arts. I had my beginnings, in 1972, with Tashu Karate Dojo under the instruction of Jim MacArthur sensei of the Chito ryu. After attaining a green belt I was feeling pretty unfullfilled, and transfered my skills to Hung Gar Kune, where I studied under Stephen Chang sifu. Once again feeling unsatisfied I returned to karate under the instruction of Isao Yabinaka of the Goju Ryu, and later to Shito Ryu under the direction of Harry Crawshaw sensei. Here I obtained my shodan ranking.

A move to Hedley, British Columbia, where I worked for several years at the One Way Adventure Foundation, I trained under Gordon Reynaud, who remains today a trusted friend and mentor. I was certified by the Christian Black Belt Association and graded nidan in the Shiho Karano Ryu. During my time with the Foundation I began to train with Robert Powers, under the direction of T. Oshima shihan, with whom I trained in Shotokan Karate. Upon my moving to the Vancouver area I continued to study Shotokan with Norman Welsh, Bernie Doyle, and John McKay.

It was during these years that I met Bernie Lau sensei and was introduced to aikido and Itten ryu Ju Jutsu. Aikido become my new love, and while I lived in the Vancouver area I began to train under the instruction of Chuck Aarons sensei, following the direction of Y. Kawahara shihan of the Vancouver Aikikai. As the years would pass, and once again I would move a couple of times, I founded the Similkameen Valley Aikikai in Hedley, B.C., and the North Island Aikikai in Port Hardy, B.C., respectively. While leading practice at the Similkameen Valley Aikikai, I was introduced to G. Del Cueto sensei of the Rengokai Daito Ryu Aiki Ju Jutsu. Through his guidance I was graded to the first level of Daito ryu and licenced to teach the shoden mokoroku of Daito Ryu techniques.

The North Island Aikikai closed its doors in 1996, and re-opened as the Renshinkan Dojo, under the direction of Y. Toyoda of the Ki Society, with whom I taught classical Aikido to the children of the Gwa'sala-'Nakwakda'xw Elementary School. Once again I closed the doors of Renshinkan Dojo after I realized that I had a conflict beetween my faith and aikido. This is an old conflict which has surfaced time and time again over the years of my practice. This time it seems that it was final. I have not practiced now for five plus years, but the temptation is still there. Through the guidance of Stephan Toyoda, the son of Fumio Toyoda shihan I returned to the aikido fold, and Renshinkan Dojo once again opened its doors to a select group of students in the Port Hardy area. Today I hold nidan rank in the Shiho Karano Ryu, Ikkyu with the Aikido Association International, and under the direction of Guillermo Murphy del Cueto teach the curriculum found in the shoden mokoroku of the Dai Nippon Daito Ryu Aiki Ju Jutsu Rengokai. Sometimes the Journey is the Destination.