Kevin began practicing Aikido in 1973 under the direction of Graham Burt Sensei (1936 – 1979), the first Newfoundland Aikido Sensei and the originator of Aikido in Newfoundland and Canada.

 

Kevin spent the larger portion of his Aikido career at the original Graham Burt Aikikai, now the Aikido Institute of Newfoundland, as a senior yudansha. He joined Fudoshin Aikikai during the summer of 2006.

 

Kevin tested under the late Mitsunari Kanai Shihan on November 17, 1978 and received the rank of shodan. He received his nidan in 1986, his sandan in 1994, his Yondan in 2000 and his current rank of godan in 2008. His Shidoin certification was granted to him in January 2007 by Yamada Shihan.

 

Kevin’s Aikido has been shaped largely by the late Kanai Shihan of New England Aikikai and Yamada Shihan of New York Aikikai while conducting seminars in Newfoundland from 1974 onwards.

 

Kevin’s Aikido development has been additionally enhanced through his pursuit of various instructors in the United States and Canada. He has spent a number of years intermittently practicing at the New York Aikikai, as well as in New Jersey, Toronto, Alberta and British Columbia.

 

During the late seventies and early eighties Kevin was involved with the Newfoundland and Labrador Aikido Association and held the positions of Executive Secretary and Provincial coach for some years.

 

Kevin presently resides in St. John’s. Kevin is a semi-retired Industrial Electrician. His wife, Joyce, of some thirty-eight years deceased in 2007. His five children reside in New Brunswick, Alberta and British Columbia. His only gramdchild of young age resides in British Columbia

Bill began practicing Aikido in 1973 under Graham Burt Sensei (1936 – 1979). He spent six years under the direct supervision of Burt Sensei and the two eventually became very close friends.

 

From 1979 – 2006 Bill spent his Aikido years of training and practice at the Graham Burt Aikikai, now the Aikido Institute of Newfoundland. He moved on to Fudoshin Aikikai in the late summer of 2006.

 

Bill tested under the late Mitsunari Kanai Shihan of New England Aikikai on November 17, 1978 and achieved the rank of shodan. He received his nidan in 1986, sandan in 1994 and Yondan in 2005. His Shidoin certification was granted to him in 2007 by Yamada Shihan of New York Aikikai.

 

Bill’s Aikido development was largely shaped by the late Graham Burt Sensei, Mitsunari Kanai Shihan, and Yamada Shihan. Throughout the ‘70’s and ‘80’s, Kanai Sensei and Yamada Sensei were frequent visitors to Newfoundland.

 

Over the years there has been a host of instructors from the United States and Canada who contributed largely to Bill’s continued interest in and study of Aikido.

 

During the past three decades Bill was involved in the Newfoundland and Labrador Aikido Association as Executive Secretary for several years and held the position of President for seven consecutive years from the mid-eighties into the early nineties. He also spent a large portion of his time as seminar coordinator and treasurer for the Aikido Institute up until his joining Fudoshin.

 

Bill is a retired school administrator. He and his wife Genevieve reside in St. John’s and their three adult children, Mark, Bradley and Lisa live in close proximity, as do their grandchildren.

Mike has been practicing Aikido since 1981, studying under Derm McDonald at the Newfoundland Aikido Institute.

He acquired his shodan in 1990, his nidan in 2004 and his sandan in 2008. Mike has been part of the Fudoshin family since 2008.

In his teaching, Mike attempts to maintain a balance between the “martial” and the “art” of Aikido. He focuses on the precise execution of movement, as it is from this precision that power arises, while also encouraging the improvisation required to deal with unexpected situations. He fuses the five elements of physical fitness (strength, flexibility, balance, aerobics and coordination) into his teaching of Aikido. O Sensei’s genius was to discover a way to defend oneself effectively against all types of attacks (strikes, holds, knife, sword, multiple attackers, etc.), without causing serious harm to one’s opponents

In his teaching, Mike emphasizes how to neutralize attacks safely, for both attacker and defender.

In his professional life, Mike is an administrator at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is married to Mary Win and has two grown sons, André and Luc.