Our school has been providing Aikido instruction since 1975, and this would not have been possible without the assistance of many dedicated instructors who have volunteered their time over the years. We are grateful for the efforts of these teachers and others who helped to build the USF Aikido legacy:
Guy Hagen Sensei
Hagen Sensei was the supervising ASU instructor for the USF Aikido Club for more than 15 years, and holds the ASU Aikido rank of godan (5th degree black belt). He has been training in martial arts since 1980, holding rank in several styles including shodan (1st degree black belt) in Shorin-Ryu Karate and ranks in competition Kodokan Judo, Jhoon Rhee Karate, Shotokan Karate, Kendo, and Yoshinkai Aikido. Hagen Sensei is one of the founders and chief instructors of Aikido Chuseikan of Tampa Bay. He was an instructor for USF Aikido since 1997, and the Chief Instructor from 2002 through 2013.
Daryl Schrader Sensei
Schrader Sensei supported the USF Aikido class schedule for several years during the 1990s. He holds the Aikido rank of 5th dan, is a direct student of Saotome Shihan, and also holds senior black belt ranks in Iaido and Karate.
John Murray Sensei
Murray Sensei taught the Friday classes for a number of years until 2011. He is a student of Messores Shihan, and currently holds the rank of 2nd dan.
Gene Martinelli Sensei
Martinelli Sensei taught classes during the 00s. He currently holds the rank of 3rd dan, and runs an Aikido school in Dunedin, Florida.
Joe Oglesby Sensei
Oglesby Sensei taught during the 1990s. He currently holds the rank of 4th dan, and is the Chief Instructor of Aikido of Panama City.
Evelyne Williams Sensei
Williams Sensei taught most of our Aikido classes for much of the 1990s. She was a student of John Messores Shihan, holding the rank of 3rd dan. She is currently retired.
John Messores Shihan
Messores Sensei taught Friday classes for many years including the 1980s and 1990s. He holds the rank of 7th dan, and is one of the most senior students of Saotome Shihan. Messores Sensei founded the Ji On Juku Aikido Academy of Warrior Spirit, and is currently President of ASU. He regularly teaches seminars across the US and overseas.
Richard Judd Sensei
Judd Sensei taught during the late 1980s and early 1990s; and he actually began his Aikido training at USF in 1981. He received the of 3rd dan in 1994 from Saotome Sensei.
Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan
Ikeda Shihan taught the USF Aikido classes regularly during the 1970s before he moved to Colorado. He currently holds the rank of 8th dan and the title of Shihan (master instructor) issued in the 1970s by Aikido World Headquarters. Ikeda Shihan followed Saotome Shihan from Japan, and teaches seminars all over the world. He is the Founder and Chief Instructor of Boulder Aikikai. He has produced numerous Aikido instructional videos.
In addition to these regular instructors, over the years USF Aikido has had the privilege to host invited seminars taught by such Aikido luminaries as Frank Hreha Sensei, Art Benjamin Sensei, Dennis Hooker Sensei, Wendy Whited Sensei, Patty Saotome Sensei, John Messores Sensei, Steve McPeck Sensei, Duane Jones Sensei, Jim Alvarez Sensei, Todd Jones Sensei, Mitsugi Saotome Shihan and even Koichi Tohei Shihan and Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan.
