Susan Dalton began aikido at
Greensboro Kodokan Aikido dojo (aikidogreensboro.org) in
1991 when her Ninja-Turtle-wannabee son begged her to replace him as
the "worst" member of the class. Her teachers, John and Betsy
Grinnell Sensei, had studied aikido in Okazaki, Japan with Tanaka
Tadamitsu Shihan, whose father, along with O Sensei, was uchi deshi
for Onisaburo Deguchi Sensei and is buried in Ayabe near O Sensei and
Deguchi Sensei. The Grinnells opened a dojo in their home in
Greensboro and built it into a 25 - 30 member organization. In 2001
when they moved, they asked Jay Speetjens to become chief instructor
and Susan to become dojo cho.
Northern California artist Janet Rosen trains at City Aikido in
San Francisco, paints landscapes of the coast range, and designs and
sews aikido gear. A particular interest is aikido knee injuries, and
integrating current findings in exercise physiology/athletic training
to traditional aikido practices for safer training. Her website is http://www.zanshinart.com.
A former firefighter/EMT, AJ "Al" Garcia has been living with
fibromyalgia for several years, during which time she resumed aikido
training, practicing Ki-Aikido in Arizona. Her dogged determination
and articulate expression over the past 3+ years have inspired those
of us who have met her on the mat and online, and her
perspective/voice will be a good addition to this group.
Katherine Derbyshire has been practicing aikido since 1993, originally at
Shobu Aikido of Boston, and now at Aikido Eastside in Bellevue, Washington
(near Seattle). She earns her dojo fees as a professional writer focused on
the integrated circuit industry.
Pauliina Lievonen
teaches the Alexander Technique, and recorder and traverso playing, in
Utrecht, the Netherlands. She started aikido in 1999 and trains at the
Jiki Shin Kan dojo under Piet
Lagerwaard sensei, 5th dan.
