"Beverly master Bernie Mulligan reaches highest rank in Aikido"

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Posted 2010-02-17 23:04:24 by Jun Akiyama
News URL: http://www.wickedlocal.com/beverly/sports/adult_leagues/x1468646730/Beverly-master-Bernie-Mulligan-reaches-highest-rank-in-Aikid

This article entitled "Beverly master Bernie Mulligan reaches highest rank in Aikido" (http://www.wickedlocal.com/beverly/sports/adult_leagues/x1468646730/Beverly-master-Bernie-Mulligan-reaches-highest-rank-in-Aikido) highlights Bernie Mulligan sensei in Beverly, Massachusetts who recently received the "shihan" designation from Aikikai hombu dojo.

From the article: "Although our school offers many different types of martial arts, my heart is in Aikido because of its nonviolent nature," said Mulligan.

Asked what initially inspired him to learn a martial art, Mulligan was quick to respond.

"As a kid I watched films in the late 1930s starring Peter Lorre as a Japanese secret agent named Mr. Moto. He used judo and many disguises. The films and books based on the Moto character fascinated me."

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[aikishihan]

Congratulations to Shihan Bernie Mulligan, his organization, and to all his loyal supporters for so many years.!

[Cady Goldfield]

What the article doesn't say, is that Bernie Mulligan pretty much introduced judo and aikido to the North Shore region of the Boston (Mass.) area, and, if I recall correctly, provided mat space for Kanai Mitsunari at his tiny judo dojo in Swampscott, Mass. when Kanai first arrived in the U.S. to teach aikido for the Aikikai in the late 1960s. Until Kanai found space for New England Aikikai in Cambridge, he used Mulligan's dojo.

Bernie Mulligan is one of the humblest and most genuine people you'd ever have the pleasure to meet. I trained at his Salem dojo briefly in the 1990s and came away with a lasting positive impression of his demeanor and his dedication. (His cigar smoke is another matter altogether, though! :) )