meet the faculty
Aikido University Faculty
renowned leaders in their fields, extraordinary teachers and dedicated mentors
Meet the Aikido University Faculty
Skip Chapman
AU CO-Founder
Skip Chapman is the co-founder of Aikido University and has been studying Aikido since 1991. Skip is a 6th degree black belt in aikido and has been running his dojo Jersey Shore Aikikai full-time since 1998. For the past 15 years Skip has worked to develop methods and strategies to help other dojocho grow their dojo in effort to spread the art of Aikido.
Malory Graham
AU CO-Founder
Malory has had tandem careers in aikido and media production for 30 years. She has been the Chief Instructor of Seattle Aikikai since 1997 as well as producing professional films for corporate and non-profit clients. As the Executive Director of a film school in Seattle, she specialized in curriculum design, grant writing and teacher trainings.
Paige Chapman
AU CO-Founder
As a mother of triplets and manager of JSA Gym and Martial Arts since 1998, Paige started practicing Aikido in 1993. In addition to managing JSA, Paige is a Speech Language Pathologist, instructor, yogini, aikidoka, sports nutritionist, and has helped grow JSA from a part-time satellite dojo to a facility that serves over 200 clients.
John Thompson
AU CO-Founder
Residing in North Texas, John is the dojo cho of Denton MAC. John began training Aikido in 1995 at the dojo he runs today. He shifted his model to incorporate more martial arts and CrossFit to create an inclusive community atmosphere of movement and self improvement. Outside of martial arts, he holds a BFA and a Masters in Art Education.
Glenn Brooks
AU CO-Founder
Glenn is a licensed Physical Therapist since 1992, specializing in sports-related injuries. Owner and chief instructor of Aikido of Scottsdale since 1996. Began Aikido training in 1979 and is a 6th degree black belt. Brooks also provides personal security for the music industry. Brooks integrates and uses his diverse background, creating unique and effective methods that optimize ones potential.
Bill Witthar
Bill has been practicing Aikido since 1990 and is currently ranked 4th dan. Residing in Kansas City, Missouri, he’s the dojo cho of Zanshin Aikido School. His diverse background in competitive athletics, long term wellness, martial arts and business ownership prompted him to integrate and combine all those influences into Shodan Solutions. Shodan offers Aikido & self-defense, peak performance skills for professional athletes, increased workplace productivity and creative solutions for veterans and first responders experiencing PTSD. Bill has also conducted large group leadership, wellness and team building trainings with numerous corporations and businesses around the Kansas City Metro area.
Aviv Goldsmith
Aviv Goldsmith Sensei has been teaching Aikido since 1989 and running successful dojos since 1993. Now the Chief Instructor at the non-profit Aikido in Fredericksburg, he specializes in dojo management, instructor education, and working with special populations. He has used his MBA and project management experience to design, build, and operate a “green” dojo which is a regional Aikido destination.
Isabel Planells
Isabel is a software engineer and IT consultant with experience in different fields, from developing Apps to Big Data. Mother of 2, vegan, always learning how to improve herself as a human being. She teaches Aikido since 2009 in Canary Islands, always attending as many Aikido seminars as possible, mostly abroad. This year she is taking her fourth Dan Aikikai examination in Madrid.
Lia Suzuki
Lia Suzuki began Aikido in 1982 and is Director of Aikido Kenkyukai International USA. For nearly 10 years, she lived in Japan, training under Takeda Shihan, the late Yamaguchi Sensei, and other notable masters. Her headquarter dojo in Los Angeles boasts an average age of 28 for adult members. Her mission is to increase Aikido’s popularity among young adults.
David Weinstock
David Weinstock has trained and taught Aikido since 1986. He is a certified international trainer of Nonviolent Communication, a Somatic Coach, and author of Becoming What You Need: Practices for Embodying Nonviolent Communication and a respected master goldsmith . David brings his trainings to communities, schools, prisons, organizations, and businesses around the world.
Quentin Cooke
Quentin Cooke started Aikido in 1984. He is currently the Dojo Cho of Burwell Aikido Club founded in 1992, board member of Aiki Extensions, and co- founder of Aikido for Daily Life. In 2016 he applied his Aikido teachings to the business world and started The Business Dojo. He is also the collector and editor of Aikido stories, A Way to Reconcile the World.
Tristan Chermack
Tristan started training aikido in 2004 and founded Spirit Aikido dojo in 2011. A full contact competitor for more than 25 years, he brings his practical experience with live opponents and coaching fighters into his aikido training. He has worked on many diverse projects as an entrepreneur, inventor, author, analyst, mediator, and artist.
Jamie Leno Zimron
Jamie Leno Zimron is a speaker, trainer, 6th Degree Aikido Black Belt, and ‘golf pro like no other.’ A scholar-athlete and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University, she weaves a wealth of mind-body expertise into The Centered Way talks and training programs.
César San Miguel
César San Miguel is an Oakland CA native, started aikido training at age 7 in 2000, and studied cultural anthropology at Columbia University. He is a massage therapist, activist, and trains to cultivate compassion while forging his body.
Sam Taitel
Sam Taitel began practicing aikido in 1999 at age 5, she was uchideshi at NY Aikikai under Yamada Shihan, and studied cultural anthropology & sociolinguistics at NYU. She is a racial & social justice activist and train now at East Lake Aikido in Minneapolis.
Michael Boulet
Michael Boulet is a mediator, arbitrator, lawyer, aikido practitioner and instructor who enjoys helping people communicate better. In 2016 he created Getting Off the Line, using aikido concepts and movement to teach people of all ages skills to help them engage effectively whenever conflict arises in their lives.
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