Instructors

Shindai Dojo Instructors

Shindai Dojo is home to a strong group of internationally certified students of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan, world-renowned head of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. The dojo maintains an unrivaled reputation in the greater Aikido community,  recognized national and internationally for the integrity of it’s programs and instruction. Our reputation is held in high esteem in no small part due to the quality of our  teaching staff. All regular instructors actively train and are ranked above Sandan, trained over time to diligence based experience, this to impart a direction of value for all. They are all ranked ASU certified students of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan,   world-renowned head of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba .

 

Senior Instructors

Fasen Sensei / Senior Instructor
Chief Instructor of Shindai Dojo
ASU 6th dan –  Ueshiba Juku

 

Canin Sensei / Sr. Instructor
6th dan / Ueshiba Juku

Meet the rest of Our Exemplary Instructors

Tim Magill Sensei (5th dan) … has trained in Aikido since 1986.  He continues to train in seminars, teaching nationally and abroad. Tim Sensei joined Shindai Dojo in 2014, and assumed teaching responsibilities in 2015. Magill Sensei was promoted to Godan in 2016 by Frank Doran Sensei (CAA), and now holds that rank within the ASU.

 

 

Gil Gillespie Sensei (4th dan) … has trained in Aikido since 1989. Besides teaching Aikido classes at Shindai, he is  Sandan in Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iai Jutsu. He was promoted to ASU Yondan in 2016. Gil Sensei also mentors the teaching of Eishin-ryu Iai classes at Shindai.

 

 

 Dr. Ola Karasik Sensei (4th dan) …  has been practicing Aikido since 1997, inspired by teachers including Daniel Herman Sensei, Frank Doran Sensei, Kayla Feder Sensei, Mary Heiny Sensei and M. Saotome Shihan. Ola Sensei was promoted to ASU Yondan through Shindai in July of 2017.

 

 

Kristen Kuebler Sensei (4th dan) … began her Aikido training in England in 1993. She joined Shindai Dojo in 2005 as a Nidan. One of her major influences was the late Henry Kono Sensei. Kristen Sensei was promoted to Sandan in the ASU in 2012 and Yondan in 2018. She is a integral instructor at Shindai.

 

 

Dan McCartney Sensei ( 4th dan ) … has trained Aikido since the early 1990s. A Shindai instructor for many years, he is also the Shindai Dojo Cho (operational director). Dan Sensei was promoted to Sandan in 2014 by Dennis Hooker Sensei and received his ASU Yondan by recommendation of Fasen Sensei  in 2019.

 

 

Phillip Ott Sensei (3rd dan) … Phil Sensei was promoted to Sandan in 2019. He is well known in the ASU training diligently at Shindai and with all major ASU instructs throughout the US. He currently teaches regularly tasked with presenting Aikido fundamentals at Shindai.

 

 

Dimitri Deglas Sensei came to Shindai from New York. He has an extensive law enforcement and martial background, with  Yudansha ranking in Karate, Aikido, and Sandan rank  in Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu under Okomoto Sensei. Besides teaching aikido at Shindai Aikikai, Dimitri Sensei also teaches weekly Daito Ryu classes.

 

Additional assisting instructors: Dr. Patricial Wheeler (3rd Dan), Darriel Dilulio (2nd dan)

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