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. Our dojo maintains reputation of respect in the greater Aikido community, recognized national and internationally for the integrity of it’s programs and instruction. The level of experience and quality of our instructors provides ongoing experience based mentoring for our students, imparting a direction of value for all.
Senior Instructors
Fasen Sensei 6th dan / Senior Instructor – Chief Instructor of Shindai Dojo
with Mitsugi Saotome Sensei )
Stephen (Steve) Fasen Sensei (6th dan) trains as a senior Yudansha of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. Beginning his Martial Arts training in 1980, he holds Yudansha ranking in JKA Shotokan Karate from Hidetaka Nishiyama Sensei (JKA), under R. Fussaro Sensei MKA. His Aikido path began under Dennis Hooker Sensei at Shindai in 1988. Since then, Fasen Sensei has trained under all of the most senior ASU instructors, as well as a diverse group of instructors throughout the US, and abroad. His primary Aikido influences were the late Dennis Hooker Sensei and David Jones Sensei of Shindai dojo, continuing under M. Saotome Sensei and Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei. He is quick to claim the great debt he owes to all of the teachers it has been his honor to train with over the years.
In addition to his capacity as Chief Instructor of Shindai dojo since 2014, Fasen Sensei also teaches nationally. As an fine artist avocationally, he works promoting the great potential of the Art of Aikido through common principles and perspectives, within and through the work of Aikido Schools of Ueshiba.
Fasen Sensei was promoted most recently to Aikido Rokudan (6th dan) in 2018, He also bears Saotome Sensei’s personal Ueshiba Juku designation, presented by Saotome Sensei in 2012.
Canin Sensei / Sr. Instructor
6th dan / Ueshiba Juku
Brian Canin Sensei is a designated senior instructor at Shindai Dojo. He started training Aikido in 1988 and became a Shindai student in 1989. He received Rokudan (6thDan) from Mitsugi Saotome Shihan in 2018, and bears Saotome Sensei’s Ueshiba Juku. He continues to teach and train regularly around the United States and abroad. His martial arts training includes systema and percusive arts going back to his childhood in South Africa.
An inspiration in our community, time has not dimmed Brian Sensei’s energy, efforts or ambitions. He continues in his professional capacity as an architect, ASU contributor, and in the greater Aikido community.
Meet the rest of our Outstanding 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.
Gil Gillespie Sensei (4th dan) has trained in Aikido since 1989. He was promoted to ASU Yondan in 2016.
Gil Sensei also mentors the Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Iai Jutsu classes at Shindai, as a Sandan in that discipline.
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 Dojo 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.
Philip Ott Sensei (3rd dan) began training Aikido in 2005 at the University of Florida, and was promoted to Sandan in 2020. He is well known in the ASU training diligently at Shindai and with all the major ASU instructors throughout the US. He regularly teaches at Shindai, tasked with presenting Aikido fundamentals.
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 Okamoto Sensei. Dimitri Sensei also teaches weekly Daito Ryu classes as an extension of of Shindai Aikido training.
Additional assisting instructors: Dr. Patricial Wheeler (3rd Dan), Darriel Dilulio (2nd dan)
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