1963
Mike Sensei on left with Greg Blass "Sempai" on right keeping two "ninjas" covered.
*Greg used Mike Sensei as his "uke" for Judo practice.
Kent State University
Karate Club hosted Kayla Feder Sensei
for an 11/85 Aikido seminar.
Klickstein Sensei Seminar 5/86 in Cincinnati. Tameki style Aikidoist (Mr. Blevins, Bloomington, IN)
May 1986
Bruce Klickstein, Peter Slote, uchideshi for Klickstein Sensei, Susan Monroe, Rick Stickles, Mike Sensei's 1st Iwama Aikido seminar.
6/17/86
Lisa - nage (Anchorage)
Michael - uke
"katedori shihonage"
6/86
Dave (Columbus), Michael, Ben (San Diego), Lisa - uke (Anchorage)
6/20
Laura Van Bryce (Seattle), Louis (Oakland), Pat Hendricks (Oakland)
Post-ken practice
1st class with Pat Hendricks.
6/17/86
"katate tori kokyu nage"
Michael - uke, unknown nage,
Dave (Columbus) in background
Northern California Aiki Retreat '86
*Aiki progress really starting to take off.
5/17/87
Bruce Klickstein Seminar at Aikido of Cincinnati.
Jamie Alexander - uke
Mike Sensei - nage
6/87
"Tight Fit"
Northern California Aiki retreat.
Mike Sensei - nage
Caroline Stevens - uke
*Our second time there. With 5 other Cinicinnti Aikidoka.
3/21/87
"Shomenuchi Irimi Nage"
Kayla Feder Sensei
*2nd visit to Kent State. Mike Sensei took a lot of ukemi
3/21/87
3/21/87
3/21/87
6/22/87
"Mid Teino Henko"
Vicki Milano - uke
6/22/87
Adam, BK, Eytan, Peter Slote, Tony Sargent.
"Koku Dosa variation with hands held flat to knees"
*Mike Sensei with Trung...creator of the "7 sankyo's from shomenuchi"
6/87
Waka Sensei - nage, Carl from Alaska - uke
Moriteru Ueshiba
6/87
Caroline, Mary, Gary, Anette, Jamie, Sue, Michael
The horde from Cincinnati in front of "the Meadowlands" in the trees of Northern California
6/87
CBS, Mary Howard, Gary Bushorn, Anette Sheiferl, Jamie Alexander, Sue Kinne, MGM
The horde from Cincinnati in front of Meadowlands - take two
6/12/87
Thai restuarant, Mission Street, SF
Mary Howard, Gary Bushorn, Jammie Alexander, Michael, Caroline, Ian (The Master of Wit & Repoirtee (John Cleese's nephew)
*taken by AS
6/12/87
Caroline, Mary, Jamie, Ian, Michael.
*Golden Gate in background from atop Telegraph hill.
6/87
Mt. Tamalpais Ranger Station
10/87
Eric, Michael, JT
Aikido of Cincinnati, Kids class.
*Mike Sensei's asst. teaching debut.
10/87
Eric / Michael
"Kamae"
*Sue Kinne over Mikes right elbow (she is now in Nicuragua)
10/87
Rick Malone, Gary, Michael, Nancy, Paul, Anette
*Aikido of Cincinnati pre-class routine.
12/87
Aikido West
*Doran Sensei meant stop socializing and train.
2/21/88 in New Jersey
S. Pranin Sensei, M. Saito Sensei, Michael
31 jo kata just beginning #8
*Mike Sensei finally able to memorize 31 kata after 2 years of practice on own.
2/21/88 in New Jersey
First time training with M. Saito Sensei
Caroline, Michael
*remainder of people from Cleveland Aikido - John Smith Sensei.
M. Saito Sensei in New Jersey 2/21/88
*Signing his books
2/21/88 New Jersey
Vince Salvatore (recently returned from Iwama), Rick Stickles, M. Saito Sensei
*demonstrating 1st kumi jo
2/21/88
M. Saito Sensei helping on 1st kumi jo
Lydia - ni dan from Vancouver who trained early on with Loraine Dianne
2/20/88
New Jersey Agatsu Dojo
Michael trys out tanren uchi stand
2/88
New Jersey
Bernice Tom Sensei and M. Saito Sensei
1st Kumi Jo
6/13/88
Letter to Stanley Pranin requesting info about becoming an Iwama uchideshi
6/13/88
Letter continued
6/27/88
Letter from Pat Hendricks Sensei responding to my request for info about becoming an Iwama uchideshi
6/27/88
Pat Hendricks letter continued
12/88
Mike Sensei doing 31 jo kata at Pt. Reyes South Beach
12/88
Mike Sensei doing #21 step of 31 jo kata.
4/1/89
Jamie Alexander & Anette Schiferl at Aikido of Cincinnati. Gasshuku led by Anette. 5 months later Jamie became Pat Sensei's 1st longterm uchideshi.
12/18/89
1st Tai no henko with Jamie as a shodan in Aikido of San Leandro.
12/18/89
*Mike Sensei's 1st uchideshi stint ending group photo.
Only 8 days but ... wow!
12/18/89
Pat Sensei and uchideshi
*Daniel Grob from Switzerland seated next to Mike Sensei.
8/2/90
(from right to left) Betty McVey, Caroline Stevens, Polly Stevens, Mike Sensei. Yellow Springs Ohio.
Uchideshi trip to California farewell meeting in Yellow Springs.
8/90
The long trip to Aikido of San Leandro..."40 days in the wilderness".
Badlands, SD...entering into the valley of the shadow of uchideshi.
9/22/90 Aikdo of San Leandro
Witt Sensei, Saito Sensei, Kenji Shibata Sempei (Otomo for Saito Sensei).
*Mike Sensei had been uchideshi for one month.
1/24/91
"5 mos. a deshi"
3/30/91
A brand new shodan.
Look at that hakama!
Look at that hanmi!
9/15/91
Saito Sensei looking for Da'me's.
Training in Ken Tai Jo with
old friend Ben Teeter.
9/21/91
Saito Sensei testing us all for the stability of our second move in the 31 kata.
Russ Alvey to Mike's left. Saito Sensei testing Mike. Pat Sensei looking on behind Saito Sensei.
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9/91
"Sawrah" 4-year old student extraordinary
9-30-91
Michael's last 6:30 AM class as an uchideshi
9/30/91
Michael and Rich, uchideshi brothers.
9/28/91
Scott Hassler, good friend and major uchideshi supporter.
9/30/91 at 4:00 PM
Michael, Ewa & Bogdan Rumas (Warsaw, Poland) and Tommy Minder (Switzerland)
"Completion!"