Jerry Glassman Sensei

Founder of the Hai Ki Aiki Center

Started Aikido training in January 1967 at TRW Aikido Club in Torrance, CA. Training was conducted by two elderly Japanese Senseis from Aikido of Los Angeles. Joined Aikido school in LaHabra, CA under Neal & Dawn McKenzie Senseis.

Enrolled in Orange County Aiki Kai (OCAK) in 1970, run by Harry Ishisaka Sensei. Studied with Ishisaka and Kapu Senseis and other instructors in dojo; Luis Martinez Sensei, Dan Kawakami Sensei, John Borges Sensei, and others. Attended class 5-6 days a week for over 10 years and became very attached to the Ishisaka-Kapu style, attitude and philosophy of Aikido and life.

Studied with Koichi Tohei Sensei in numerous seminars and classes during the early 1970s, when OCAK was affiliated with Ki Society. Attended summer class (3 hours per day, 5 days per week, ten weeks) taught by Tohei Sensei in 1975 at Cal State Fullerton.

My Aikido training included study with Walter Muryasz Sensei, Jim Friesen Sensei, Jon Takagi Sensei, B.J. Carlyle Sensei, Frank McGoiurk Sensei, Doran Sensei, Saotome Sensei, Toyoda Sensei, Saito Sensei, Nishio Sensei, Chiba Sensei, Chinn Sensei and others. I attended classes and seminars whenever the opportunity presented itself. Others, with whom Ive studied on the mat for many years, are Henry Oshiro Sensei, Dan Kawakami Sensei, Stephen Siegel (Seagal) Sensei, James Nakayama Sensei, Gary Welborn Sensei, Han Do Sensei and many others. Taught very successful and well received aikido class at Braille Institute for the Blind, Anaheim, CA, 1984.

Received Shodan 1975 from Tohei Sensei, exam conducted by Rod Kobayashi Sensei, Harry Ishisaka Sensei and John Kapu Sensei.

Received Nidan, January 1981, by Orange County Aiki Kai, exam conducted in 1980 by Rod Kobayashi Sensei, John Kapu Sensei and Jim Friesen Sensei.

Received Sandan, from Fumio Toyoda Sensei, Aikido Association of America; exam conducted 1992, by Walter Muryasz Sensei, Jim Friesen Sensei, James Nakayama Sensei, Henry Oshiro Sensei, Han Do Sensei and Martin Katz Sensei.

Awarded Honorary Yondan, 1997, by Tustin Recreation Center for 10 years of positive contributions to the community and establishment of Tustin HAI KI Aikido program.

Invited to conduct Aikido seminar at Orange County Aiki Kai, August 2000, to celebrate over 30 years studying, teaching, and promoting Aikido instruction in Orange County and enlivening the childrens programs. Some of those present included Henry Oshiro Sensei, Orange County Aiki Kai, Walter Muryasz Sensei, Torrey Pines Aikikai, James Nakayama Sensei, Chushinkan Dojo. Accepted Honorary Godan.

Founded HAI KI Aiki Center to keep alive the life, spirit and Aikido of Harry Ishisaka and his many students.

Jourdan Arenson Sensei

Joined the Center as instructor in 2002

Started Aikido training in 1990 at Aikido of Noe Valley in San Francisco CA. Training was conducted by John Connors Sensei and Tony Piazza Sensei.

In 1994, moved to Marin County and began training at Bay Marin Aikido in San Rafael CA under Hans Goto Sensei. A Japanese-American, Goto Sensei was the first foreign live-in student at the Iwama Dojo in Japan where he studied under Morihiro Saito Sensei. As a result, training at Bay Marin Aikido followed Saito Sensei's "Iwama-style" which stresses the coordination of mental focus and precise body movements as the source of power in techniques.

Between 1994 and 2001, studied Bay Marin's Iwama-style curriculum, including jo and bokken partner practice, empty-handed techniques, sword-, staff- and knife-taking, and free-style defense against multiple attackers. Received Shodan in 1998 and Nidan in 2000 from Hans Goto Sensei.

Attended Bay Marin Aikido seminars conducted by visiting teachers including: Morihiro Saito Sensei, Bill Witt Sensei, John Stevens Sensei, Tetsutaka Sugawara Sensei, and Hideo Kimura Sensei.

Attended biannual Iwama-style retreats that brought together US-based aikido instructors who had studied directly with Saito Sensei: David Alexander Sensei, Dennis Tatioan Sensei, Hoa Newens Sensei, Kim Peuser Sensei, Pat Hendricks Sensei, Kayla Feder Sensei, Wolfgang Baumgartner Sensei, Tom Everett Sensei.

In addition to Iwama-style practice, attended numerous seminars and dojos to experience other Aikido styles, receiving instruction from: Shoji Nishio Sensei, Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei, Motomichi Anno Sensei, Hiroshi Kato Sensei, Fumio Toyoda Sensei, Robert Koga Sensei, Frank Doran Sensei, Robert Nadeau Sensei, George Leonard Sensei, and Wendy Plamer Sensei.

On visits to Japan, briefly trained at: Michio Hikitsuchi Sensei's dojo in Shingu, Shimamoto Katsuyuki Sensei's Toyonaka Shosenji Dojo, and the Tenshin Dojo in Osaka (the dojo Steven Segal headed when he lived there).

During the same period, supplemented training with weekly visits to the Suginami Aikikai in San Francisco, run by James Friedman Sensei and Peter Ralls Sensei. Attended Suginami Aikikai's biannual seminars with their instructor from Japan Kato Hiroshi Sensei.

Moved to Eugene OR in 2001 and joined the HAI KI Aiki Center, under Jerry Glassman Sensei. Invited to be assistant teacher in 2002.