Transcript

Hi. My name is Steve Pimsler. I'm an instructor at the New York Aikikai. I'm a 7th degree black belt, with also title of Shihan which is a high-ranking instructor. I've been studying at the New York Aikikai for 40 years.

Hi. My name's Claire Keller and I'm a 5th Dan in Aikido. I started in 1980 when I was 19 and in college. Aikido for me is a very positive way to develop myself, to feel better, to have fun, to meet people. I've been at New York Aikikai since 1985 and this is a great school. You meet very interesting, disparate people. There's a real sense of community in Aikido. I've met people from all over the world. I've begun travelling around to teach. I've taught at NYU, at other Aikido schools. Right now I teach at Park Slope Dojo in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I used to teach in New Jersey. I've just got back from the Dominican Republic. I've taught in different states, in California, in North Carolina, Virginia. I'm a teacher and a student.

Hi. My name is Michael Jones. I'm a Nidan or a 2nd degree black belt at the New York Aikikai. I am an instructor here, a full-time student and I also manage the dojo. I began my training in 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia under George Kennedy Sensei at the Atlanta Aikido Center and through Kennedy Sensei I was given the connection to Yamada Sensei here in New York. In 2005, I moved to New York to train full-time under the Yamada Sensei here. So I spent the last 7 years with the Yamada Sensei and other instructors here at New York Aikikai training on a daily basis and I've been lucky enough to become employed in a hobby that I consider very dear to me. I hope to consider this my profession at some point in time.