Biographies of Senior Jiyushinkai Teachers
C. E. Clark, born 1947, began budo training at the age of six and has continued his practice through the present. Clark has studied in the U.S., France, Japan, Canada, and Republic of South Vietnam, and is Jiyushinkai 8th dan, Shihan, (has also practiced Kodokan judo, karate do, jujutsu, Shinto Muso Ryu Jo and T'ai chi ch'uan). Clark has trained under a number of top-level teachers, and has been most strongly influenced by F. Fujita, J. Bayless, R.L. Willingham, E. Cates, F. Hatashita, K. Geis, T. Miyake, P. Relnick, and T. Nishioka. He founded his own organization, the Jiyushinkai, in 1984. A U.S.M.C. veteran of Vietnam and former hospital manager and consultant. Clark is now a writer and professional budo teacher at the Jiyushinkan near Monroe, WA. He has a son, Aaron, two grand-daughters, and two dogs, Susie Q and Sherry Baby (like the songs...)
Aaron R. Clark, born 1971, was taken into the dojo soon after birth, and learned budo as a "cradle language." He began regular training in judo at age five and started aikibudo and jodo at age thirteen. As a youngster Clark won numerous state and national level judo championships. He is 7th dan, Shihan Jiyushinkai, 3rd dan judo, and his main teachers include: C. E. Clark and K. Geis, and he also studies Shinto Muso Ryu Jo (gomokuroku) and other Japanese koryu with Phil Relnick. Clark served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and is married to Caroline (2nd dan).They have two daughters, Meridia, who also trains in Shinto Muso Ryu, and Natalie along with two dogs. He works as a systems engineer at the University of Washington and is an instructor at the Jiyushinkan near Monroe, WA.
Steven
W. Duncan, born 1955, began his
budo training in 1969, beginning with taekwondo. He was introduced
to judo in 1972, aikido in 1977, and jodo in 1982. Duncan is Jiyushinkai 7th dan, Shihan, and also trains in Shinto Muso Ryu
(gomokuroku) with P. Relinick, judo 1st dan. Main teachers include
B. Cagle, K. Geis, T. Miyake, C. Clark, and Phil Relnick. He
teaches in Portland, Oregon. He is married to Yoko Sato (5th
dan); They have a son, Takuma, and a daughter, Yuri. They all
take care of two dogs and a cat.
Marc Fox, born in
1957, began his budo training in Tang Soo Do, has also trained
in Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu and currently trains in Shinto Muso Ryu
Jo with Phil Relnick. He is an experienced law enforcement officer
and DeTac instructor. His instructors include Dan Nolan, Tom
Snowden, and C. Clark. He is 6th dan Jiyushinkai and
4th dan Tang Soo Do. He is the chief instructor at the Aishinkan
in Alpine, California. He is married to Marilyn. They have three
sons and two dogs.
Jim Hanna, born in
1964, began training in 1979. His primary teachers were Tim Dudley,
Karl Geis, and currently C. Clark. He is is 5th Dan Jiyushinkai. Jim is a retired paramedic and lives in Franklin, North Carolina with
his wife Lisa and son Caleb.
David Martin,
born in 1968 and began his aikibudo training under David Emigh
Sensei at Oklahoma City University. He is 5th dan Jiyushinkai
and has practiced Shinto Muso Ryu jo. David is the chief instructor
at Shobu Aiki Dojo in Oklahoma City. His primary teachers have been Steve Duncan
and C. Clark. He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with
a degree in Asian Studies. He lives in Norman, OK with his wife
Anna Maria Rodriguez (2nd Dan) and a daughter, Lia.
Yoko
Sato, born 1968 in Gifu, raised
in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Sato moved to the U.S. after graduation
from Kobe University in 1991 to continue education as an English
language instructor. She began aikido training at the Aikikai-style
aikido club of Kobe University as a freshman in 1987; she is Jiyushinkai 5th dan and also practices Shinto Muso
Ryu Jo (shomokuroku) with Phil Relnick. She teaches in Portland,
Oregon. She is married to Steve Duncan (7th dan); they have one
son, Takuma, and a daughter, Yuri. They all take care of two
dogs and a cat.
Keith Slatoff, born
in 1969, began aikibudo training in Tempe, Arizona while attending
university. His teachers include C. Clark, Aaron Clark, and Stan
Conner. He has also practiced Shinto Muso Ryu Jo (Okuiri sho) with P. Relnick and Tai Chi Chuan with Mary Issacson.
He is Jiyushinkai 5th dan and lives near Las Vegas, NV.
Steve Furbush, born in 1961, began training at the
Jiyushinkan in Tempe, Arizona in early 1994. His teachers include
C. Clark, Aaron Clark, Stan Conner, and he also practices Shinto
Muso Ryu Jo (gomokuroku) and other Japanese koryu with P. Relnick.
He is Jiyushinkai 4th dan and is an instructor
at the Senshinkan in Tempe. He is married to Karen.
David
Bedard, born in 1967, began aikido training in Lewisville
Texas in 1991. His teachers include C. Clark, Steve Duncan, Denis
Dorris, Aaron Clark, David Martin, and Yoko Sato. He is Jiyushinkai
4th dan and also practices Shinto Muso Ryu Jo and other Japanese
koryu with Phil Relnick. He is an assistant instructor at the
Jita Kyoei Dojo in Dallas, Texas.
Will
Schutt, born in 1970, began aikibudo training while a student
at Texas A&M University. His teachers include C. Clark, Steve
Duncan, Aaron Clark, and David Martin. He is Jiyushinkai 4th
dan and also practices Shinto Muso Ryu Jo (gomokuroku) and other
Japanese koryu with Phil Relnick and Jikiden Eishin Ryu with
John Ray. He is an assistant instructor at the Jiyushinkan near Monroe, WA.
Bill
Parker, has been practicing Kodokan judo for many years
and began aikibudo in 1992. His teachers include Vince Tamura,
Russell Waddell, and C. Clark. He is Jiyushinkai 4th dan and
Kodokan Judo 5th dan. He is a high school teacher and is married
to Linda. He is the instructor at the Jita Kyoei Dojo in Dallas,
Texas.
Tom
Weckel, born in 1953, has been practicing aikibudo since
1992. His main teachers are Steve Duncan, Yoko Sato, and C. Clark.
He is Jiyushinkai 4th dan and also practices Shinto Muso Ryu
Jo (shomokuroku) with Phil Relnick. He lives in Kirkland, WA.
and is an assistant instructor at the Jiyushinkan.
Charlie
Atkinson, born in 1965, has been practicing aikibudo since
1995 as well as Shinto Muso Ryu Jo (okuirisho) and other Japanese
koryu with Phil Relnick. His instructors are C. Clark and Aaron
Clark. He is JIyushinkai 4th dan and is an instructor
at the Renshinkan in Tempe, Arizona. He is a draftsman and is
married to Ginny (who also trains in Shinto Muso Ryu Jo and other koryu with Phil Relnick.) and has dogs
and cats.
Michael
J. Hacker, born in 1969, began his budo training in the late 70s with taekwando. He began training in aikido in 1990 while living in Japan. His primary influences are Donald Moriyama, Amano Shigeko, Saito Morihiro, C. Clark, and Stan Conner. He is Jiyushinkai 4th dan and is an instructor at the Renshinkan in Tempe. Michael lives with Swan in Chandler, Arizona.
Carl Bilodeau, born in 1968, began his budo training in 1995 under C. Clark in Arizona. He also studies Shinto Muso Ryu Jo with Phil Relnick. He is Jiyushinkai 4th dan and is an assistant instructor at the Renshinkan in Tempe.
Toby S. Hill, born 1964, began budo training in 1973 in judo and aikibudo in 1993. His teachers include T. Joe, R. Waddell and currently C. Clark. He is Jiyushinkai 4th dan and is the chief instructor at the Shakokan in Concord California. He is married to Rachelle and they have a daughter and a son.
Dennis Hintz, born 1945, began training in 1996 in aikibudo with C. Clark in Arizona. He also studies Shinto Muso Ryu Jo with Phil Relnick. He is Jiyushinkai 4th dan and is an assistant instructor at the Renshinkan in Tempe. He is married to Lorrie and shares the house with cats.
