Owner/Chief Instructor, Paul Sensei
(Paul Neuman)
I was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. My Aikido training began in 1988 at Renfrew Dojo under Yukio Kawahara Sensei, Chief Instructor of the Canadian Aikido Federation, he was teaching the majority of the classes during the week. I moved to Tokyo in 1994 to continue training at the Aikikai Foundation-Aikido World Headquarters and have been very fortunate to train under some of the best teachers around. I met my wife doing Aikido, two of my three kids do Aikido, and I am the luckiest guy in the world to do what I love. In January of 2011, I was promoted to 5th Dan (5th-degree black belt) by Seijuro Masuda Sensei of the Aikido World Headquarters.
Instructor, Tamayo Sensei
(Tamayo Neuman)
I was born in Shinjuku and started Aikido in 1991 at the Aikido World Headquarters. I hold the rank of 2nd Dan and learned about the Aikido mind of peace, beauty, and harmony, and the strength of respect from my father. He is a 7th Dan and has been training since I was very young and is still training. I have always been closely involved in Pacific Aikido but mainly behind the scenes. The last few years I have been more active on the mats helping Paul with the classes several times per week, I love it. I fell in love with my husband when I saw him doing Aikido so it was an easy transition to help him on the mats.
Instructor, Hiro Sensei
(Hiroyuki Tateno)
I began training Aikido in 1990 while living and working in Taiwan. My boss at the time told me to start and I am happy that he did. Thanks to him I discovered Aikido and have since devoted myself to training. In January of 2019, I was fortunate to be promoted to 6th Dan. I worked at a Japanese pharmaceutical company here and continue to train and occasionally teach classes at that company’s dojo. It is my pleasure to assist Paul Sensei with his Aikido classes. I hope we can all enjoy the world of “harmony” through Aikido.
Instructor, Kazu Sensei
(Kazuhiro Arita)
I have been practicing Aikido for 41 years and am ranked 7th Dan by the Aikikai Foundation. I was the Chief Instructor of the Hong Kong Aikido Association in 2003. I was a coach at the Gakushuin University Aikido Club in Japan from 2014 to 2016. I lived in Cambodia in 2017 and 2018 as a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) Senior Volunteer during which time I was the instructor for the Cambodia Aikido Association. I started at Pacific Aikido in July of 2019 and am happy to be a part of the Pacific Aikido team.
Instructor, Business Development Advisor, William Sensei
(William Gillespie)
I started studying Aikido formally in 1987 at a traditional dojo in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles under Reverend Kensho Furuya (who lived in the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1969 as a kenshusei and received his M.A. in Japanese Studies from Harvard University in 1972). In 1991, I was selected to serve as one of three disciples (deshi) to Furuya Sensei – studying Aikido, weapons, Muso-shiden–ryu, and Iaido daily. Having visited Hombu Dojo for training in 1992 and 1994, in 1997 I took a fifteen-month sabbatical and moved to Tokyo for intensive training at Hombu Dojo. Living close to Hombu, not working, I trained several times daily. I remained in Tokyo for 8 years, often assisting with Pacific Aikido’s classes during that time. In 2004, I moved to London and while there trained at Chiba Shihan’s dojo, before opening a second home in Beijing in 2005 where I trained at Suganuma Shihan’s dojo at Beijing University. In 2008, I founded the Beijing Aikikai serving to this day as its Chief Instructor and establishing a group of eight dojos in five cities in China known as CAikikai. In 2017, Miyamoto Tsuruzo Shihan promoted me to 6th dan. I have also studied Judo and its derivative art Brazilian Jujitsu, earning a blue belt from the Roger Gracie Academy in London. I relocated to Tokyo in late December 2020, with my 11-year-old daughter and am excited to once again be part of the Pacific Aikido team.
Training Assistant, Spike Sensei
(Rossano “Spike” Kapauan)
My interest in Aikido began when I was watching an NHK World show featuring the different martial arts of Japan. I was fascinated by the philosophy of Aikido being non-competitive and non-aggressive. I started Aikido in 1989 at the Manila Aikido Club (est. 1963) in the Philippines. When I started to work in Japan for NEC in 1998, I made sure that I would continue my training to which I still do now and earned my 5th Dan in 2016. It is an honor to be part of Paul Sensei’s Pacific Aikido team.
Class Assistant, Yuki McParland
I have been practicing Aikido since the age of 5, under the instructions of Paul Sensei. Over the years, I have learned that Aikido is not about force, but rather about understanding your partner so that you can work in unison to learn techniques. I passed my Shodan test in May of 2016 just before leaving for University. My passion for Aikido grows every day and I hope to share this with the younger students while assisting them in their training.
Class Assistant, Leon Carlson
I am a Japanese/Canadian, born and raised in Japan. I began my Aikido training 13 years ago, during Kindergarten, under Paul Sensei. I am currently a university student and I plan to test for my Shodan (black belt) this year. I train with Pacific Aikido regularly and assist the teachers with the classes for the younger students.
Class Assistant, Ken McParland
I started Aikido at the age of 5 and Paul Sensei has been teaching me ever since. Every lesson at Aikido, I always learn something new; technique, positioning, footwork, stance and more. One of the most important things I have learned from doing Aikido is that Aikido is about technique more than power. I am currently 1st kyu and am working hard towards testing for Shodan. Along with my regular training, I enjoy assisting with the younger children and try to pass on what I have learned so far through my journey.
Class Assistant, Kosuke Kamata
I started Aikido when I was 5 years old and honestly, every class is really fun. Paul Sensei always manages to crack a joke which reminds me of how I initially got into Aikido. Apparently, I was extremely reluctant to learn aikido so Paul Sensei showed me a magic trick with a bill that made me laugh and that instantly made me want to join. I am a high school senior now and have been training regularly ever since. The classes are not full of just jokes but are really insightful and cover a great deal of detail regarding technique. I passed my 1st kyu test in the summer of 2020 and am working hard towards testing for my Shodan. I love to work with younger students and am always eager to meet new students.