Gary Snyder Sensei – Shichidan
Gary Snyder Sensei is a Seventh Degree Black Belt in Aikido with over thirty-five years of martial arts training and the founder of Warrior Bridge. He currently spends his time between Montana and NYC. Read an interview with Gary Snyder Sensei.
Frank Mancini – Yondan
Frank is a life long martial artist with extensive training in other competitive fighting arts as well as a certified Hatha Yoga instructor. He endeavors to bring all his experience as a martial artist, both as practitioner and instructor to help aspiring students discover a love for practice and growth for themselves. Frank sensei started with Columbia University Kokikai Aikido in 1996 and has been teaching for over 17 years. Under the guidance of Sensei Shuji Maruyama founder of Kokikai Aikido, and Gary Snyder sensei, 7th Dan NYC Senior Instructor, he continues the dynamic evolving tradition of Kokikai Aikido assisting students in catching the essence of our training captured in our four basic principles.
Oliver Jovanovic – Sandan
Oliver Sensei started practicing Kokikai Aikido at Columbia University in 1989 and is a lifelong martial artist with over 25 years of experience teaching aikido. He currently holds a rank of Sandan in Kokikai Aikido.
Rebecca Sievers, Dojo Manager – Sandan
Rebecca began her Kokikai journey in 2002 at Columbia University. Since then, she has practiced Kokikai regularly with Gary Snyder sensei, 7th Dan, at Aikido Kokikai NYC, and has attended over 30 camps and seminars instructed by Kokikai founder, Shuji Maruyama. She has been teaching with Aikido Kokikai NYC for 5 years. Prior to Kokikai, she studied Hapkido in Chicago, IL, earning a second degree black belt. Rebecca firmly believes that Kokikai’s 4 Basic Principles can be applied in all areas of life, and encourages all students with one of Sensei Maruyama’s famous quips – “If I can do it, you can do it!”
Max Lent – Nidan
Max is a second generation Kokikai Akidoka. His father practiced at the North East Dojo (Sensei Maruyama’s home dojo in the U.S.) in the 1980’s and 90’s and Max spent lots of time as a young child, middle school and High school student in the dojo. Continuing his practice as a young adult with Cecelia Ricotti Sensei (8th dan) in Philadelphia, and then with Gary Snyder Sensei (7th dan) in NYC, Aikido has always been an important part of Max’s life. Over the past ten years, Max has traveled with Sensei Maruyama to attend seminars and camps between Philadelphia, and the west coast.
Avni Klein – Shodan
Avni began studying Aikido in the 1990s with Warrior Bridge founder Gary Snyder sensei at the Columbia University Kokikai Club. He’s thrilled to be back in the NYC Kokikai scene teaching at Warrior Bridge and at the Columbia Kokikai Club. When not practicing Aikido, Avni is practicing Rehabilitation Medicine, and brings an advanced knowledge of body mechanics and musculoskeletal principles to the mat.