Ryushinkan Dojo

Dojo Instructors (道場長) 

Martin Katz, 6th Dan (六段)

Chief Instructor, Ryushinkan Dojo


National and International Teaching Committee Member

Martin Katz Sensei began his Aikido training in 1974 at the San Diego Sheriffs' Aikikai under John Damian Sensei. He joined the Aikido Association of American with Shihan Fumio Toyoda in 1990. Katz Sensei has taught children and adults since 1978 employing an eternal enthusiasm combined with a theatrically innovative style. His philosophy is born out of his love of the art and his reverence of all the teachers and students that have shared the path.

Katz Sensei's Philosophy

A philosophy of education that rings true to me: to hear is to forget, to see is to remember, to do is to understand. When practicing Ukemi (taking falls), as in all aikido, one learns by doing or being done to, as some might say "when being on the receiving end of the art". The importance of ukemi — besides the obvious necessity of self preservation — is to understand the art from the inside out, or maybe the upside down. It is vital for a student to learn to follow the flow of the movement before they can lead the movement. Confidence naturally develops by being able to accept ki (energy) from the nage (thrower). A physical memory is developed and a spiritual growth happens when "the fear of falling is replaced with the joy of flying."

Please listen to this audio interview with Martin Katz recorded in 2018 by David Drexler.   http://thearchivechannel.com/audio-memoirs/  

Assistant Instructors

The assistant instructors at Ryushinkan Dojo are Fukushindoin, qualified instructors of aikido who are trained and certified through the Aikido Association of America.

Steven Katz 

五段 

Katz Sensei has taught beginner through advanced Aikido since 1992 at some of the most renowned schools in the country and in San Diego since 2010. He finds practicing Aikido a profound way of exploring physical and emotional relationships in a safe environment. His joy is sharing this dynamic martial art with the San Diego community.  He currently holds the rank of 5th-degree black belt

Siu-Wai Wu

四段

Wu Sensei began his aikido training at UC Santa Barbara with Steve Ota Sensei in 1990. He joined Ryushinkan Dojo in 1996 and received his Shodan in 2004. He currently holds the rank of 4th-degree black belt (Yondan).

Tom Groot

Executive Director

四段

Groot Sensei began training at Ryushinkan Dojo under Martin Katz Sensei in 1993 and currently holds the rank of 4th-degree black belt. He also holds 4th Dan rank in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido.

Edeline Fotheringham

三段

Edeline Sensei started training at Ikeda Shihan's dojo in Boulder Colorado in 1998. She has enjoyed Katz Sensei's teaching and training as well as the Ryushinkan community since 2016. She currently holds the rank of 3rd-degree black belt (Sandan).

Mike Reaves

三段

Reaves Sensei began aikido with Ryushinkan Dojo in 2001 and received his 3rd-degree (Sandan) rank in 2016. 

Maiko Kasuya

三段

Maiko Kasuya started Aikido in Japan when she was nine years old. She joined Ryushinkan Dojo in 2002 and received her 3rd-degree black belt in 2023.


Edward Lai

三段

Edward Lai began his aikido training at Ryushinkan Dojo under Martin Katz Sensei in 2004 and currently holds the rank of 3rd-degree black belt (Sandan). He also holds 1st Dan rank in Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu iaido.

Matthew Smith

Matthew Smith Sensei started training with Julie Poitras Santos Sensei under Ikeda Sensei in 1999 and currently holds the rank of Nidan (2nd-degree black belt). He has been especially inspired by training with Martin Katz Sensei since 2017. Exhilarating joy in practice is one of Smith Sensei's favorite things.