Instructors:

Jack Wada  Shihan is currently both chief instructor (dojo-cho) and the supervisor (kan-cho). He started in 1969 under Robert Frager and Robert Nadeau senseis while in his last year at UC Santa Cruz. Teaching since 1974, Wada-Shihan holds a 7th-degree black belt. The rank was awarded by World Aikido Headquarters (Hombu) in Tokyo.

Wada-Shihan also has taught Aikido for the Human Performance department at San Jose State University, the University of California at Santa Cruz, and through the honors program at West Valley Community College in Saratoga, California.

Little known facts about Wada Shihan:

• His first martial art was Shotokan karate, which he started at UCSC in 1968.
• He began training in T'ai Chi in 1970 under Steven Malamuth and Master Choy Kam Man.
• Jack was certified to teach T'ai Chi by Master Choy in 1973. He is available for appointments.
• He has a B.A. in Biology (U.C.S.C., 1970) and a M.A. in Russian (UC Davis, 1972).
• He is a kinesiologist and healer with his own Kalos Healing Ministry. He is available for appointments.
• His own inspiration for starting martial arts was a certain lethal lady in the British TV series The Avengers.
• He recently completed his own adventure with Mrs. Peel in the Field of Infinite Possibilities.
• He knows his comics.
• He has a unique astrology.
• He has a blog.
• He was inducted into the Bay Area Fighting Arts Hall of Fame.

Wada-Shihan is also available for private instruction in Aikido.

Harry Concepcion Sensei has studied with Jack Wada-sensei since 1988 and currently holds the rank of 5th degree black belt (go-dan). He teaches the adults noon class on Thursday.

Before Aikido, Harry studied Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do (with George Chung), and before that he earned his black belt in Karate.

Harry is also an avid cyclist and snow boarder.

Frank Silvey Sensei began his studies in San Francisco, CA in 1972 with Takashi Kajiwara and Mel Stewart. He currently holds the rank of 5th degree black belt (go-dan).

In 1974 he moved to Los Gatos to be a founding member of the California Actors Theatre at Old Town in Los Gatos, CA. His day off was Monday. Every Monday he would travel to Mt. View to study with Robert Nadeau Shihan, who gave Frank his 4th kyu certificate. In 1978 he moved to Los Angeles to work with the Mark Taper Forum, continuing his work in Theatre. In the L.A. area he studied at the Los Angeles Aikikai and the Japanese/American Club of Venice, CA.

In 1981, Frank returned to the Bay Area, and begins his studies with Jack Wada Sensei. In 1985 he took the yudansha exam and was given the rank of shodan. He taught at the San Jose Dojo in Japantown on Sundays then took the Thursday evening class. This continued until the relocation of the Dojo.

"Aikido is a wonderful journey"

Michael Brown Sensei has studied with Jack Wada-sensei since 1990, and currently holds the rank of 4th degree black belt (yon-dan). He currently teaches the Monday afternoon Teens class.

In addition to Aikido, Michael has studied Escrima and Tae Kwon Do.

In 2002, with Wada-sensei's permission, he started Aikido of Cabot (club) in Arkansas.

Steven Tsao Sensei started training Aikido in Taiwan and continued with Jack Wada Sensei since 2002. He currently holds the rank of 4^th degree black belt (yon-dan). Steven was first exposed to martial arts through Tenjin Shinyo Ryu Classical Jujutsu (天神真楊流) in Vancouver, and moved onto Wing-Tsun (詠春) and Daitoryu Aiki-Jujutsu (大東流合気柔術).

Steven teaches the all levels exam preparation class on Sundays, and is always available for additional training before and after classes.

In addition to Aikido, Steven is also an amateur singer and professional cat herder.

Yu-Chen Shen Sensei began her studies in Chicago, Ill and has been training with Jack Wada Sensei since 1999.  She currently holds the rank of 3rd degree black belt (san-dan).  She shares teaching responsibilities for Saturday noon class with Harry Concepcion Sensei.

Yu-Chen enjoys the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of  Aikido.  She finds that Aikido's philosophy of  blending with the other person or opponent helps her to enhance her relationships with her family, friends, and colleagues.  Aikido also helps Yu-Chen to strengthen her mind-body connection.

Off the mat, Yu-Chen loves being a scientist, going on hikes, eating yummy food, watching superhero movies, and spending time with her family.

Juli Nash Sensei began her study of Aikido with Frank Doran Sensei at Stanford in 1988 and continued her training under Doran Sensei’s guidance earning her Shodan at Aikido West. Then, following 15 years of being off the mat, Juli began training with Jack Wada Sensei at Aikido of San Jose in 2011.  She currently holds the rank of 3rd degree black belt (san-dan).

Juli especially enjoys exploring the practices of Aikido by the many inspiring teachers in and around the Bay Area.  She delights in sharing her journey of Aikido discovery with  all the diverse and wonderful training partners she has the pleasure of meeting through her training.

Juli teaches on Friday nights at ASJ, sharing the rotation with Yu-Chen Shen (san-dan) and Meng Ear (ni-dan).

Meng Ear Sensei started Aikido accidentally when she walked into what was supposed to be her usual weapons (bokken and jo) class. While being a novice to martial arts, Meng found that aikido really spoke to and intrigued her. She studied Aikido for another year, until college exams and grad school pulled her away.

After a 5 year hiatus and moving to the Bay Area, Meng felt the need to get back on the mat. She started training at Aikido of San Jose and enjoys the many people she's met on her Aikido journey. She currently holds the rank of 2nd degree black belt (ni-dan) and teaches the rotation Friday evening classes, as well as the kids/teens classes when time permits.

If Meng is not on the mat, she can be found either hiking some nearby trail, doing archery or enjoying some ice cream with a good book.