Instructors

Jack Wada Shihan

Dojo-Cho (Chief Instructor) of Aikido of San Jose

Wada Shihan 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

6th Degree Black Belt (rokudan)

Harry Concepcion Sensei has studied with Jack Wada-sensei since 1988 and currently holds the rank of 6th 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.

David Eves Sensei

5th Degree Black Belt (godan) David Eves

David began his study of Aikido in 1984 at Aikido of San Francisco with Robert Nadeau Shihan and Aikido of Noe Valley with Stevan Gengo Sensei.

In 1991 he moved south and has been training with Wada Sensei at Aikido of San Jose ever since.

David teaches the Kids and Teens classes.

Yu-Chen Shen Sensei

3rd Degree Black Belt (sandan) Yu-Chen Shen

Yu-Chen Shen Sensei began her studies in Chicago and has been training with Jack Wada Sensei since 1999. She currently holds the rank of 3rd degree black belt (sandan). She shares teaching responsibilities for Saturday morning class with other senior students.

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.

Meng Ear Sensei

2nd Degree Black Belt (nidan) Meng Ear

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 (nidan) and shares teaching responsibilities for Saturday morning class with other senior students

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.

Steven Tsao Sensei

5th Degree Black Belt (godan) Steven Tsao

Steven Tsao Sensei started training Aikido in Taiwan and continued with Jack Wada Sensei since 2002. He currently holds the rank of 5th degree black belt (godan). 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 shares teaching responsibilities for Saturday morning class with other senior students 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.