Instructors
When evaluating a dojo to determine if it is the right place for your training,
you will want to know who the instructors are, and who their instructors are. Our
main instructors are Seishiro Endo Shihan, 8th Dan, Aikikai from
Hombu Dojo, Tokyo, Japan, and Jan Nevelius Shihan, 7th Dan, from Vanadis Aikido in Stockholm, Sweden.
Instructors at Aikido Seattle
- Glenn Leichman, 5th Dan Aikikai. Owner and Chief instuctor. Leichman Sensei not only has many years of aikido practice, but also has a PhD in Psychology and maintains a private therapy practice next door to the dojo.
- Lance Sobel, 4th Dan Aikikai. Lance is an accomplished aikidoka as well as a Psychologist in private practice, where he specializes in the treatment of adolescents and their families.
- Rupert Berk, 4th Dan Aikikai. Rupert has been training since 1995, and teaching since 2002.
- Nicholas Dambrauskas, 3rd Dan Aikikai. Nicholas started training in 2002 and started teaching in 2008.
- David Skanderson, 2nd Dan Aikikai. Dave started training in aikido in 2007 and is also a long-time student of karatedo.
- Emmanuel Pinault, 2nd Dan Aikikai. Emmanuel currently coordinates and teaches the kids' classes.
Visiting Instructors
In addition, we enjoy visits from instructors such as
- Mouliko Halen, 7th Dan, Norway
- Matti Joensuu, 6th Dan, Finland
- Miranda Saarentaus, 6th Dan, Finland
- Greg Angus, 6th Dan, Canada
- Frank Ostoff, 5th Dan, Germany
- Lothar Darjes, 5th Dan, Germany
- Antony Pinchbeck, 5th Dan, England
- Charles Colton, 5th Dan, New York, USA
- Taina Nyström, 5th Dan, Finland
- Astrid Artho, 5th Dan, Switzerland
- Brian Levy, 5th Dan, New Orleans, LA, USA
These instructors enhance the atmosphere of Aikido Seattle and truly make it an international friendship dojo.
Lillsved, Aikido Camp, 2008 SWEDEN
