Technical and Instructor Committee

  • Laura DeGraff Sensei

    Kiku Matsu Dojo
    Chicago, IL

    Laura DeGraff Sensei started training in 1998 at Tenshinkan Dojo, the headquarter dojo for Fumio Toyoda’s Aikido Association of America (AAA). In 2004, she left AAA to follow Andrew Sato Shihan and was a founding member AWA. She is now the dojo-cho of Kiku Matsu Dojo, and regularly teaches adult and children’s classes and seminars. She’s also a member of the AWA’s National Technical and Testing Committees, and the Director of Operations. DeGraff Sensei holds the rank of Rokudan.

  • David Galdamez Sensei

    Wadokan Dojo
    Houston, TX

    David Galdamez Sensei holds the rank of Godan and is the head instructor and founder of Wadokan Dojo. He has participated in international training in Japan, Qatar, Poland, Bulgaria and assisted training Qatar police officers. Galdamez Sensei is a member of the AWA’s Technical and Testing Committees, and a certified AWA instructor.

  • Todor Getov Sensei

    Shiseikan Dojo
    Varna, Bulgaria

    Todor Getov Sensei started training in 1990. He is a Rokudan and a member of the AWA’s Technical and Testing Committees. He has taught seminars in Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, and Slovenia.

  • Michael Goodman Sensei

    Kyushinkan Dojo
    Alpharetta, GA

    Michael Goodman Sensei is a Rokudan and a member of AWA’s Technical and Testing Committees. He serves as Secretary of the AWA’s Governing Board. Goodman Sensei is the Dojo-Cho and Chief Instructor at Kyushinkan Dojo in Alpharetta, Georgia. Off the mat, Goodman Sensei is an attorney at Goodman & Goodman, LLP, and has practiced personal injury trial law since 1982.

  • Josh Paul Sensei

    Aikido of South Brooklyn
    Brooklyn , NY

    Josh Paul Sensei started Aikido of South Brooklyn with his wife, Courtney Paul, in 2011. He has practiced for more than 20 years, and is a full-time instructor. Through his organization Mind Body Arts, Inc., and other organizations, he has taught aikido in NYC public schools and elsewhere, bringing aikido to elementary and high school students, students with autism and other unique needs, and at-risk teenagers. Paul Sensei is a Godan and member of the AWA’s National Technical and Testing Committees and a certified AWA instructor. He is also a Shodan in shindo muso ryu jodo, a classical Japanese martial art of staff and sword, and a 200-hour certified yoga instructor.

  • Tomasz Tyszka Sensei

    Aikido Wadokan Dojo
    Gydnia, Poland

Governing Board

  • Andrew Sato Shihan

    Chairman

  • Laura DeGraff Sensei

    Director of Operations

  • Michael Goodman Sensei

    Secretary

  • Dr. Joel Augustin Sensei

    Board Member

Test Committee

  • Andrew Sato Shihan

  • Laura DeGraff Sensei

  • Aaron Dale Sensei

  • David Galdamez Sensei

  • Toshko Getov Sensei

  • Michael Goodman Sensei

  • Josh Paul Sensei

  • Derek Reynolds Sensei

  • Tomasz Tyszka Sensei

Emeritus Members - Technical/Instructors

  • James Jones Sensei

    Aikido Association of Arkansas

    Ft. Smith, AR

    James W. Jones Sensei is the founder and Chief Instructor of the Aikido Association of Arkansas. He has more than 35 years experience in aikido and other martial arts. Jones Sensei is ranked Rokudan, and was a member of the AWA’s Technical and Testing Committees.

  • Julio Monell Sensei

    New York Aikido Alliance

    Brooklyn, NY

    Julio Monell Sensei founded the New York Aikido Alliance in 2005, and was among the AWA’s founding dojo. He holds the rank of Rokudan and was a member of the AWA’s Technical and Testing Committees.

  • Richard L Price Sensei

    Gishinkan Dojo

    Kure Beach, NC

    Richard Price sensei was the first AWA member ranked Rokudan by the Aikikai Hombu dojo.

    Not a full time Aikido teacher, his passion and expertise were full time 24/7. Price sensei was not only dojo cho of two Aikido dojo, he also actively served Kure Beach as a police officer. He served as a member of the Technical Committee and directed the Aikido Law Enforcement branch of the AWA.