History

Our 25 Year Historical Record

written on the occasion of our 25th anniversary

WOW!! . . . 25 YEARS ALREADY? . . . UNBELIEVEABLE!

That was my reaction when I was reminded by Mike Bissonette that the Tacoma Aiki Dojo has been with the Morgan Y for the past twenty-five years, teaching Aikido to its members. He has asked me to put in writing my thoughts and experience in Aikido.

I look back on my Aikido training in Japan with Hiroshi Isoyama-Shihan and Hisatomo Azuma-Sensei during the late Sixties . . . five nights a week and on Saturday mornings . . . failing my first Go-Kyu test, but never giving up . . . and after five years, earning my Ni-dan rank. I believe it was because of the hard training and excellent teachings by Isoyama-Shihan and Azuma-Sensei that keeps me involved with Aikido today. I remember Azuma-Sensei repeating many times, telling me of a Japanese lady in her sixties who was teaching in Japan. Now I understand... he was telling me this because that is what he expected of me.  I am grateful for Stu Bush, Lonnie Grimm and other Judo black belts from the Tacoma-Fife Dojo, who asked me to teach them Aikido. I never thought of myself as a "teacher", but told them I would be happy to share with them what I learned in Japan. This was the beginning of my teaching Aikido for the Tacoma-Fife Dojo, Fort Steilacoom Community College, Charles Wright Academy, Morgan and Lakewood Ys, and at Lakeview Congregational Church.

Mike Bissonette was looking for Aikido when he relocated from Colorado, and came to see me the last day of my church class. I told him we had classes at the Morgan Y, where Lonnie Grimm was the Head Instructor for the Tacoma Aiki Dojo, which we established in 1979. Mike immediately joined...never missing a session (unless he was out of town), and now giving back to the program by serving as Head Instructor, after the tragic loss of Lonnie and Ted Wilson. As a side note, Mike had the wonderful experience of being invited to attend Isoyama-Shihan's summer training at Kashima last year...staying at Shihan's beautiful home, visiting Iwama Dojo and the Aikido Headquarters and meeting and having tea with Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba, the grandson of O-Sensei! ... a fantastic experience!

I am grateful to Mike, along with Carlton Spuck, Kent Devine, Fred Fraase, Glenn Taylor, Dean Koyama-Sensei and our other Black Belts who have their own Dojos...Wayne Brannon (Northwest Defensive Arts) and Gene Tucker (Redding YMCA), Thuan Nguyen and others who have helped us during the last twenty-five years, who no longer are able to train with us . . . especially the Peterson brothers and the Smith family. And, of course, we are grateful and appreciate very much Bernie Lau Sensei and Neil Yamamoto-Sensei of Icho-Ryu, allowing us from the beginning to be affiliated with their school and helping with seminars, promotions, and supporting us in many ways.

The highlight of our history has been Isoyama.Shihan's seminars that he has conducted for us the last five years, accompanied by Masayoshi Azuma, the son of the late Hisatomo Azuma, for the last three seminars.

It truly has been a pleasure and honor to have them with us and we are grateful that they are sharing their time, energy and knowledge with us. It has given our students the opportunity to experience the type of training I received in Japan and test for Dan rank by Shihan. Mike Bissonette has received Ni-dan and Gene Tucker Sho-dan and I feel honored by Shihan recommending me to San-dan. We are thrilled to learn that Isoyama-Shihan has been given the responsibility of the Iwama Dojo after Saito Sensei's passing. and that he has been honored by the Nihon Budokan with their Distinguished Service Medal.

I think back in my life and wonder how I got to this place in Aikido . . . and it has been beautiful. I can see the things that were said and done in prior years were all meant to be for a reason . . . and because everything has fallen into place nicely, I can honestly say, I believe Aikido was in God's plan for me! Thanks to all students, instructors and friends of the Tacoma Aiki Dojo . . . you are all truly beautiful people . . . I love your positive energy and attitude!

Fujiko

Dec. 2004, Tacoma

Photo Links

Fujiko Tamura Gardner Sensei

Bernie Lau-Sensei

Tacoma Aikido Club Instructors

Tacoma - Fife Aikido Dojo