OUR AIKIDO TEACHERS
AND
LEADERSHIP TEAM
Wendy Palmer
Shichidan - Seventh Degree Black Belt
(1947- 2022)
Her teaching is living on in all of us.
May she rest in peace
Wendy Sensei
Wendy was an expert at challenging people to examine techniques from a different perspective. Her classes explored Aikido principles at a high level of training as she motivated students beyond their habitual training patterns. Wendy's uncanny ability to recognize individual strengths provided a platform for finding new ways to accomplish techniques without relying on force.
Wendy Palmer began training in 1971. She was drawn to the beauty and power of aikido and recognized the practice as a path to increase empowerment and love. She is the creator of Leadership Embodiment a profound approach to personal and professional development using embodied practices based on aikido. Wendy is author of three books: Leadership Embodiment: How the Way We Sit and Stand Can Change the Way We Think and Speak, The Intuitive Body: Discovering the Wisdom of Conscious Embodiment, and Aikido and The Practice of Freedom: Aikido Principles as a Spiritual Guide.
TAM Leadership Team
Greg Owens
Godan - Fifth Degree Black Belt
Greg Sensei
Greg has been training Aikido since 1991, and was a long-time student of George Leonard Sensei as well as of Wendy Palmer Sensei. He is a superb communicator and has a sharp eye for students' needs. Greg enjoys a vigorous training session, and is very patient and gentle with beginners. Greg is an advocate for taking aikido off the mat and does so through his leadership role with the EO network. The EO network enables business owners to learn from one another through global events, leadership development programs, online forums and education opportunities
Kirk Scott
Godan - Fifth Degree Black Belt
Kirk Sensei
Kirk started training aikido at Michigan State University under Jongoon Kim in 1991, and was Wendy Palmer's student from 1995- 2022. Kirk started training martial arts at the age of ten in Koei Kan Karate in 1981, and received his blackbelt in karate in 1989.
Dolano Arthur
Yondan - Fourth Degree Black Belt
Additional Regular Teachers at TAM in order of seniority
Peter Law
Sandan - Third Degree Black Belt
Peter Sensei
Peter joined TAM Aikido at the ripe old age of 50, some 22 years ago. His aikido practice has played a central part in his life, with a special focus on musubi and zanshin. He considers it a privilege to be a part of TAM Aikido and the greater aikido community, and he is grateful to everyone in the community for the care and kindness shown to him and to each other, and for keeping the lessons learned from the “Art of Peace” alive and active in the world.
Eleanor Martineau
Nidan - Second Degree Black Belt
Eleanor Sensei
Eleanor works hard to give center, connect, and contribute sincere ukeme. She runs an ukeme based class. Besides aikido she likes dogs, making things, and reading.
Friday Rotational Teaching Crew
Yayoi Nagano
Nidan - Second Degree Black Belt
Yayoi Sensei
Yayoi is dedicated to the art of Aikido with a passion for cultivating a life-giving and health-promoting practice. As a certified Feldenkrais practitioner, she merges the principles of movement and mindfulness to enhance the Aikido journey. Beyond the dojo, she is deeply committed to exploring the intersection of Aikido and holistic well-being. Her interest lies in fostering a harmonious balance between the physical, mental, spiritual and social aspects of life. In her teaching, she is interested in creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment, emphasizing the interconnectedness of mind and body. Guided by the principles of harmony, respect, and self-discovery a commitment to lifelong learning and continuous improvement is at the core of her teaching philosophy. Yayoi's class embarks on a journey of self-discovery, holistic well-being, and the art of Aikido and she explores the transformative power of movement and mindfulness.
Bill Carmen
Bio Pending
Adam Wayne
Bio Pending