Chief Instructor
James West Sensei
6th dan (Rokudan)
Jim has over 40 years of Aikido teaching experience in both the Puget Sound region under the direction of Yoshihiko Hirata Sensei (6th dan Aikido) and in Hawaii under the direction of Takashi Nonaka Sensei (9th dan Aikido) and Hajime Uyeki Sensei (6th dan Aikido).
He currently holds the rank of 6th dan in Aikido Yuishinkai with Master Koretoshi Maruyama Sensei, founder of Aikido Yuishinkai.
Co-Chairman & Head Instructor
Brandon Henkins
3rd DAN (SANDAN)
Co-Chairman & Head Instructor
Nate Weed
2nd Dan (Nidan)
Instructor
Marcel R. Wingate
2nd Dan (Nidan)
Secretary
Charles Pailthorp
1st DAN (SHODAN)
In 1971 Charles Pailthorp joined the faculty of The Evergreen State College, the first-year students enrolled, where he taught interdisciplinary programs for over four decades. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh. Music always has been an important part of his life. Some years ago, as a recent seventy-something, he began practice at Aikido Olympia and discovered that practicing philosophy, music, and aikido each exercise the same principles in body and mind. He hopes that those joining our classes may discover similar parallels in their own life practices.
Instructor
Erica Taylor
1st Kyu (Ikyu)
Treasurer
Amy Weed
4th Kyu
Aikido Olympia is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.