Born in 1963 outside of Boston, John’s martial arts career began early in life-fending off two rampaging older brothers. His formal budo training started in 1984 while in collage. He spent two years studying Shotokan Karate under Sensei Bruce Barker. After college, he moved to North Carolina and began studying Shi Sei Ryu under the direction of Sensei Nathan Ray. From North Carolina, John moved to the Seattle Area and began studying Chung Do Kwan Tae Kwon Do and Ed Parker Kempo at the Blue Moon Martial Arts Center (now Sidekicks) in Redmond. In late 1997, John met Sensei David Morris and began studying Nihon Goshin Aikido. He was one of the first students to sign up in Sensei Morris’s Dojo. John earned his Black Belt in 2002 and holds a teaching certificate in Nihon Goshin Aikido, as well as two other Martial Arts.

Sensei Sato has been married for over twenty five years and has three great children. He has a great career as an Optometrist but several years ago in 1997 started looking for a means of self improvement. He has always had an interest in the martial arts since he was a boy, so when he was fortunate to meet Sensei Morris, he became one of the original students when the Dojo opened.

Sensei Sato feels that Nihon Goshin Aikido contains many facets of the martial arts and after training 4 1/2 years he earned his Sho-Dan. Dr. Sato feels that the principals and philosophy of Aikido not only trains your mind and body but can also help you in all aspects of your daily life. Training in Aikido is a lifelong pursuit and Sensei Sato realizes the journey has just begun after receiving his Black Belt. It continues to be a great source of joy and satisfaction in his life.

Sensei Sato is a certified Black Belt and a full time instructor at the Aikido School of Self Defense and continues his training under Sensei Morris.

Mr. Matsumoto was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1962 and began training in karate and judo at an early age. By the age of 18, he had earned a Black Belt in karate. In 1984, he moved to Los Angels, CA. In 1985, he began studying Kiyokushin Karate (full contact) and earned his brown belt in 1988. In 1992, Mr. Matsumoto moved from L.A. to Seattle (Redmond, WA) He met Sensei David Morris in 1997, shortly after Sensei Morris opened his Dojo, and became one of the first students to sign up in Sensei Morris’s Dojo, where he went on to earn his Black Belt in 2002.

Yukihisa Matsumoto is a certified instructor in Nihon Goshin Aikido and he is a teacher at Sensei Morris's Dojo. With his heritage and background, Mr. Matsumoto brings a true Japanese spirit to the Dojo.

Mark
Nealey

Sensei Nealey was born August 8th, 1984 locally in Bellevue and has lived in Redmond his entire life. He started studying Nihon Goshin Aikido under Sensei David Morris in 1998, and received his Sho-Dan in May of 2004.

Having spent over 1/3 of his life studying Nihon Goshin Aikido, it has become very much a part of his life and way of being. He believes the principles of Aikido can be applied to almost every situation one will come across in their life whether it be personal, physical, or work related.

While not training or teaching at the Aikido school, he spends a lot of his free time outdoors mountain biking, rock climbing, snowmobiling or doing other sorts of physical activities. The ability to fall and roll has proven useful more than once in his outside life and has prevented him from sustaining injuries from his active lifestyle.