Instructors

The North Florida School of Aikido dojo has a variety of instructors who share the teaching responsibilities each month. Most of the classes are led by the head instructor, Mike Page Sensei. However, those of yudansha (black belt) rank are encouraged to instruct classes in order to gain valuable teaching experience which in turn helps each instructor develop as a martial artist.

Each teacher at NFA possesses extensive martial arts experience that is unique from the others. Yet, each person’s knowledge and teaching style compliments the others. Since Aikido is a very personalized art, each student must learn to tailor the art to his or her own experience. Multiple instructors present techniques from different but overlapping perspectives while students are expected to seek out the common elements of each teacher’s demonstration. Students are then expected to build on this “core” or “base” of a technique as they develop.

Our instructors are listed below.

Aikido Instructors

Mike Page, Yondan - Head Instructor

Page Sensei began his Aikido training when he was 30 years old. He was initially drawn
to Aikido because of its aesthetic movement. “I remember watching an Aikido practice
session and I was struck by the physical beauty and simplicity of its movement.” Page
Sensei had always been drawn to performance sports like gymnastics and springboard
diving where mind-body control and self expression were important features of those
sports. In fact, his success as a springboard diver in High School placed him within
the top 25 divers in the state of Ohio and eventually led him to the University of Miami
where he qualified to go to the Olympic Diving Trials for the 1976 Olympic Games.
Years later, it was Mike’s desire to rediscover his passion for mind-body activities that
led him to begin studying Aikido. Impressed with the mind-body similarities between
Aikido and springboard diving was what hooked him after his first class. However,
he soon discovered that is where the similarities ended. “After beginning my Aikido
practice it was apparent that Aikido was much more than just another martial art because
it offered a spiritual dimension not present in any of my previous athletic pursuits.” Page
Sensei strives to incorporate what he has learned through his training experiences and
his practice to make Aikido an “experience” for his students. He is also keenly aware of
the interpersonal transformative power of Aikido, making this and important part of his
teaching.

Tracy Wujcik, Sandan
Tracy began training in aikido in 1992, is one of the founding members of NFA, and the Dojo Cho. Tracy is drawn to aikido as an art he can practice for the rest of his life. Tracy has devoted himself to studying and sharing aikido with the many friends he has made while practicing this art. He has trained with countless world class aikido instructors, all of whom have influence him in a positive way. Tracy strives in his aikido to simply be a good student and help everyone he can on or off the mat.

Richard Moore, Sandan

Richard Moore has studied Aikido since 1992. He is one of the original founders of North Florida School of Aikido and the Sho Dojo. Richard started Aikido after 16 years of studying and teaching other styles of martial art including the Japanese karate styles of Shotokan, Yoshukia and the Korean style of martial art Tang Soo Do Mudukan. Richard holds black belts in Yoshukia and Tang Soo Do Mudukan. Richard switched to practicing Aikido out of curiosity and stayed with Aikido because of its philosophy and dynamic use of the opponent’s energy in resolving conflict. Richard has been significantly influenced by Dennis Hooker Sensei, Ikeda Shihan and Saotome Shihan. Richard uses the principles and philosophy of Aikido in his daily life to resolve conflicts at work and other venues in his life.

Mark Ice, Nidan

Mark has been training for 19 years and has trained in 5 arts (GoJu Karate, Judo, Tae Kwon Do, Jujitsu and Aikido), holding black belts in three. He has had the opportunity to train with many gifted martial artist and has also been exposed to several weapons styles, along with Baguazhang (Pa Kua Hang) and Systema. He started with NFA in 1997 and has found Aikido to be major force in all aspects of his life. Between his training and the people he has come in contact with over the years he cannot imagine a life without Aikido or the martial arts. He is a business owner of 14 years in Tallahassee, has been married for 22 years and has a small farm in Havana.

Karate Instructor

Sensei Bill Lucas, Sandan

Sensei Lucas has studied Shorin Ryu Karate and okinawan Kobudo since 1982. He is a Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Okinawa Karate-Do Shorin Ryu Kishaba Juku under the guidance of Sensei Paris Janos and Sensei Steve Harless. Sensei Janos and Harless are both senior American students of the late Sensei Chokei Kishaba and continue to train and teach under the guidance of Sensei Katsuhiko Shinzato of Okinawa, Japan.

He has been influenced by many martial artists and forms of martial arts, but especially by his teachers and their teachers.

Lucas has dabbled in other martial arts including Tai Chi, Aikido, Naginata and Iai-do, but feels that he still has too much to learn in his chosen art to really give any other arts his full attention at this time.

While people train in martial arts for many reasons including physical fitness, self defense, and artisitic expression, Sensei Lucas believes that the ultimate goal of martial arts should be the development of the human character. He believes that the physical training, mental discipline and the honing of the spirit inherent in martial arts are the perfect vehicle for this goal.

Sensei Lucas feels very fortunate to have the opportunity to share the art and tradition of Kishaba Juku Shorin Ryu Karate with the Tallahassee community through classes at North Florida School of Aikido.

Instructors

Aikido Instructors

Karate Instructor

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Dennis Hooker Sensei Seminar

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