Our Instructors

With over 50 years of combined aikido experience, our staff of instructors are qualified, proficient and highly capable of helping you reach your potential.

 

Dan began his training in 1990 with Robert Lampp sensei at the Winter Park High School Aikido Club under Edward B. Baker sensei (5th Dan Aikikai). He received his shodan in 1995 from Baker sensei. In 1996, Dan began training at the Shindai Aikikai Dojo with Dennis Hooker sensei (7th Dan ASU) under the direction of Mitsugi Saotome Shihan (8th Dan) of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba. He received his nidan in 1999 and his sandan in 2002 directly from Saotome sensei.

 

In 2001 Dan met Seishiro Endo Shihan (8th Dan) while training at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. A close student of the late Seigo Yamaguchi Shihan (1924-1996), Endo sensei's style of aikido is considered to be of the "Yamaguchi-lineage". Finding an immediate connection, Dan began following Endo sensei at various seminars in Europe, Japan and later in America. To further explore this unique path of aikido, Dan began (and continues today) to invite Endo sensei's senior students to the US for seminars and workshops to spread his personal message of aikido.

In 2004 Dan sensei and Duff Swan sensei left the Shindai Aikikai dojo (and the ASU) to form the Central Florida Aikikai, an independent aikido group dedicated to following Endo sensei and his teaching of aikido.

In 2010, the CFA officially came under the direction of Jan Nevelius Shihan (6th Dan Aikikai), who was awarded the title of shihan directly from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in January 2013 upon the recommendation of Endo sensei. A long-time student of Endo sensei, Jan sensei is also heavily influenced by Christian Tissier Shihan, as well as Yamaguchi Shihan with whom he trained in Japan for several years.

In 2014, Dan tested for and received his yondan (4th Dan) directly from Jan sensei. Shortly thereafter – to better reflect the style of training and nature of the group's study of aikido – the Central Florida Aikikai changed its name to Kimusubi Aikido Orlando. Directly affiliated with the Aikikai through Jan sensei, our dan (black belt) diplomas are officially recognized by the Hombu Dojo and the International Aikido Federation.

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Duff began his aikido training in 2000 at the Shindai Aikikai Dojo in Orlando, Florida. He experienced the aikido of Seishiro Endo Shihan for the first time in 2005, during Endo sensei's inaugural US seminar in Seattle, Washington. Inspired by this very different approach to aikido, Duff chose to forgo his his impending shodan test and he left Shindai Dojo to co-found the Central Florida Aikikai with Dan Dease.

 

After re-dedicating himself to a new style of aikido for almost ten years, Duff's patience and efforts were rewarded as he tested with Endo sensei in 2012 for his shodan, passing with praises from all in attendance. In 2016, Duff tested and passed his nidan promotion with Jan Nevelius Shihan.

Duff teaches the basic and ukemi (falling) classes at the dojo. He is Dan sensei's most senior student.

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