Howard Hoa Newens Sensei

Howard Hoa Newens Sensei, chief instructor, has trained and taught Aikido since 1967 and is ranked black belt 6th degree by World Headquarters. Throughout the years, he studied with Sensei Dang Thong Phong, 6th dan, Seiichi Sugano, 8th dan, and the late Morihiro Saito, 9th dan. Newens Sensei is the former head of Aikido Institute Oakland. In addition to directing Aikido Institute Davis, he currently serves on the board of Takemusu Aikido Association a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting Aikido. He has also trained in Wu Tai Chi and Chi Kung since 1987. Newens Sensei has published the most comprehensive series of Aikido DVDs entitled Aikido Curriculum and consisting of seven professionally produced DVDs.

Bruce Donehower

Bruce Donehower, instructor, began consistent training in Aikido in 1994 and has instructed since 1999. He is ranked black belt 3rd degree by World Headquarters. Throughout the years, he studied with Sensei Dan Wold, 3rd Dan (Aikikai), Sensei Roger Pratt, 1st Dan (New School Aikido), Sensei Peter Arno , 3rd Dan (California Aikido Association), and Sensei Newens, 6th Dan (Takemusu Aikido Association). Bruce has trained at Aikido Institute Davis since its inaugural opening. Bruce also studied Tai Chi under Master T.T. Liang in Boston (Yang style) and was an instructor at Master Liang's studio. He has a doctorate in English literature and an M.A. in German literature and has published novels, poetry, translations, and literary criticism.

Kent Standley

Kent Standley started Aikido training in 1999 after studying shiatsu with Shinzo Fujimaki and being inspired to learn more of the mind-body-spirit arts. His senseis have included Eric Winters Sensei (4th dan) and Peter Arno Sensei (3rd dan). He has trained with Hoa Newens Sensei (6th dan) since 2002. Kent is ranked 3rd degree black belt by Aikido World Headquarters and has taught at Aikido Institute Davis since 2005. During the day he analyzes rocket data at Aerojet in Sacramento.

Marion Donehower

Marion Donehower started aikido in the 1970s in Hamburg, Germany. After two years she switched to Tai Chi and studied with Master T.T. Liang in Boston, MA and with Andrew Lum in Hawaii. Marion was an instructor at Master Liang’s studio and has private students in Tai Chi. In 1994 Marion started to reconnect with aikido because she was drawn to the vigorous movement and interactions of the art. Her first teacher was Sensei Dan Wold, 3rd Dan, Aikikai. In 2007 she joined Aikido Institute, Davis. As a psychologist and artist Marion believes strongly that aikido helps us achieve health in body and mind. Marion holds the rank of 3rd Dan.

Louis Newens

Louis Newens started training in Aikido since 1967 with Dang Thong Phong Sensei, 6th dan. He obtained his black belt, 2nd dan ,in 1984 from Tamura Sensei, 8thdan, France. From 1974 to 2008, he was successively the instructor of the following dojos in France: Judo Aikido club Bordelais; Sporting associations of the University of Bordeaux 2, section Aikido; Aikido club de Saint-Symphorien; Aikido club de Loches. In 2009, upon retiring from his professional activities as dental surgeon and acupuncturist, he joined the team of instructors at Aikido Institute Davis. Beside teaching Aikido classes, Louis is also in charge of the foot energy balancing portion of the Chi Kung program at our Dojo.

Rob Kamisky

Rob began studying Aikido in 1998 at the Budo Educational Center in Sacramento (founded by the late Tri Thong Dang Sensei). He has trained at Aikido Institute Davis since 2004, where he received his nidan in 2009. Rob has a master’s degree in Mechanical and Aeronautical engineering and works in renewable energy in Sacramento. He lives in Davis with his wife Kelly.

Toby Hargreaves

Toby is one of the instructors in the Juniors Program and has been practicing Aikido and Tai Chi since 2005. He is currently doing the uchideshi program, living and training at the dojo for one year. He is a recent graduate of UC Davis and currently works on the University's Student Farm. He has studied abroad in Japan and hopes to return there to continue learning the language and culture, and to train at Iwama, the birthplace of our style of Aikido. He also enjoys working with wood and aspires to become a carpenter.