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The administration of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba is led by a Board of Directors comprised of seven senior instructors. Directors at Large serve 2-year terms which may be extended for another 2 years; officers serve 2-year terms which may be extended for another 2 years; and the president’s commitment is for 4 years: president-elect (1 year), president (2 years), past-president (1 year). This ensures leadership continuity and consistency in the event the president becomes unable to serve during their tenure. Starting January 2024, the Board is made up of the following individuals:

  • President: Eugene Lee
  • President-Elect: Brian Healy
  • Secretary: Mike Page
  • Treasurer: Gary Small
  • Board Members-At-Large: Stéphane Le Derf, Mary McIntire, Todd Trzaskos

As part of our responsibilities to World Aikikai Headquarters (Hombu) and to support our ongoing mission, the ASU Board has established standing committees in the following areas:

  • Kagami Biraki – John Messores, George Ledyard, Bill Gleason, Chuck Weber, Tres Hofmeister, Raso Hultgren, Robin Cooper, Dan Messisco
  • Examination Committee – Tara Myers (Acting Chair),  Tim McGill, Craig Slack, Meredith Abel, Erwin Ricafort, Chuck Weber
  • Instructional Committee – Melissa Bell (Chair), Chris Guzik, Jean-Marc Wise, Kay Sandacz

Other committees, their chairs and our general administration: 

  • ASU Office Administrator: Don Ellingsworth (don@nullasu.org)
  • General Counsel: Richard Moore
  • Marketing and Digital Communications Director: Gary Small (gary@nullasu.org)
  • Website: Guy Hagen (guy@nullasu.org)
  • ASU NOW Fundrasing Committee Chair: Gary Small  (gary@nullasu.org)
  • Grants Committee Chair: Kay Sandacz (grants@nullasu.org)
  • International Dojo Liaison: Stéphane Le Derf (slederfaikido@nullfree.fr)
  • Shrine Coordinator: Julie Tollen (jet@nullasu.org)
  • Shrine Property Master Plan: Brian Canin
  • Newsletter Coordinator: Matt Fisher
  • Diversity and Inclusivity: Kay Barnes
  • Winter Intensive: Mike Page
  • Video Archive Project: Aaron Ward
  • Saotome Sensei’s Artwork Archive Project: Garth Jones

Updated 3/19/2026. For recent Board announcements and communications, please visit this link. 

Official ASU Board Communications

General ASU News

Upcoming Seminars and Events

Social Updates

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Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

2 weeks ago

Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

A truly wonderful posthumous tribute to Wendy Whited, who did so much for our organization and for aikido. … See MoreSee Less

A truly wonderful posthumous tribute to Wendy Whited, who did so much for our organization and for aikido.Image attachmentImage attachment+1Image attachment
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Yes..Yes…Yes !!! 🙏🙇🙏

Omg she was one of the best instructors and one of my biggest supporters!!!

Amazing and well deserved. Wendy was an outstanding teacher. I had the pleasure of training and testing with and under her many times in my training. She was and still is a big influence in my life.

Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

2 weeks ago

Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

🏖️ Winter Intensive 2027 – Hotel Registration Deadline
Wednesday, December 9, 2026
Rooms at the Sirata Beach Resort are expected to fill quickly, so we strongly encourage you to reserve your room as soon as possible.
Our special room block is listed as:
“Aikido Schools of Ueshiba 2027 Room Block”
👉 Reserve Your Room at the Sirata:
Sirata Beach Resort — ASU 2027 Room Block
Make your reservation, pack your dogi, and get ready for a great week of training, friendship, and community! 🥋🌴
See you at Winter Intensive 2027!
#aikido #aikidoaikikai #budo #aikidoschoolsofueshiba #martialartstraining #martialarts #MartialArtsCommunity #aikidolife #iloveaikido #aikidoseminar #aikidoka … See MoreSee Less

🏖️ Winter Intensive 2027 - Hotel Registration Deadline Wednesday, December 9, 2026 Rooms at the Sirata Beach Resort are expected to fill quickly, so we strongly encourage you to reserve your room as soon as possible. Our special room block is listed as: “Aikido Schools of Ueshiba 2027 Room Block” 👉 Reserve Your Room at the Sirata: Sirata Beach Resort — ASU 2027 Room Block Make your reservation, pack your dogi, and get ready for a great week of training, friendship, and community! 🥋🌴 See you at Winter Intensive 2027! #aikido #aikidoaikikai #budo #aikidoschoolsofueshiba #martialartstraining #martialarts #MartialArtsCommunity #aikidolife #iloveaikido #aikidoseminar #aikidoka
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Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

2 weeks ago

Aikido Schools of Ueshiba

Aikido Schools of Ueshiba mourns the passing of Warren Little, October 16, 1929 – September 19, 2026. He died Saturday evening at his home in Missoula, Montana.

Warren was one of the first members of Aikido Shobukan Dojo, and he was instrumental in setting the organization up in those early D.C. days. He lived in a camper parked behind the dojo, and students who came in alone on Sunday mornings remember him watching from over the top of his newspaper, calling out "Train harder! Harder!" before going back to his coffee.

He had found the martial arts long before that, training in judo in Washington DC in 1952 alongside Donn Draeger. He gave decades of service to this country as a Special Agent of the FBI, and later to the State of Montana.

He was devoted to Saotome Sensei and to ASU from the beginning, and he showed it the way he showed everything, by turning up and doing the work. He once took Sensei and Patty on their honeymoon, into the backcountry of his beloved Montana, and he loved to tell how the newlyweds discovered he had packed exactly one tent, and that he fully intended to sleep in the middle of it.

What Warren gave aikido was support, and he gave it for the better part of fifty years. He worked for years to see that Montana had somewhere good to train, and he was behind Aikido of Missoula from its early days and a member of Mountain West Aikido in Livingston and Billings later on. The door of his own second floor studio carried an image of O Sensei etched in glass.

Those who knew him best remember the generosity most. Warren was always the first to pick up a shovel and start digging, and he never waited to be asked. He had a heart of gold, a real sense of humor, and opinions he was glad to share.

He was promoted to yondan in October 2016, four days after his eighty-seventh birthday.

In his last years he could no longer train. He came anyway, and he still put on his gi.

Sensei was deeply impacted by the news of his passing. With tears in his eyes, he exclaimed in Japanese:

"Warren! Warren was such a great help… oh but it’s a natural thing that time passes, and isn’t time passing?! We must take care of each other while we can! Warren and I shared so many fond memories..!"

Aikido of Missoula will hold a memorial class for Warren on Friday, September 25, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

Rest well, Warren san, we miss you already but know you lay in peace. … See MoreSee Less

Aikido Schools of Ueshiba mourns the passing of Warren Little, October 16, 1929 – September 19, 2026. He died Saturday evening at his home in Missoula, Montana. Warren was one of the first members of Aikido Shobukan Dojo, and he was instrumental in setting the organization up in those early D.C. days. He lived in a camper parked behind the dojo, and students who came in alone on Sunday mornings remember him watching from over the top of his newspaper, calling out Train harder! Harder! before going back to his coffee. He had found the martial arts long before that, training in judo in Washington DC in 1952 alongside Donn Draeger. He gave decades of service to this country as a Special Agent of the FBI, and later to the State of Montana. He was devoted to Saotome Sensei and to ASU from the beginning, and he showed it the way he showed everything, by turning up and doing the work. He once took Sensei and Patty on their honeymoon, into the backcountry of his beloved Montana, and he loved to tell how the newlyweds discovered he had packed exactly one tent, and that he fully intended to sleep in the middle of it. What Warren gave aikido was support, and he gave it for the better part of fifty years. He worked for years to see that Montana had somewhere good to train, and he was behind Aikido of Missoula from its early days and a member of Mountain West Aikido in Livingston and Billings later on. The door of his own second floor studio carried an image of O Sensei etched in glass. Those who knew him best remember the generosity most. Warren was always the first to pick up a shovel and start digging, and he never waited to be asked. He had a heart of gold, a real sense of humor, and opinions he was glad to share. He was promoted to yondan in October 2016, four days after his eighty-seventh birthday. In his last years he could no longer train. He came anyway, and he still put on his gi. Sensei was deeply impacted by the news of his passing. With tears in his eyes, he exclaimed in Japanese: Warren! Warren was such a great help… oh but its a natural thing that time passes, and isnt time passing?! We must take care of each other while we can! Warren and I shared so many fond memories..! Aikido of Missoula will hold a memorial class for Warren on Friday, September 25, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Rest well, Warren san, we miss you already but know you lay in peace.
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Warren Sensei taught me proper pins prepping for my shodan test in the early 90's! Fond memories of an aiki icon.

Warren Sensei taught me how to teach forward rolls to frightened beginners. He was a guiding light.

Warren Sensei demonstrated the importance of showing up for training! Every time he came to Bozeman Aikido he encouraged each and every one of us to train more diligently. And he was always passing out ASU patches. Warren gifted Bozeman Aikido with several art works from his collection. We fondly remember Warren Sensei as the grandfather of Aikido in Montana. RIP Warren, happy trails❣️

Wow, such a surprise to see Warren's face pop up! I met him almost 20 years ago while attending a Saotome seminar in Montana. I forget people easily, but never forgot him. Sometimes when I've thought of him lately I've thought that he was probably gone already, but I'm glad to hear that he made it almost to 97. RIP Sensei.

I knew Warren from seminars and when I was in Missoula we spent the afternoon at his home before the seminar started. A great man. 😞 What did he say at the end of a seminar . . .

Om mani päme hum, Om mani päme hum, Om mani päme hum…… may his journey be peaceful and may he have a very fortunate rebirth.

My condolence of whole pamily…Philippines 🇵🇭.

Rest in peace! Well done!

Sorry for your loss of such an important member of your community.

That’s a tragedy to hear. When I read this, I imagined him clapping loudly once, decisively, to close the seminar.

Sending love and light.

Truly an inspiration to me and all who knew him, he will be missed

He will be missed

I remember Warren so well from the early 80's Sad news.

My sincere condolences.

Sincerely Condolences…! 🙏

RIP Warren Sensei. I trained with my son Iliad at ASU in 1998-2000.

Thank YOU very much, Warren. Such a spirit of shugyo, and such a good Aiki friend.

My condolences to his family

May he rest in peace 🙏

Beyond the path, go to the stars!. God blessed you.

🙏☮️ a beautiful Sensei and soul

Thank you for this. Warren was a good friend who made those around him feel better. BTW, Warren's birthday is October 21. On to the next adventure, old friend!

Sorry for your loss.

Our Prayers & Deepest Sympathy to the family….

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