About The Instructor

Aikido:
I began my Aikido career in 1991 under the instruction of Sensei Jeff Baygents in Douglasville, GA.  Shortly after joining Sensei Baygents' class, the class joined the American International Ki Development and Philosophical Socitey.  The head instructor in Atlanta at the time was Sensei Fen Ackerman in Lilburn.  I continued to study in Douglasville under Sensei Baygents until 1993 when Sensei Baygents left AIKD&PS to pursue other ventures.  At this time Douglasville was an independent Dojo until Julio Roque (Ikkyu), also a student of Sensei Suenaka and Sensei Fen Ackerman, began to lead classes.  Around 1995, the Douglasville dojo dissolved and I began training directly under Sensei Fen Ackerman in Lilburn. In June of 1999, I tested for and received my Nidan.  In October of 1999, I started the Marietta, GA branch of the Atlanta Wadokai dojo in the Marietta YWCA.  I have  taught in Marietta ever since.  In May of 2004, Sensei Fen Ackerman formally resigned from the Wadokai making the Marietta Branch the only Wadokai school for the Atlanta area.  On January 1st, 2008, the class moved to Marietta Martial Arts.  I continue my affiliation with Wadokai, the AIKD&PS and Sensei Suenaka and am a certified dojo in good standing.

Personal:
I am happily married to the greatest woman in the world, and have a beautiful son Joshua who was born in December 2002 and daughter Amanda who was born in June 2007.  I have also studied Kung Soo Do Karate since 1984 under Sensei Stan Broome and am ranked a Rokudan in good standing with Sensei Broome's organization, the American Classical Karate Association.  I was born in 1967 in Marietta, GA and have lived in the Atlanta area ever since.

Photo:  Kelley Shihan with Suenaka Sensei after Gasshuku 2006.

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