Instructors
Our Chief Instructor, John Wiley, is celebrating his 30th year of Aikido practice in 2024. He’s been studying Iwama Aikido for over 25 years. We are the only Dojo in the Front Range region teaching Traditional Iwama Style Aikido, including the Iwama weapons curriculum.
John Wiley
Dojo-Cho/Chief Instructor
Sandan (3rd Degree Black Belt) – Aikikai
Level 3 Aikido Weapons Certification
Wiley Sensei has been studying Aikido for 30 years. He has spent the last 25 years exclusively studying Iwama-Ryu Aikido. John is a direct student of Patricia Hendricks Shihan (7th Dan Aikikai). He continues to study under Patricia Hendricks Shihan, Yvonne Thelwell Shihan, and Mark Larson Shihan. John also attends between 5-10 seminars/year with regular visits to Aikido of San Leandro, and Aikido of Arlington.
John and his wife Elizabeth, originally from the Washington DC area, moved to Colorado Springs in 2015. After a year of teaching/practice at a local Colorado Springs dojo, they decided in early 2018 that it was time to return to their roots and open Colorado Springs’ only Iwama-Ryu Aikido dojo.
Elizabeth Hartman
Assistant Instructor
Nidan (2nd Degree Black Belt) – Aikikai
Level 2 Aikido Weapons Certification
Elizabeth has been studying Aikido for over 18 years. She began her study of Iwama-Ryu Aikido at Aikido of Arlington (Arlington, Virginia) under Yvonne Thelwell Shihan (6th Dan) in 2007. Prior to 2007 she studied with the British Aikido Federation. Elizabeth earned her Nidan in mid-2023. She was also awarded a 2nd Level Bukiwaza Certification by Patricia Hendricks Shihan.
Elizabeth is Dai Sempai, our most senior student, and she assists with teaching on a regular basis.
Photos Courtesy of Keli Fink
