Okamoto sensei was in San Francisco for the January seminar which, historically, was the time Yamada sensei made his annual visit. It was a well-attended seminar with instructors from Mexico City and Montreal in attendance. Mike Napoli, Russ Gorman, Oscar Johnson and I represented Portland Aikikai. Okamoto sensei focused on connection and presented very fewContinue reading “OKAMOTO SHIHAN SEMINAR 2025”
Author Archives: protectivearts
The Barker Surname
My Uncle Tony recalled that his grandmother, Lucy Burr Wadhams, thought of her husband [Abram Barker] as a “Johnny-come-lately” without the deep historical connection to America (and Goshen specifically) of her lineage. My Uncle Tony mused that the family name was associated with a carnival barker, yet it seems more likely that the surname derived fromContinue reading “The Barker Surname”
Sons of the American Revolution
Joseph Eggleston was a soldier in the American Revolution who appears to have served for a total of nine days from September 6, 1781 only to be discharged on September 15, 1781. His mustering onto the roll is recorded as starting in 1774 in Rev. Samule Orcutt’s (1878) History of Torrington, Connecticut from Its FirstContinue reading “Sons of the American Revolution”
Protective Arts 