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Wednesday, March 10, 2010
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Since 2005 - Enso Aikido Dojo - Aikido, Shorin-Ryu, Kobudo, and Western Martial Arts Classes - Burnsville, Minnesota     Aikido, Shorin Ryu karate, kobudo and western martial arts in Burnsville, Eagan, Savage, Shakopee, Minnesota

The family you didn't know you had.

Click the pictures to read more about our Aikido Instructors!

Phillip Johnson - Head Instructor, dojo-cho

Phil is a 3rd degree black belt (sandan) in Aikido with the Mid America Aikido Federation and also holds a 2nd degree black belt in Seidokan Aikido. He began his studies with Dr. Guldbrandsen sensei and Bergeron sensei while attending college in Duluth, MN.  Phil has been practicing since 1992 and instructed classes at Bally Total Fitness and the YMCA before staying with Ellefson Sensei in 2000.

Phil's main focus is how aikido can help people effect positive change in their lives, and regain control over what seems like like “everything happening at once”, using only the appropriate amount of effort.  Phil likes to see students have a good time in class, laughing while exploring new concepts.  He believes that learning does not need to stop, and always looks for challenges to pose himself and students.

Phil resides in south-central MN with wife Kirsten (also a student), two labradors, Sadie and Sammy, and two cute boys, Gabriel (in the kids' class) and Nicholas.  While holding down his day job as an IT enterprise architect, he also opened Enso dojo here in Burnsville (August 2005).

Mike Ellefson - Chief Instructor Aikido Bukou (all dojos in area)

 

Mike is currently a 4th degree black-belt instructor who began his Aikido training in 1989. He also holds a 2nd degree black-belt in Ryukyu Kempo Karate. He has studed many martial arts and holds rank in Judo, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Shinbudo Crosstraining, and Shotokan Karate.  MCFM Aikido Dojos are affiliated with the Mid-America Aikido Federation under Randy Bonifay Sensei .  Mike has  studied Japanese swordsmanship and his schools are affiliated with the US Federation of Batto Do.

Mike approaches Aikido from both the martial and spiritual aspects. His technique is known for being extremely effective and at the same time soft and relaxed. Mike studied Aikikai Aikido for many years before affiliating with Bill Sosa Sensei 1934-2002 (Founder of the International Aikido Association) and strives to continue the Aikido that Sosa Sensei put forth.

Mike founded the Harmonious Sphere Martial Arts Academy in Fargo, ND in 1995. He then founded the Warrior’s Cove Aikido Program in 1997 and is currently the Chief Aikido Instructor for the MCFM Aikido Bukou Dojo in Hudson, WI and the MCFM Enso Aikido Dojo in Burnsville, MN.  He is an Ad-hoc Professor at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls in the Health and Human Performance Dept. instructing for credit Aikido and Self-Defense classes. Mike travels extensively teaching self-defense courses to businesses and organizations and also providing P.A.C.T. (Police Aikido Control Tactics ) training to various law enforcement groups.

Mike was promoted to the rank of yondan (4th degree black belt) by Randy Bonifay sensei on Sept 9, 2005.

Mike makes his home in North Hudson, WI with his wife Corrie, daughter Veronica, and puggle Granger.

Matt Paulsen - Instructor

 

Matt has been a student of our organization for over 4 years, and is an excellent instructor.  His breadth of knowledge is amazing, and he brings it into his instruction in class.  Students relate well with Matt and his relaxed demeanor, which enhances the learning process.  He enjoys focusing on the realism of the movements and techniques that we learn in aikido.  Matt received his shodan (first degree black belt) in 2007.

Tristan Chermack - Instructor

Tristan has been a dedicated student of Aikido Bukou since 2004 under Johnson and Ellefson senseis.  He has been involved in martial arts since his teens, with Shotokan, Chung Moo Quan, and has also trained in Thai boxing, Kali, and is very experienced with medieval armed combat.

Tristan enjoys studying all aspects of aikido and the martial arts, both from a strongly practical side to the historical side of the art.  He also studies arts which have been mostly lost and are being reinvigorated, such as Greek boxing and Pankration (original form, not the modern sport form), old style bare knuckle boxing, shoot wrestling, and any other real form of fighting he can find.

His friendly manner and easygoing attitude show that he enjoys learning, training and helping others learn.  He maintains a balance between realistic training and having fun while doing so.

Tristan received the rank of shodan (black belt) in April of 2009 and currently teaches classes at Enso dojo.

[picture coming soon]

Kevin Sefton - Assistant Instructor

Kevin has been pivotal in the success of our kids classes, and we credit him with its continued operation.  His help and support for the class has never wavered, and he is a good friend. His leadership in kids class has earned him the respect of his peers and the kids, who listen intently when he speaks.

His aikido interests lie in the study of movement and how to make it efficient, wasting little time to accomplish what is needed.  His logical, down-to-earth approach is relieving and helpful to the classmates who look to him for guidance.

Mark Christopherson - Assistant Instructor

Mark Christopherson is an assistant in our kids class.  To give an idea of his personality, when the adult class was asked for help, he stepped up without thought.  He has been with our dojo for nearly three years.

Mark is a kind and gentle person, with a quiet determination to study unlike many others.  He has an excellent disposition, always willing to help people train and prepare for tests.  He excels in many areas of aikido, with a focus on proper execution of techniques and movement.

His help with kdis and adult class has been irreplaceable and very welcome.

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