Martial Arts History of Jack Bieler



1985
Dallas, Texas
USA

Began Aikido training in Dallas under Jerry Scott, who studied with Karl Geis sensei in Houston, and Tim Larson, a student of Steve Duncan and JW Bode. Attended Fugakukai Winter Clinic at which Inoue Takeshi sensei taught Go Kata.

Began long-term study with Karl Geis shihan, at semiannual week-long Houston seminars, weekend clinics in Oklahoma City, and weekend visits to Houston.

Karl (カルガィス先生)

Teachers who influenced me included Wilburne MacNease sensei and Henry Copelend sensei. Training partners to whom I am especially indebted include Will Gable, Brian Sullivan, and Terry Gibbs.

Mac Henry

1986
Houston, Texas
USA

Started practice of Jodo under Karl Geis sensei, with additional instruction from L.F. Wilkinson sensei and Chris Thuygusen sensei. Nick Lowry sensei in particular has provided invaluable insight and direction.

Nick

Summer 1988
Houston, Texas
USA

Attended Aikido and Tai Chi seminar taught by Miyake Tsunako shihan, on her return from the Chinese mainland. This included short and long standard forms, plus staff and cane forms.

Miyake sensei (三宅綱子先生)

1991
Dallas, Texas
USA

Started the Dallas Aikido Club at Dealy Recreation center, which later moved to Campbell Green. My first students included Mark Morgan, whose dedication and enjoyment have always inspired me, and my solid and unpretentious friend Gerry Brown.

Briefly studied "modified Yang-Wu style" Tai Chi, as part of massage therapy certification.

Summer 1992
Houston, Texas
USA

Attended Jodo seminar taught by Miyake Tsunako sensei, with assistant Oe Yoko sensei.

1992-1996
Dallas, Texas
USA

Studied Judo with Kim Moser sensei and Sheridan Simmond. Won second place in Nage no kata competition. Attended Judo seminars with Karl Geis, and Kata seminar taught by Fukuda Keiko sensei in 1995.

Kim

1997
Denton, Texas
USA

Founded the Denton Aikido Club, at the Gold Horse Dojo of the Kundalini Yoga Ashram in Denton TX. Walter Lee, Steven Brown, Robert Ridout and Sam Tipton were my first students there. Later began teaching Jodo at the old Dojo on Locust Street, at Sam and Walter's insistence.

Began practicing Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu Iaido under John Ray sensei.

John (ジョンレイ先生)

Summer 1997
Houston, Oklahoma City, Bedford
USA

Attended several Judo seminars on Kodokan Goshinjutsu -- two with Miyake Tsunako sensei and one with "Ace" Sukigara sensei.

1998-2001
Catoctin, MD and Guelph, Ontario
USA and Canada

Began studying classical Jodo. Attended three Nihon Jodokai seminars with Kaminoda Tsunemori sensei and Rick Polland sensei, and one Guelph School of Sword Arts.

2000-now
Denton, Texas
USA

Joined The Dojo of Traditional Japanese Martial Arts as partner to John Ray, teaching Tomiki-ryu Aikido and Jodo in Denton, Texas.

2000, 2001, 2008
Chiba City
Japan

Visited Yamashita Dojo and dojos of Tanida Hiroshi sensei and Kogushi Osamu sensei for Iaido training.

Yamashita sensei
Tanida sensei
Kogushi sensei
山下先生
谷田先生
小串先生
November 2004, 2006, 2008
Kashima, Japan
August 2007
Washington, DC, USA

Attended several Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo gasshuku with the Nihon Jodokai under Kaminoda Tsunemori sensei. Formed study group known as Texas Jodokai, dedicated to practice and promote the Jodo of Kaminoda sensei.

Kaminoda sensei (神之田常盛先生)

Summer 2007
Houston
USA

Attended seminar on Kodokan Goshinjutsu taught by Miyake Tsunako sensei and Karl Geis sensei.

As of 24 June 2007, parted from the Fugakukai International Aikido Association. I am grateful to Karl Geis for the many years of instruction, to Miyake sensei for the brief but delightful and enlightening moments over the years, and to all the friends I have known and trained with. May their paths prosper.

May 2006
Denton, TX
December 2008
Washington, DC
US Jodo Gasshuku, July 2009
Milwaukee, WI

Attended Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo Intensives with Corey Comstock, Dan Pearson and Rich Friman of the Nihon Jodokai.
Dan and Corey
Dan and Rich

December 2008

The Denton Aikido Club joined its friends in the KazeUta Budokai, under the stewardship of Nick Lowry sensei.

Reformed the Denton Aikido Club with the name Masayume Dojo (正夢道場), to include Jodo as a separate art. Masayume (lit. correct dream) means "the dream that comes true" and reflects the spirit of the Denton Aikido Club and Texas Jodokai.


Current Ranks
2006 富木流合氣道 七段 風歌武道会
Tomiki-ryu Aikido Nanadan (7th degree) KazeUta Budokai
2004 神道夢想流杖道 六段 風歌武道会
Seitei Jodo Rokudan (6th degree) KazeUta Budokai
2009 無雙直傳英信流居合兵法 六段 英信流正統会
Eishin-ryu Iaido Rokudan (6th degree) Eishin-ryu Seitokai
2006 講道館柔道 四段 米国柔道協会
Kodokan Judo Yondan (4th degree) USJA

Jack Bieler is a computer programmer, training developer, manager and consultant. He has a Bachelor's degree in English Composition and Language, and is also a licensed massage therapist. He has been an audiovisual technician, stage hand, wine salesman and fry cook, and unrequited writer.


Articles

Practical Examples of Aikido In My Experience (1993)

T'ai-chi Ch'uan and Aikido (1995)

Ritual In the Martial Arts (2002)

On My Own In Japan (2002)

Muddling the Myth: The Mishandled Hero Story in Return of the Jedi (2002)

Effects of Federal District Court Politics on Fair Housing Decisions (2005)


If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, please email me at jjbieler@airmail.net