Meet our Instructors
Multnomah Aikikai's aikido training program is led by Birankai Certified Instructors. Our school's instructors represent over 125 years combined aikido experience. Teachers lead classes on a volunteer basis. A strong core of senior members assist with classes, new member orientation and dojo development. Through many years of training together, our senior members enjoy strong camaraderie and imbue the dojo with a welcoming spirit toward new members.
Meet our certified instructors:
Founder of Multnomah Aikikai:
Aki Fleshler, Nanadan (7th degree black belt), Shihan (Master Instructor):
Fleshler Sensei started our dojo on S Macadam Ave in 1992 and still teaches periodic special classes and seminars at our dojo. Read his articles and learn more on Fleshler Sensei’s profile page.
Chief Instructor and Dojo cho:
Suzane Van Amburgh, Rokudan (6th degree black belt), Shidoin (Senior Instructor)
Van Amburgh Sensei has served as Chief Instructor since 2011 and dojo owner since 2018.
Van Amburgh Sensei began her aikido training in 1982 under Senseis Lorraine DiAnne and Paul Sylvain of Amherst Aikikai, Amherst, Massachusetts. She began her Iaido training in 1989 under Michael Flynn Sensei. Van Amburgh Sensei serves on the Board of Directors of Birankai North America (BNA) and on the BNA Examination Committee (the body that oversees blackbelt tests). Over the years she has served as Northwest Regional Coordinator (2008-2011, 2015), Summer Training Camp Director (2011) and served multiple working committees of the BNA Teachers Council. Van Amburgh Sensei is Chief Instructor and dojo-cho of Multnomah Aikikai.
In addition to her aikido teaching certification, Van Amburgh is a trained teacher of the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education, she holds certifications in the Brian Grant Foundation's Exercise for Parkinson's training, and the “SafeSport” training. Van Amburgh Sensei teaches private lessons and special programs as well as regular weekly classes in aikido and iaido at the dojo. View an interview with Van Amburgh Sensei and read student testimonials on Van Amburgh Sensei’s profile page.
Instructors
Dave Dewberry, Yondan (4th degree black belt), Fukushidoin (Instructor), Chief Instructor of Forest Grove Aikido
Dewberry Sensei began his Aikido training in 1979 under Mitsunari Kanai Sensei, of New England Aikikai, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Dewberry Sensei has studied with Dennis Abbott Sensei of Southwestern Aikikai, Albuquerque, New Mexico (1986-1996) and with Senseis F. Apodaca, A. Fleshler and S. Van Amburgh in Portland, Oregon since 1996. Dewberry Sensei has been teaching Aikido since 1994.
Jon-Paul Oliva, Sandan (3rd degree black belt), Fukushidoin (Instructor)
Oliva Sensei began his Aikido training in 1996 under under Dennis Abbott Sensei of Southwestern Aikikai, Albuquerque, New Mexico. He has studied with T.S. Okayama Sensei and J. Hauer Sensei in New Mexico, and with D. Deskin Sensei in Arizona. He began training at Multnomah Aikikai in 2009. Currently, Oliva Sensei serves as our dojo’s Membership Coordinator, helps members file their B.N.A. administrative “paperwork” when promoted to rank, and teaches on the regular weekly class schedule.
Rachel Tonkovich, Sandan (3rd degree black belt), Fukushidoin (Instructor)
Rachel began her Aikido training in 2004 under Martha Levenson of One World Aikido in Seattle, Washington. Her core influences are Jan Nevelius Shihan and Alex Peterson Sensei. She joined Multnomah Aikikai in 2023.
Adam Westphal, Assistant Instructor, Iaido
Adam began his Iaido training in 2003 under Stephen Thoms Sensei of Eugene Aikikai. During a study abroad in Japan, he undertook instruction in Mugai-ryu Meishi-ha and was awarded the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt). He joined Multnomah Aikikai in 2014 and began training with Van Amburgh Sensei. In 2018 he briefly studied with J.D. Sandoval Sensei of Hayward Aikikai in California before returning to Multnomah Aikikai.
Adam assists with administration of our Iaido program, serves as Assistant Instructor in the Friday class, and leads the Tuesday iaido class.
Nathan Young, Children’s Aikido Program Administrator and Lead Instructor
Nathan has been a member of Multnomah Aikikai since 2015 and has run the kids program since 2019. He says:
“I’ve been so gratified to see how kids evolve through aikido practice and I’m dedicated to keeping a special fire alive for them all the way until they are adults and beyond.”
“I was blown away by the level of quality instructors at Multnomah Aikikai. I was looking for a school that would help me develop the full range of possibilities on my path of personal development. I was looking for that next level of training - I believe can only be found in traditional martial arts - that would transcend the mere physical dimensions of attack and defense. I found it here.”
