Our Instructors
Aki Fleshler
6th Dan, Shidoin
Aki Fleshler began his Aikido training under Mitsunari Kanai Sensei of New England Aikikai in 1972. After several years he moved to Santa Fe, NM to study Aikido, Kotodama Principle, and Natural Medicine under Sensei Masahilo Nakazono and his son Sensei Katsuharu Nakazono. On Nakazono Sensei's retirement in 1983, Fleshler Sensei began his formal affiliation with T K Chiba Sensei, Shihan (Master Teacher) and the United States Aikido Federation-Western Region (USAF-WR).
He is a founding member of Southwestern Aikikai in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM, where he trained under Dennis Abbott Sensei Rokudan (6th dan), member of the Teaching Committee, USAF-WR. Fleshler Sensei moved to Portland, Oregon in 1989 in order to establish a dojo here following the technical direction of Chiba Sensei. He has served on the Advisory Board of the USAF-WR and the Examining Committee of Birankai North America, and is the chair of the Scholarship Committee for Birankai North America. Fleshler Sensei presently holds the rank of Rokudan (6th dan) and teaching grade of Shidoin (Senior Instructor).
Suzane Van Amburgh
4th Dan, Shidoin
Suzane Van Amburgh, 4th dan, Shidoin, has trained for 25 years under the lineage of T. K. Chiba Shihan. From 1992 to 1996 under the guidance of Lorraine DiAnne Sensei, Suzane ran Colorado Aikikai. Since moving to Portland in 1996, she has trained consistently at Multnomah Aikikai. Suzane also practices Iaido and is an authorized Awareness Through Movement® student teacher of the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education.
Sidney Schwartz
4th Dan, Fukushidoin
Sidney began his Aikido training in 1974 at the Long Island Aikido Association under Ed Hagihara Sensei, who had trained at Hombu dojo in Japan under O'Sensei and Koichi Tohei Sensei. Sidney also regularly trained at N.Y. Aikikai in Manhattan with Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei. Sidney joined Multnomah Aikikai in 1996 under chief instructor Frank Apodaca Jr. Sensei, Godan, and has continued training under the current chief instructor, Aki Fleshler Sensei, Rokudan. He was awarded Yondan in Febrary 2005 and his Fukushidoin teaching certificate in 2008. Sidney's body art training also includes two years of Tai Chi.
Matt Healy
4th Dan, Fukushidoin
Matt started Aikido training in 1989 with the Oregon Ki Society. About a year later, he helped found Multnomah Aikikai with Fleshler Sensei and several others. He has been here ever since. In 1996 Matt took a 2 year leave of absence from Aikido and studied American style boxing at the Grand Avenue Gym. He also wrestled in high school for about 2 years, and is currently studying Judo in addition to his Aikido training.
Bob Scollard
3rd Dan, Fukushidoin
Bob Scollard has been studying martial arts since 1984. Prior to his study of Aikido, Bob studied several styles of Karate in Phoenix Arizona and Portland Oregon. In May of 1989 he was promoted to the rank of 1st degree black belt in the American Karate System. He continued studying Karate until 1992. He began his Aikido training at Multnomah Aikikai under Chief Instructor Aki Fleshler Sensei in January of 1991. Bob currently holds the rank of Sandan (third degree black belt) and teaching grade of Fukushidoin. Bob Scollard also is the lead instructor for Multnomah Aikikai's Children's program.
Dave Dewberry
3rd Dan, Fukushidoin
Dave Dewberry began practicing Aikido in 1979 in Cambridge, Massachusetts with M. Kanai Sensei. He studied in Albuquerque, New Mexico with Dennis Abbott Sensei from 1986 until 1996 when he moved to the Portland, Oregon area where he continued with Frank Apodaca Sensei, Aki Fleshler Sensei and Suzane Van Amburgh Sensei. He holds the rank of Sandan and teaching grade of Fukushidoin (instructor).
His practice expanded to teaching Aikido in 1994 when his son began training in Southwestern Aikikai's children's program. He feels that demonstrating techniques in a way that people can parse helps his own understanding of Aikido. Watching students gain self-confidence as they learn to move from their center and fall safely is continually rewarding. Having the light go on for himself or a partner as they practice is one of the many joys of Aikido.