Multnomah Aikikai Chief Instructor
Suzane Van Amburgh holds the rank of Rokudan (6th degree black belt), Shidoin (Senior Instructor).
Van Amburgh Sensei has served as Chief Instructor of Multnomah Aikikai since 2011 and dojo owner since 2018. She began her Aikido training in 1982 under Lorraine DiAnne Sensei and Paul Sylvain Sensei of Amherst Aikikai. She started her Iaido training in 1989 under Michael Flynn Sensei at Aikido of Berkeley.
She serves on the Board of Directors of Birankai North America (BNA) and on the BNA Examination Committee (the body that oversees blackbelt tests). In addition, she has served as Northwest Regional Coordinator (2008-2011, 2015), Summer Training Camp Director (2011) and multiple working committees of the BNA Teachers Council.
In addition to her Aikido teaching certification, Van Amburgh Sensei is a trained teacher of the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education and 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.
Multnomah Aikikai Founder & Visiting Instructor
Aki Fleshler holds the rank of 7th degree black belt, Shihan (Master Instructor) and founded Multnomah Aikikai in 1991.
Fleshler Sensei began his Aikido training in 1972 under M. Kanai Sensei of New England Aikikai, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He trained with Sensei M. Nakazono in Santa Fe, NM from 1977-1982. In 1983 he became a student of the late T.K. Chiba Sensei, San Diego Aikikai and in 1991 he founded Multnomah Aikikai in Portland Oregon. He has served on the Birankai North America Advisory Council, Examining Committee, Scholarship Committee and Ethics Committee. He became Shihan in 2009 and participates actively in the Senior Council (Shihankai) of Birankai North America. Fleshler Sensei is an advisory Shihan to Birankai Canada and has taught internationally since 2009. He was promoted to 7th dan in January 2024. He teaches seasonal in-person seminars at Multnomah Aikikai and weekly weapons Suburi practice online.
ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS
Dave Dewberry, Yondan (4th degree black belt), Fukushidoin (Certified 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 (Certified 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 at Multnomah Aikikai.
Rachel Tonkovich, Sandan (3rd degree black belt), Fukushidoin (CERTIFIED 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 Iaido Instructor
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 currently holds the rank of Nidan in that style. 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 serves as Assistant Iaido Instructor, assists with administration of our Iaido program, and leads the Tuesday Iaido class.
Learn more about our dojo’s Iaido program.
Nathan Young, SHODAN (1st Degree Black belt), 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. Of the children’s program, 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.”
Learn more about our dojo’s Aikido program for children.