Tenzan Aikido

1981 – 2026

45th Anniversary

Special 4-Day Seminar

Early bird pricing available until Sept 1, 2026

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2026 marks Tenzan Aikido's 45th year in Seattle. Join us for a special anniversary seminar October 1st through 4th, featuring guest instructors from the United States Aikido Federation and Birankai. All affiliations, all ranks welcome. *No refunds available

When

October 1–4, 2026

Thursday – Sunday

Where

Tenzan Aikido

7700 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103

Contact

(206) 525-4032

dojo@tenzanaikido.com

Instructors & Guests

Bruce Bookman Shihan

Host Instructor

Bruce Bookman

7th Dan, Shihan USAF and recognized by Hombu Dojo in Japan. Bookman is the founder and director of Tenzan Aikido, established in 1981. Bookman Sensei joined the New York Aikikai as a child and trained under Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan. As a 19-year-old Bruce traveled to Tokyo to train with Chiba Sensei at Hombu Dojo. His main influences were Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Yoshimitsu Yamada, Kazuo Chiba and Takeshi Mitsuzuka (Iai-do).

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Bruce Bookman has cross trained in boxing and earned a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. “Over the last 45 years it has been the most fulfilling experience to be the steward of the marvelous community at Tenzan Aikido.” – Bruce Bookman

Blue Spruell

Guest Instructor

Blue Spruell

6th Dan, Shihan, USAF Teaching Committee Member, and Chief Instructor of Peachtree Aikikai, is recognized by both the USAF and Aikikai Headquarters in Tokyo. He began training in Japan in 1988, studying under Okada and Nakamura Shihans, and later trained with Kanai, Yamada, and Berthiaume Shihans. Blue Sensei co-founded Dogwood Aikikai and established Peachtree Aikikai in Atlanta in 1993, where he still teaches. In addition to Aikido, he holds high ranks in Kyudo (5th Dan) and Iaido (6th Dan). Known for his clear, effective teaching style, this marks his first visit to Tenzan Aikido.

Ea Murphy

Guest Instructor

Ea Murphy

6th Dan, Shidoin, is the founder and Chief Instructor of Tacoma Aikikai, which is affiliated with Birankai International and the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. She trained under Darrel Blume Shihan at Siskiyou Aikikai, and also studied in Japan with Yoko Okamoto Shihan. Murphy Sensei is widely respected as an outstanding teacher. Together with her partner, Eric Gillet Sensei, she has built a strong and vibrant Aikido community in Tacoma, Washington.

Ellis Amdur

Guest Instructor

Ellis Amdur

Shihan of Tenshin Bukō-ryū Heihō and Araki-ryū, two comprehensive classical Japanese martial arts. In Aikido he trained at the NY Aikikai under Yoshimitsu Yamada, Bond Street Dojo with Terry Dobson, and with Kuwamori Yasunori and Kuroiwa Yoshio in Japan. He travels extensively to teach Kobudo, Aikido and collaborates with Bruce Bookman.

Don Ellingsworth

Guest Instructor

Don Ellingsworth

6th Dan, Master Instructor. Don is founder and Chief Instructor of Tampa Aikido, an ASU affiliate. His teachers are John Messores Sensei and Saotome Sensei. Alongside his technical expertise, Don is a passionate advocate for unity within the aikido community. He actively encourages collaboration among practitioners from diverse organizations and backgrounds by supporting instructors from USAF, ASU and other organizations.

Eric Gillet

Guest Instructor

Eric Gillet

6th Dan, Shidoin, accredited by Birankai North America and Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Eric began Aikido in 1983 as a college student in Belgium, drawn by a fascination with swordwork, and trained with many notable teachers across Europe and Japan. In 1993 he moved to the United States to study under Ichiro Shibata Sensei at Berkeley Aikikai, where he stayed for more than ten years. In 2017 he joined Ea Murphy Sensei in building and running Tacoma Aikikai, sharing Aikido with the next generation.

Julie Tollen

Guest Instructor

Julie Tollen

5th Dan, Dojo Cho of Tampa Aikido, began her Aikido training in 1999 as a college student in Ithaca, New York. She trained under Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei at Boulder Aikikai for five years, then spent another five years training in Kumamoto, Japan. Back in the US, she served as Dojo Cho and Chief Youth Instructor under David Goldberg Sensei near Philadelphia, and in 2013 brought her youth program to Tampa, where hundreds of children have taken her Aikido classes. Today Tollen Sensei teaches adult classes at Tampa Aikido alongside Don Ellingsworth Sensei.

Melissa Pittman Fischer

Tenzan Instructor

Melissa Pittman Fischer

Dojo Cho, 5th Dan, Shidoin, began her practice of Aikido in 2000 at Tenzan Aikido. She has pursued her training with the same intensity that characterized her former career as a ballerina. Melissa wears many hats and has been invaluable in managing the dojo. Over the years, Fischer Sensei has distinguished herself both as a skilled practitioner and as a teacher in her own right, inspiring many students along their Aikido journey. Known for her clarity and patience, she is a gifted teacher for both adults and children.

Jonathan Swift

Tenzan Instructor

Jonathan Swift

5th Dan, Shidoin, has studied Aikido with Bruce Bookman since 2004 and has long been a pillar of the Tenzan Aikido community. A yudansha in Karate and Iaido, he also practices Rinzai Zen at Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji and leads Zen practice at Tenzan. Swift Sensei encourages presence and moment awareness, where practice becomes alive and continually reveals something new.

Thomas Segen

Tenzan Instructor

Thomas Segen

4th Dan, Shidoin, has practiced at Tenzan Aikido since childhood. He is one of the most accomplished students of Bookman Shihan. Thomas has cross trained in Brazilian Jiujitsu and kickboxing. He has joined the professional teaching staff at Tenzan Aikido where he is in training to be Bruce Bookman’s successor.

Genjo Marinello

Guest

Genjo Marinello

Genjo Marinello was installed as the second Abbot of Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji, a Rinzai temple in 1999. He is a Dharma heir of Eido Shimano in the Rinzai–Hakuin Ekaku Zen lineage. Genjo trained with the late Eido Shimano, former abbot of Dai Bosatsu Monastery in New York, who affirmed Genjo as Dharma Heir on May 21st, 2008. Genjo regularly conducts sesshins (week long intensive meditation retreats) for the Birankai at the original request of Chiba Sensei. Genjo officiated at the wedding of Bruce and Colette in 1990.

Seminar Schedule

Thu, Oct 1

10:00 – 11:00 AM

Aikido · Thomas Segen

11:15 AM – 12:15 PM

Aikido · Blue Spruell

Lunch

2:30 – 3:30 PM

Aikido · Don Ellingsworth

3:45 – 4:45 PM

Aikido · Bruce Bookman

5:00 – 6:00 PM

Children's Class · Melissa Pittman Fischer

6:15 – 7:15 PM

Aikido · Ea Murphy

Fri, Oct 2

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Aikido · Bruce Bookman & Ellis Amdur

9:15 – 10:15 AM

Aikido · Thomas Segen

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Aikido · Julie Tollen

Lunch

2:00 – 3:00 PM

Aikido · Blue Spruell

4:30 – 5:30 PM

Zen Ceremony · Genjo Marinello

6:00 – 7:00 PM

Aikido · Bruce Bookman

Sat, Oct 3

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Aikido · Melissa Pittman Fischer

9:15 – 10:15 AM

Aikido · Thomas Segen

10:30 – 11:30 AM

Aikido · Ea Murphy

Lunch

1:30 – 2:30 PM

Aikido · Blue Spruell

2:45 – 3:45 PM

Aikido · Bruce Bookman

6:00 – 9:00 PM

Banquet

Sun, Oct 4

8:00 – 9:00 AM

Aikido · Eric Gillet

9:15 – 10:15 AM

Aikido · Ea Murphy

10:30 – 11:30 AM

Aikido · Jonathan Swift

Lunch

1:00 – 2:00 PM

Aikido · Bruce Bookman

Schedule subject to change.

Reserve Your Spot

Space is limited. Register now or contact us at (206) 525-4032 with any questions about the seminar.

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