Aikido Academy

for Children & Adults

A Martial Arts studio in Redmond, Washington that is a member of the California Aikido Association

Head Instructor

Sensei William Gray, Yondan

Instructor, William Gray, is a Yondan (fourth degree black belt) in Aikido with the CAA (California Aikido Association). He has trained extensively since 1985 in various styles of Aikido, including five years in Tomiki style Aikido. He has also trained with several instructors including Sensei George Ledyard, Shihan Fumio Toyoda, and Shihan Frank Doran. Sensei Bill has taught at national east coast seminars on how to teach martial arts to children. He has earned his BS in electrical engineering.

Assistant Instructors

Mike Koenig, Sandan

Mike started Aikido training after watching his then 6 year old son having tons of fun in the kids class. He enjoys the flow of Aikido, the endless variation of possibilities and different energies to play with. His favorite training style is energetic, laughing and having fun.

Mike teaches the Saturday morning adult open class. He builds his classes around the students and is always happy to hear what they want to work on. He focuses on the fondations of the techniques while still giving insights into why they work.

Steve Edwards, Nidan

Steve Edwards started training three times a week at Aikido Academy in 2001. He loves to train with people who come to Seattle from all over the world to teach workshops. Being a lifelong full time artist, Steve appreciates how Aikido influences the way he looks at the world. This influence changes not only his art, but his life.

Steve teaches the Saturday morning adult open class once a month on the last Saturday of the month. His classes focus on the relaxation and flow that is an integral part of Aikido.

John Nicol, Shodan

John Nicol's journey with Martial Arts spans over 40 years, beginning with Kung Fu & boxing in 1972. In 1974 he began intensive studies in Wing Chung Kung Fu under Mar Sifu in Seattle, from 1979-82 moving to Hong Kong and then China, studying Kung Fu, Yoga, Tai Chi and meditation while working as a translator and guide. In 1982 John returned to Seattle, teaching Kung Fu & Qi Gong, when he heard about a radically different style and philosophy called Aikido. Still enmeshed in Kung Fu, John was fascinated by the grace & magic of Aikido. He received his first belt in Aikido at the Seattle Ki Society under Yoshihiko Hirata Sensei and Koichi Tohei Sensei in 1982. Six months later John was given a real life opportunity to try this more peaceful resolution to physical conflict and discovered that it actually worked! In the late 90's he spent 3 years under George Ledyard Sensei at Aikido Eastside, and then in 2002 one year at Aikido West under Frank Doran Sensei. After an extended sabbatical, in 2006 John joined the Aikido Academy in Redmond under Bill Gray Sensei, receiving his Shodan. He also enjoys studying Daito Ryu under Senseis Howard Popkin and Joe Brogna.

John teaches the Wednesday night adult open class. He follows the weekly theme for Aikido Academy, with an emphasis on the basic steps, good form and variations. John's focus is on teaching aikido with a basis in that which is universal across the arts - balance, posture, connection, graceful movement and an awareness of others.