Rick Sensei started training in 1970 at the West Wind Dojo in Florida. In 1976 he inherited the dojo and since then has remained its instructor. Originally a member of the USKA, Rick Sensei moved to Richard Kim’s group in 1989 and since that time has endeavoured to train and learn from as many instructors as possible. He is also a long time student of Matsugi Saotome, who is considered to be one of the best Aikido masters in the world today. For the past three years Rick Sensei has been the NSKF representative in North America under the guidance of Pemba Tamang Sensei, who was the first foreigner ever to do the JKA instructors’ course.