Bernice Tom, 7th Dan, Shihan
Dojo Cho
Bernice Tom Sensei is a direct disciple of Morihiro Saito Shihan and holder of the Menkyo Kaiden in Aiki Ken and Aiki Jo. She was invited to teach Iwama Style Weapons at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in the mid e1980"‘s, and in 1990 she became SCA’s Chief Instructor.
For the past four and half decades, Tom Sensei has dedicated herself to the dissemination of Aikido and makes every effort to pass the Iwama System to her students as it was passed down by Saito Shihan. Through her efforts, and the efforts of her students, SCA has become one of the few dojos where the Iwama curriculum is practiced in its entirety.
Today, Bernice Tom Sensei serves on the Tech and Rank Committee of the Takemusu Aikido Association and continues to teach five days per week: Iwama Weapons (wooden sword and wooden staff) three mornings and two evenings a week. The classes are also presently available to members through zoom.
Ben Teeter, 6th Dan, Shidoin
Ben Teeter is Dai Sempai at Sunset Cliffs Aikido and one of the dojo’s longstanding members. He study directly under Morihiro Saito Shihan in Iwama and during Saito Shihan’s historic visits to San Diego and other U.S. venues in the 1980s and 1990s.
SCA’s Senior Assistant Instructor, Ben assist Sensei in teaching the Aikido Classes, leads a weekly yoga class designed for Aikidoists, and often teaches classes when Sensei travels.
Beth Hall, 5th Dan
Beth began the study of Aikido in 1980 when she was 12 years old. She recalls the day she and her original Aikido instructor learned that the warehouse at 5019 Santa Monica Avenue became available to rent. She helped, along with many others, to make the rundown warehouse space into an Aikido dojo.
As a young woman, Beth lived in the San Francisco Bay area where she trained at the Aikido Institute in Oakland, California, with Sensei Hoa Newens and Sensei Kim Peuser.
In 2002, Beth suffered a traumatic brain injury. Her rehabilitation from the injuries she sustained was slow. In 2014, after many years off of the mat, Beth realized that struggling to regain her strength and ability in Aikido was preferable to never doing Aikido again. Beth loves the art of Aikido and she truly enjoys sharing it with all of the students at Sunset Cliffs Aikido.
Don Vierra. 4th Dan
Don Vierra has trained at Sunset Cliffs Aikido for over three decades, and had the privilege of training under Morihiro Saito Shihan on his annual visits to SCA.
He has taught a weekly class at SCA for many years. In his classes, he often emphasizes basic Iwama techniques with an emphasis on their practical applications.
Greg Harkless, 4th Dan, Shidoin
Greg Harkless, 4th dan, is a certified instructor (shidoin) who began his aikido career at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in 2000. He has a combined seven years’ experience as a live-in student (uchideshi) in two Takemusu Aikido Association dojos, where he played instrumental roles in the development of youth aikido programs, and in short-term stints in Switzerland and Japan. He previously served as the executive director of Aiki Extensions, a non-profit organization committed to applying principles of aikido in everyday life. Greg is a native Californian with a background in education and leadership.
Richard Payne, 4th Dan
Richard Payne began training at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in 2003 and has been a longtime uchi deshi.
Richard has taught classes at SCA for many years. In his classes, Richard emphasizes basic techniques and helps students prepare for their tests.
Skip Konen, 4th Dan, Fukushidoin
Skip Konen joined SCA in the early 90s and has been a supporting member ever since. Known for his wealth of knowledge on Aikido and related martial arts, he often has a useful anecdote or bit of history to share.
When his schedule permits, he is regularly on the mat sharing training tips with newer students or covering classes for other instructors.