Frank Bloksberg Sensei began training in Aikido in Southern California in the early 1970s. After training for a few years, Frank Sensei left active training and went on to become a professional musician and then lawyer.

Frank Sensei went back to active training when his young son, Alex, came home from school and explained that a nice teacher there was offering Aikido lessons. When Alex began training, Frank Sensei joined in.

Frank Sensei actively trains with his teacher, Michael Friedl Sensei (Aikido of Ashland, Oregon) and, when possible, Frank Doran Shihan (Aikido West in Redwood City). Here is a sampling of other teachers Frank Sensei has trained with and who have significantly influenced his training and teaching: Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (Boulder Aikikai), Cyndy Hayashi Sensei (Aikido West), Julio Toribio Sensei (Monterey Budokan), Danielle Smith Sensei (Aikido of Monterey), Tom Gambel Sensei (East Bay Aikido), Craig Fife Sensei (Aikido Northwest) and Chuck Hauk Sensei (Aikido of Eugene).

Frank Sensei’s teaching is influenced by his study of the bio-mechanical aspects of Aikido. When performed properly, Aikido looks and feels like magic. But, magic has nothing to do with it. Rather, Aikido techniques are ingenious applications of the laws of physics. Frank Sensei’s fascination with this subject has prompted him to begin writing a book about the bio-mechanics of Aikido.

The study and practice of Aikido principles help Frank Sensei in all aspects of his life. As a litigation attorney, Frank Sensei deals with people who are under tremendous stress. These people are often looking for some kind of fight. Likewise, some attorneys approach practicing law as if it were a type of war. Aikido principles and training help Frank Sensei work to unravel disputes and make resolving them much easier.

In his law practice, Frank Sensei represents only people and small companies. While Frank Sensei has experience representing large corporations, he has not done so in years. While large corporations have their pick of excellent lawyers, the average person can have a very difficult time hiring a first-rate lawyer. Frank Sensei provides that representation.

Throughout his practice, Frank Sensei emphasizes the wisdom of resolving cases short of trial. He works to get almost every case into mediation. Virtually every case he mediates settles at the mediation or soon thereafter. Frank Sensei’s commitment to and success in mediation have convinced him to devote significant time to building a practice as a mediator. To do so, he intends to soon limit the number of new litigation matters he accepts. In that way, he will focus on helping people resolve their disputes in a highly efficient, cost-effective and respectful manner through mediation and other methods of alternative dispute resolution.

To contact Frank Sensei about legal or dispute resolution issues, please or call him at his office at (530) 478-0170.

Stephen Baker Sensei has been practicing Aikido since the mid-1990s.

Stephen Sensei actively trains with his teacher, Michael Friedl Sensei (Aikido of Ashland, Oregon) and, when possible, Frank Doran Shihan (Aikido West in Redwood City). Here is a sampling of other teachers Stephen Sensei has trained with and who have significantly influenced his training and teaching: Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (Boulder Aikikai), Cyndy Hayashi Sensei (Aikido West), Julio Toribio Sensei (Monterey Budokan), Danielle Smith Sensei (Aikido of Monterey), and Tom Gambel Sensei (East Bay Aikido).

Stephen Sensei’s teaching is guided by his understanding that martial effectiveness is key to Aikido training. In other words, you can live Aikido’s ethical principles – no one gets hurt in an attack – only by performing martially effective Aikido. And you will not perform martially effective Aikido techniques under the stress of a real attack if you do not practice martially effective Aikido.

Stephen Sensei is the creator of Personal Development Aikido. Personal Development Aikido includes no strenuous or aggressive movements, such as falling or strong attacks. Rather, it focuses entirely on training our physical and emotional responses in ways that help us be more balanced and happier. Stephen Sensei enjoys sharing Personal Development Aikido with students of all ages.

Stephen Sensei applies Aikido principles in his professional life as a Hydrogeologist. Stephen Sensei is a California professional geologist, California certified hydrogeologist and California environmental assessor. During the last 25 years, Stephen Sensei has designed and implemented soil and groundwater investigations and cleanups of polluted land and groundwater.

Stephen Sensei is the founder of Ground Water Watch. Ground Water Watch provides a way for well owners – from homeowners’ to multi-national corporations – to work together and solve groundwater issues. These issues include running out of water and dealing with dirty or unsafe water. Since an important part of Ground Water Watch is public education, you will likely hear one of Sensei’s presentations about ground water issues live or on the radio.

Living Water is an educational radio program Stephen Sensei produces. Living Water explores how water impacts our daily lives in ways that we normally do not consider: physically, chemically, biologically, socially and even philosophically.

To contact Stephen Sensei about hydrogeology, Ground Water Watch, or Living Water please or call him at his office at (530) 478-1260.

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