Jack Simpson Sensei is a yondan (4th degree black belt) in Aikido and holds fukushidoin certification (1st teaching license) from the United State Aikido Federation and the Aikikai World Heardquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Jack began his study of Aikido in 1989 under Yousuf Mehter Sensei at Aikido of Central New York in Syracuse, New York.        In 1990, a position at the National Institutes of Health brought Jack to the Washington, DC area, where he became a student of Clyde Takeguchi Sensei (Capital Aikikai). Jack trained extensively with Takeguchi Sensei for 11 years until his appointment as Chief Instructor of the Frederick dojo in 2001. Since that time, Jack continues his training with Takeguchi Sensei at yudansha (black belt) classes on a monthly basis.       In addition, Jack attends several training seminars a year, and has trained at seminars conducted by Moriteru Ueshiba, Aikido Doshu, and many of the leading Aikido Shihan, including Yamada Sensei, Tamura Sensei, A. Tohei Sensei, Chiba Sensei, Kanai Sensei, Sugano Sensei and others.       Jack began his martial arts training in jujitsu (Hoshin Jujitsu Ryu) in 1980 while a student at LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Upon moving to Texas to pursue graduate studies, he studied judo, taekwondo and hapkido under Jung Soo Park Sabum and Song Sang Chol Sabum, and attained the ranks of edan (2nd degree black belt) in hapkido, chodan (1st degree black belt) in taekwondo and nikyu (brown belt) in judo. In 1983, Simpson Sensei assisted in the founding of the Texas A&M Self-Defense Club, and was the President and Co-Chief Instructor from 1986-89. Off the mat, Jack holds a Ph.D. in chemistry and is a research scientist with SAIC and the National Cancer Institute in Frederick, Maryland

An interview with Jack Simpson

Ron Sulchek began training in Aikido in 1995 and holds the rank of Shodan (first degree black belt). He continues to study with Jack Simpson Sensei and Clyde Takeguchi Sensei (Capital Aikikai) and attends several seminars in Aikido each year. Ron began his martial arts training in Tae Kwon Do while at Central Connecticut State University. He took a brief seventeen year sabbatical to build a career and raise a family, and then continued his training in 1989. He earned the rank of Nidan (second degree black belt) from the World Tae Kwon Do Association and South Central Tae Kwon Do Association. He has also studied Tai Chi Chuan. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Valuation Analyst with the firm of Sulchek & Moore, LLC in Hagerstown, MD.

Mr. Reese began his martial arts career as a pit fighter in Malaysia while serving in the Merchant Marines. After ten years and a record of 87 and 3, he decided to improve upon his education and entered St Cyprian Catholic elementary school. He went undefeated throughout his elementary school years.      Throughout his years of higher education in the Chicago area, Mr. Reese faced and defeated adolescent angst, socio-political dissatisfaction, and the self doubt specifically reserved for a life-long Cubs fan.      After giving birth (sympathetically) to four children, Mr. Reese embarked on a more traditional martial arts study beginning with Taekwondo in 1999. He recovered (sometime in 2000), discovered Aikido and began to study under Sensei Jack Simpson in 2001. He was awarded his black belt in 2007. Everything from elementary school - on is pretty much true.