Our club started in the spring of 1984 as a part of the Wickham Karate Studio on East Street in Frederick, Maryland.    Bill Wickham wanted to have other martial arts taught under one roof so he found instructors for Aikido, Kendo and Tai Chi.       Aikido was first taught by Sensei Charles Gillam, a student of Mitsugi Saotome Sensei.    Saotome Sensei was an uchi deshi with O-Sensei and is the founder of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (Washington, DC).    The first classes in Frederick consisted of three (3) students, Jim McCue, his daughter Bonnie McCue and Jim Wendt.    Sensei Gillam taught for about eight months.       When Charles left, the group was temporarily without a sensei.    At that point the classes were taught by careful study of Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei's book, Aikido Complete.    After a few months, Sensei Fred Tresselt, a student of Clyde Takeguchi Sensei (Capital Aikikai, Silver Spring, MD) instructed the class.    However, he also had to move on, and was followed by another student of Sensei Takeguchi, Sensei Elizabeth Simon (Weesie).       Sensei Simon organized the group into a club and Capital Aikikai of Frederick was born.    She stayed on as instructor until 1990 when she moved to Charlottesville, VA where she established a new club, Aikido of Charlottesville.    Our club continued on with Jim Wendt as instructor.       Over the next several years Capital Aikikai of Frederick moved numerous times looking for a permanent and affordable home.    In 2000, Sensei Jack Simpson, another student of Takeguchi Sensei, joined the club.    In 2001 we began teaching classes on base at Fort Detrick in Frederick.    In 2004 the club's name was changed from Capital Aikikai of Frederick to Western Maryland Aikikai (WMA) to better reflect the club's regional interest and the club registered as an independent dojo with the United States Aikido Federation (USAF).    Our strong ties to Takeguchi Sensei and Capital Aikikai continue however.    The club was able to stay at Ft. Detrick for 6 years and saw considerable growth.    Unfortunately, due to changes in security procedures at the base, the club was forced to move again in late 2007.       In November of 2007, Western Maryland Aikikai opened its doors in not one, but two locations, one in Frederick, Maryland and a new permanent dojo in Hagerstown, Maryland.    Then, in March of 2008, Jim Wendt Sensei, one of the original students from 24 years ago, retired and made his long awaited pilgrimage to Maine, where he now lives with his lovely wife Sylvia. The dojo continues under the directorship of Jack Simpson, Sensei.    Below is Simpson Sensei's welcome to those who wish to train with us:       "We train in the shadows of the oldest mountains above sea level, the Catoctin Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountain ranges.    The beauty and power of this natural setting reminds us of our connection with the earth and each other.    It is this connection that O-Sensei crafted into the art of Aikido.    We welcome all who wish to learn more about this path.    The only prerequisite is sincerity."