About Us
Orlando Aikido School is dedicated to providing top-notch instruction to all of our students. Our two systems of study include Aikido taught in the style of the American Aikido Federation and a more modern style of NIshio Ryu.
We welcome all styles because it is all about building friendship, not ideologies.
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The primary mission of the American Aikikai Federation (AAF) is to create an organization that will unify the Aikidoka worldwide. AAF aims to cultivate and enhance the practice of Aikido and the spirit of friendship among Aikido practitioners. AAF also arranges, endorses, and administers demonstrations, seminars, and other Aikido related events to help promote equality. AAF is not politically or fiscally oriented. Instead, the organization follows Japan's tradition by offering its clean, modest, honest, and true guidance, support, and fellowship, while at the same time striving for the unification and promotion of Aikido.
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Nishio Ryu: Shoji Nishio Sensei was born in Aomori Prefecture in 1927. He entered the Aikikai Hombu Dojo at the end of 1955. He practiced Judo, Karate, Iaido, and Jodo prior to beginning in Aikido. The skills he acquired through his practice of these martial arts are incorporated seamlessly into his unique Aikido, which is now referred to as Nishio Budo or sometimes Nishio Ryu. He has developed a new school of Iaido with forms based upon Aikido techniques called Aiki Toho Iai.
In Nishio Budo, you study precise footwork to understand irimi (entering) in such a way that you are always in a position of safety and you are also put into a position that is half a step ahead of your opponent. From this point through the finish of the technique you remain in a safe position while controlling the movement of your opponent. This concept has Nishio Sensei often reminding you of O’Sensei’s saying, “Victory is determined at the moment of contact.”
Our Instructors
Shihan Michael Moreno
Michael Moreno Shihan was born in the United States and moved with his family to Mexico City where he lived for the greater part of his youth. Personally invited by Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Moreno Shihan moved to Tokyo where he lived and practiced for several years under the direction of Doshu at the Hombu Dojo of Aikido in Japan. His main teachers were Masatake Fujita Shihan and Sadateru Arikawa Shihan.
After his return he helped his father to consolidate Aikido in Mexico and together they taught a great number of practitioners and instructors. With over 50 years of practice, his great trajectory as an Aikido practitioner has given him international recognition and he is continuously invited to conduct seminars in Europe, United States, Latin America and Australia. He travels at least two times a year to Japan to keep his practice up to date and maintain contact with dojos, teachers and students from all over the world.
Michael Moreno Shihan is currently the Technical Director of the Mexican Aikido Federation (FMAAC) and the American Aikikai Federation (AAF). In January 2016 Moreno Sensei was awarded the title of SHIHAN directly from Aikikai Japan.
Sensei Tony Tartaglia
Sensei Tony Tartaglia started aikido at the age of 16 under Sensei Doc Walker in Titusville, Florida. He traveled the state teaching aikido with his Uke, Sensei Glenn Norvell. Soon afterwards, he would serve three tours of duty in Vietnam as a Navy Corpsman with the Marines. After Vietnam, Sensei Tony trained for many years in Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. In 1974, he became the Uke for the Son of O’Sensei, the founder of Aikido. He also studied under Shoji Nishio, who was one of O’Sensei’s top students.
He also studied under Matsuda, Arikawa, Okumura, Watanabe, Osawa, Endo, Ichihashi, Yasano, Shibata, Saotome.
Sensei Tony had dojo’s in China, Vietnam, Korea, The Philippines, and now Thailand. He has taught in Bangkok for over 25 years. During his stay in Bangkok, he taught at the U.S. Embassy and worked extensively with the DEA.
Sensei Tony has a Yondan in Yoshinkan style and has studied Iaido for over 40 years. He is now a delegate of Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, while achieving the rank of Rokudan (6th dan grade) from the head of the Nishio-ryu, Arisue Sensei. What is Nishio-Ryu?