45th Anniversary Tenzan Aikido
2026 marks Tenzan Aikido's 45th year in Seattle. Join us for a special anniversary seminar October 1st through 4th, featuring guest instructors from the United States Aikido Federation and Birankai. See full schedule →
Early bird pricing of $325 available through Sept 1, 2026. All affiliations, all ranks welcome. *No refunds available.
Instructors and Guests
Bruce Bookman
7th Dan, Shihan USAF and recognized by Hombu Dojo in Japan. Bookman is the founder and director of Tenzan Aikido, established in 1981. Bookman Sensei joined the New York Aikikai as a child and trained under Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan. As a 19-year-old Bruce traveled to Tokyo to train with Chiba Sensei at Hombu Dojo. His main influences were Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Yoshimitsu Yamada, Kazuo Chiba and Takeishi Mitsuzuka (Iai-do). Bruce Bookman has cross trained in boxing and earned a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. “Over the last 45 years it has been the most fulfilling experience to be the steward of the marvelous community at Tenzan Aikido.” – Bruce Bookman
Claude Berthiaume
8th Dan, Shihan and Chief Instructor of Aikido de la Montagne, is a member of the USAF Technical Committee. He has practiced in Japan with some of the most prominent teachers in the world. Claude’s primary teacher was Kanai Shihan. As the Chief Instructor of Aikido de la Montagne since its founding in 1989, Claude has been instrumental in cultivating a passionate and skilled community of practitioners.
Yahe Solomon
7th Dan, Master Instructor, trained with Matsuro Nakazono, later serving as Uchideshi to Kazuo Chiba in San Diego and Kisshomaru Ueshiba at Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. Yahe teaches Aikido in Bozeman, Montana and practices acupuncture. Solomon Sensei brings the spirit and vibration of Aikido’s golden era to our celebration.
Ellis Amdur
Shihan of Tenshin Bukō-ryū Heihō and Araki-ryū, two comprehensive classical Japanese martial arts. In Aikido he trained at the NY Aikikai under Yoshimitsu Yamada, Bond Street Dojo with Terry Dobson, and with Kuwamori Yasunori and Kuroiwa Yoshio in Japan. He travels extensively to teach Kobudo, Aikido and collaborates with Bruce Bookman.
Ea Murphy
6th Dan, Shidoin, is the founder and Chief Instructor of Tacoma Aikikai, which is affiliated with Birankai International and the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. She trained under Darrel Blume Shihan at Siskiyou Aikikai, and also studied in Japan with Yoko Okamoto Shihan. Murphy Sensei is widely respected as an outstanding teacher. Together with her partner, Eric Gillet Sensei, she has built a strong and vibrant Aikido community in Tacoma, Washington.
Don Ellingsworth
6th Dan, Master Instructor. Don is founder and Chief Instructor of Tampa Aikido, an ASU affiliate. His teachers are John Messores Sensei and Saotome Sensei. Alongside his technical expertise, Don is a passionate advocate for unity within the aikido community. He actively encourages collaboration among practitioners from diverse organizations and backgrounds by supporting instructors from USAF, ASU and other organizations.
Melissa Pittman Fischer
Dojo Cho, 5th Dan, Shidoin, began her practice of Aikido in 2000 at Tenzan Aikido. She has pursued her training with the same intensity that characterized her former career as a ballerina. Melissa wears many hats and has been invaluable in managing the dojo. Over the years, Fischer Sensei has distinguished herself both as a skilled practitioner and as a teacher in her own right, inspiring many students along their Aikido journey. Known for her clarity and patience, she is a gifted teacher for both adults and children.
Jonathan Swift
5th Dan, Shidoin, has studied Aikido with Bruce Bookman since 2004 and has long been a pillar of the Tenzan Aikido community. A yudansha in Karate and Iaido, he also practices Rinzai Zen at Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji and leads Zen practice at Tenzan. Swift Sensei encourages presence and moment awareness, where practice becomes alive and continually reveals something new.
Thomas Segen
4th Dan, Shidoin has practiced at Tenzan Aikido since childhood. He is one of the most accomplished students of Bookman Shihan. Thomas has cross trained in Brazilian Jiujitsu and kickboxing. He has joined the professional teaching staff at Tenzan Aikido where he is in training to be Bruce Bookman’s successor.
Genjo Marinello
Genjo Marinello was installed as the second Abbot of Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji, a Rinzai temple in 1999. He is a Dharma heir of Eido Shimano in the Rinzai–Hakuin Ekaku Zen lineage. Genjo trained with the late Eido Shimano, former abbot of Dai Bosatsu Monastery in New York, who affirmed Genjo as Dharma Heir on May 21st, 2008. Genjo regularly conducts sesshins (week long intensive meditation retreats) for the Birankai at the original request of Chiba Sensei. Genjo officiated at the wedding of Bruce and Colette in 1990.
Seminar Schedule
10:00 – 11:00 AM
Aikido · Thomas Segen
11:15 – 12:15 PM
Aikido · Yahe Solomon
Lunch
2:30 – 3:30 PM
Aikido · Don Ellingsworth
3:45 – 4:45 PM
Aikido · Bruce Bookman
5:00 – 6:00 PM
Children's Class · Melissa Pittman Fischer
6:15 – 7:15 PM
Aikido · Ea Murphy
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Aikido · TBA
9:15 – 10:15 AM
Aikido · Bruce Bookman
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Aikido · Claude Berthiaume
Lunch
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Aikido · Yahe Solomon
3:15 – 4:15 PM
Aikido · Ea Murphy
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Zen Ceremony · Genjo Marinello
6:30 – 7:30 PM
Aikido · Claude Berthiaume
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Aikido · Melissa Pittman Fischer
9:15 – 10:15 AM
Aikido · Thomas Segen
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Aikido · Yahe Solomon
Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 PM
Aikido · Claude Berthiaume
2:45 – 3:45 PM
Aikido · Bruce Bookman
6:00 – 9:00 PM
Banquet
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Aikido · Ellis Amdur & Bruce Bookman
9:15 – 10:15 AM
Aikido · Ea Murphy
10:30 – 11:30 AM
Aikido · Jonathan Swift
Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 PM
Hands-on Healing · Yahe Solomon
| Date | Time | Session | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Oct 1 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM | Aikido | Thomas Segen |
| 11:15 – 12:15 PM | Aikido | Yahe Solomon | |
| Lunch | |||
| 2:30 – 3:30 PM | Aikido | Don Ellingsworth | |
| 3:45 – 4:45 PM | Aikido | Bruce Bookman | |
| 5:00 – 6:00 PM | Children's Class | Melissa Pittman Fischer | |
| 6:15 – 7:15 PM | Aikido | Ea Murphy | |
| Fri, Oct 2 | 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Aikido | TBA |
| 9:15 – 10:15 AM | Aikido | Bruce Bookman | |
| 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Aikido | Claude Berthiaume | |
| Lunch | |||
| 2:00 – 3:00 PM | Aikido | Yahe Solomon | |
| 3:15 – 4:15 PM | Aikido | Ea Murphy | |
| 4:30 – 5:30 PM | Zen Ceremony | Genjo Marinello | |
| 6:30 – 7:30 PM | Aikido | Claude Berthiaume | |
| Sat, Oct 3 | 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Aikido | Melissa Pittman Fischer |
| 9:15 – 10:15 AM | Aikido | Thomas Segen | |
| 10:30 – 11:30 AM | Aikido | Yahe Solomon | |
| Lunch | |||
| 1:30 – 2:30 PM | Aikido | Claude Berthiaume | |
| 2:45 – 3:45 PM | Aikido | Bruce Bookman | |
| 6:00 – 9:00 PM | Banquet | ||
| Sun, Oct 4 | 8:00 – 9:00 AM | Aikido | Ellis Amdur & Bruce Bookman |
| 9:15 – 10:15 AM | Aikido | Ea Murphy | |
| 10:30 – 11:30 AM | Aikido | Jonathan Swift | |
| Lunch | |||
| 1:00 – 2:00 PM | Hands-on Healing | Yahe Solomon | |
Schedule subject to change.