21st Annual
INTERNATIONAL AIKIDO BRIDGE SEMINAR
January 16-18, 2026
San Diego's "International Aikido Bridge Seminar" is an internationally known seminar hosted by Jiai Aikido community. The very first International Aikido Bridge Seminar was held at Jiai Aikido, and 2026 marks the 21st Anniversary of this special seminar.
Jiai Aikido has been a place of connection for aikido practitioners worldwide, for 23 years, and this year the dojo is moving! The instructors and the students have worked diligently at training, building diverse and welcoming community, and and at continuing to offer high quality training at events such as the annual Bridge seminar, despite the challenges we've all experienced in recent years. Please join us January 16-18, 2026 for another event featuring superior instruction and wonderful friendships, new & old. (**This year's Seminar will be at Aikido of San Diego -6425 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego.*** )
The Instructors for the 2026 event will be:
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Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, 8th Dan
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Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan, 6th Dan
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Ray Feliciano Sensei, 6th Dan
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Tom Liu Sensei, 5th Dan
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Cat Strada Sensei, 4th Dan
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Erica Rose Sensei, 5th Dan
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Maru Melcon Sensei, 2nd Dan
The seminar schedule is posted below, and there will still be plenty of time for enjoying the sights of San Diego, wonderful food, and social time off the mat.
**There will be a Saturday night dinner at a local restaurant, location TBD. It will be self-pay. There are multiple hotels/motels/Air BnBs nearby; please contact the dojo for any recommendations.
Schedule:
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Friday, January 16:
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2:00pm - 2:45pm: Ikeda Shihan
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2:45pm - 3:30pm: Tomoleoni Shihan
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3:30pm - 4:15pm: Melcon Sensei
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4:15pm - 5:00pm: Liu Sensei
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5:00pm - 5:45pm: Strada Sensei
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Saturday, January 17:
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10:00am - 10:45am: Rose Sensei
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10:45am - 11:30am: Liu Sensei
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11:30am - 12:15pm: Ikeda Shihan
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12:15pm - 2:30pm: LUNCH
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2:30pm - 3:15pm: Feliciano Sensei
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3:15pm - 4:00pm: Strada Sensei
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4:00pm - 4:45pm: Tomoleoni Shihan
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4:45pm - 5:30pm: Ikeda Shihan
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Sunday, January 18:
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10:00am - 10:45am: Melcon Sensei
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10:45am - 11:30am: Rose Sensei Sensei
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11:30am - 12:15pm: Ikeda Shihan Sensei
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12:15pm - 2:30pm: LUNCH
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2:30pm - 3:15pm: Liu Sensei
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3:15pm - 4:00pm: Tomoleoni Shihan
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4:00pm - 4:45pm: Strada Sensei
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4:45pm - 5:30pm: Ikeda Shihan
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Registration:
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Full Seminar: $265
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Saturday OR Sunday Only: $125
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Friday Only: $75
Online Attendance Registration via Zoom is available for those interested for a flat rate of $100 for the Seminar per person. Dojo's, please be sure each online participant registers individually.
Please use the PayPal link to register.
**Please help with Jiai Aikido Moving Expenses! This move is a huge effort and cost to our dojo. We would be grateful for any donations for our Moving Fund, separate from Bridge Seminar Fees that go to the Instructors. For those who would like to contribute any donation outside of seminar activities, please use the PayPal button below to do so. We can use your support! Thank you!
Jiai Aikido is not a 501c3 non-profit organization Thank you for your participation and support!
Instructors
Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, 8th Dan
Boulder Aikikai | Aikido Shimbokukai, Vice President
Hiroshi Ikeda is founder and chief instructor of Boulder Aikikai. He began his study of Aikido in 1968 at the aikido club of Kokugakuin University in Tokyo. Upon graduation, he trained regularly at Hombu Dojo and at Saotome Sensei's Remeijuki Dojo. In 1978 he moved to the U.S., and in 1980 established Boulder Aikikai. Ikeda Shihan is affiliated to Hombu Dojo through Aikido Shimbokukai, of which he is a Board Member and Vice President. He is one of the most sought after aikido instructors worldwide, and a frequent instructor at aikido seminars in the U.S. and abroad.
Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan, 6th Dan
Abiding Spirit Aikikai | Aikido Shimbokukai, Director
Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan spent over 14 years in Japan training at the Aikido World Headquarters and teaching aikido professionally at a dojo in Tokyo. She founded Abiding Spirit Aikikai in IL, and Aikido Shimbokukai, an organization Officially Recognized by the Aikikai Foundation and Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Ray Feliciano Sensei, 6th Dan
Pasadena Aikikai | Maru Dojo
Feliciano Sensei started aikido at Pasadena Aikikai in 1988, wherein 2005, he became chief instructor. In 2013, he opened Maru Dojo in San Francisco, where he resides. He has trained in various disciplines, is currently a 6th Dan Aikikai, a black belt in Shorinji Kempo (SF Branch), and a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (a member of Roy Dean Affiliate). Although Ray’s aikido is based on aikikai style; however, his aikido style is unique and continues to evolve. His movements and his manners are influenced by Filipino Martial Arts (FMA / Kali) and BJJ. He has blended some of the techniques found in Kali and BJJ into his interpretation of aikido.
Tom Liu Sensei, 5th Dan, Shidoin
Jiai Aikido | Aikido Shimbokukai
Tom Liu Sensei began his Aikido training in the early 1990s under Frank Doran Shihan at the Aikido West dojo and the Stanford Aikido Club. He received the rank of Yondan (4th Dan) from Doran Shihan under California Aikido Association in 2016. Liu Sensei also practices Tai Chi, the Alexander Technique, and meditation, and has been a regular Instructor at Jiai Aikido for several years. His primary interests are the exploration of the principles of mind-body integration and the development of integrated and relaxed power.
Cat Strada Sensei, 4th Dan, Shidoin
Jiai Aikido | Aikido Shimbokukai
Dojo Cho of Jiai Aikido, and Instructor of San Diego Systema,
Strada Sensei started Aikido at Jiai Aikido in 2007 under Jeff Sodeman Sensei, and began intensive training in the Russian Martial art of Systema in 2008. Dojo Cho since 2011, she offers innovative classes influenced by her training such as No-Gi Aikido, Applied Aikido, and Adaptive Aikido & Ukemi. She's inspired by Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Jeff Sodeman Sensei, Frank Doran Shihan, Mary Heiny Sensei, Morihiko Murashige Shihan, Kevin Choate Sensei, Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan,her students, and animals. Strada Sensei is on the Board of Aikido Shimbokukai, was awarded Shidoin, and focuses on promoting authenticity, adaptivity, and individuality in movements particularly ukemi and primal/natural movements. She has been a tireless advocate of the advancement and awareness of multiple dojos, instructors, and the promotion all of aikido, regardless of politics or affiliations.
Erica Rose Sensei, 5th Dan
Ibaraki Branch Dojo | Iwama Dojo
Erika Rose Sensei is a Godan out of Ibaraki Branch Dojo more commonly known as the Iwama Dojo. She is a long-time student of Inagaki Sensei who was a student of OSensei and uchi deshi for Saito Sensei. Erika Rose spent 2 years as an uchi deshi in the Iwama Dojo and trains there annually.
Maru Melcon Sensei, 2nd Dan
Aikido of San Diego | Evolutionary Aikido
Melcon Sensei, Dojo-Cho of Aikido of San Diego, began aikido in 1996 under Ricardo Corbal Shihan at Buenos Aires Aikikai, Argentina. After several years she eventually joined Aikido of San Diego, which is one of the founding members of the Evolutionary Aikido Community, recognized by the Aikikai Foundation. Melcon Sensei trains under the direction of Dave Goldberg Sensei.
Melcon Sensei complements her martial arts training with significant inner work, including the Meditation Apprenticeship program (led by Miles Kessler) and the Inner Engineering program (by Sadhguru).