Budo Dojo...
is an aikido dojo in the Portland area affiliated with the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU).  The ASU is an international aikido federation founded by Mitsugi Saotome Shihan who was a live-in disciple (uchi deshi) of O Sensei (Morihei Ueshiba), founder of Aikido.  ASU is cofounded by Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei.   ASU is affiliated with World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo Japan.

You may download a copy of the Budo Dojo Cultural Handbook here.

Dan Penrod is chief instructor of Budo Dojo.   Mr. Penrod has been actively practicing aikido for about 25 years and other forms of traditional Japanese Budo for approximately 35 years.  He holds a yondan (4th degree black belt) in aikido awarded to him by his teacher, John Messores Sensei and recognized by ASU and Hombu World Aikikai Foundation.

Dan Penrod also holds a nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Okinawan Shorin Ryu Karate under Fusei Kise Sensei from the Kenshin Kan - Matsumura Seito (orthodox) style.

(John Messores - Dan Penrod) 

Neil Ruggles, associate instructor of Budo Dojo, has been training in aikido since 1992. 

Neil began his training in New York City at the Bond Street Dojo under Paul Kang and Chris Jordan where he earned his shodan in 1997.  Neil has been training and teaching aikido at Budo Dojo since our opening in the spring of 2002 and earned his nidan (2nd degree black belt) in 2006.

Craig Slack, Craig Slack began his training in 1990, studying under Saotome Sensei in Washington, D.C. and George Meyer Sensei, a direct student of Saotome Sensei.  Craig currently holds the rank of yondan, and participates in the Thursday night teacher rotation.

Melanie Moo Young, was born and raised in Jamaica. 

She started training in Sarasota, Florida, in 1990, under Tom Taft, Steve McPeck, Duane "Pee Wee" Jones, Peter Jung, and later Frank Bell, all direct students of Saotome Sensei.

Melanie tested for shodan in 1999, under the watchful eye of Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei and tested for nidan before Saotome Sensei in 2004.  Melanie relocated to Oregon and began training at Budo Dojo in 2005 and has recently been awarded the rank of sandan.

She participates in the Thursday night teacher rotation and is often relied on to teach other classes.

Dan Kolp began training in 1998, in Tallahassee, Florida, at North Florida Aikikai under Mike Page where he earned his shodan in 2003.

Dan's aikido has been largely influenced by Steve McPeck and continues to be inspired by the teachings of both Ikeda and Saotome Sensei.  Dan moved to Oregon and began training at Budo Dojo in 2005 and later earned his nidan in 2007.

One of Dan's points of focus is to develop and mature the level of ukemi at Budo Dojo.

He participates in the Thursday night teacher rotation and regularly teaches classes as needed.

Bill Townsley, began training in aikido in 1994, in Tampa, Florida under Nobu Arakawa Sensei (USAF)
and later John Messores Sensei (ASU). 

Bill has been training with Penrod Sensei for nearly his entire aikido career and earning his shodan in 2002 and nidan in 2010.

He teaches a class every Monday at 12pm as well as participating in the Thursday night teacher rotation schedule.

Scott Hawkins has been exposed to a wide variety of aikido over the years.  He began his aikido training in 1988, in Clear Lake, Texas, at Seishinkan Dojo, associated with Fumio Toyoda's Aikidio Association of America and earned his shodan in 1992. 

He briefly studied Shinto Muso Ryu Jodo  for about a year in 1993 and in 1994 he earned his aikido nidan and was awarded a title of Fukushidoin (assistant instructor) under the AAA.  He studied briefly at Aikido Center of Atlanta (USAF) before co-founding Kyushinkan Dojo, in Roswell, GA, under Toyoda Sensei's AAA.

He trained at Yokohama Azamino Aikido Dojo in Yokohama, Japan in 1996.

Returning to the United States he earned his sandan and an instructor's title of Shidoin from Fumio Toyoda in 1997.

He later trained at North Texas Aikido (California Aikido Association) in Allen, Texas in 2001, and Aikido of Dallas (USAF) in 2002.  In 2005 he was recognized as Fukushidoin under the USAF and was a member of Two Rivers Aikikai for a period of time in 2006.

In 2007 Scott became a member of Budo Dojo where he has been training, and we have enjoyed his teaching and the sharing of his special knowledge of aikido and Japanese culture.

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Other than Aikido...

Brian Young teaches Ninpo Bugei Jujutsu at Budo Dojo

Portland Aikido, Beaverton Aikido, Aikido Portland, Aikido Beaverton, Aikido School, self defense, martial art school, kendo, judo, jujutsu, juijutsu