Goderich Martial Arts, Hakko Denshin Ryu Jujutsu

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: Renshi San Dai Kichu Aaron Allison of Norton, Ohio.

Aaron began training as a teenager at the Narrow Gate Dojo, where he was later asked to step in as Head Sensei. Training and teaching under Soke Michael J. LaMonica, he was promoted over nine years to Shihan, Kaiden, and San Dai Kichu at the Eighth Light Dojo.

He has since trained abroad with teachers from around the world, and most recently, following a formal review and additional training under Nidai Soke Antonio García, he was awarded the title of Renshi.

Today he is the head instructor of the Semai Torii Dojo.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.
hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: Menkyo Kaiden Jim Cormier of Holliston, Massachusetts.

Jim opened his dojo, Cormier's Self Defense Academy, in 1987 and has been its head instructor ever since, personally teaching every class and promoting hundreds of black belts across nearly four decades. He was awarded Shihan by Soke Michael LaMonica in 2017 and Menkyo Kaiden by Soke Antonio García in 2023. Before the dojo, Jim spent the 1970s touring the Northeast with Brothers Kingdom, the folk-rock band he formed with his brothers, and he has never lost his passion for performing.

Nearly four decades of teaching, and this October he is still traveling to be on the mat.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.
hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: Menkyo Kaiden Shihan Sarah Haiss of Akron, Ohio.

Sarah has trained in Hakko Denshin Ryu for more than 13 years and teaches at the Ninth Light Dojo, where she also serves as treasurer. She was awarded Shihan by Soke Michael J. LaMonica and is the fourth highest-ranking woman in the art worldwide. Outside the dojo, she works in search and rescue and serves with her local fire department.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.
hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: Menkyo Kaiden Matthew Pinard of Prescott Valley, Arizona.

Matt began training under Hanshi Scott Evans in 2005, in the Ann Arbor dance studio that was Hanshi Evans' first dojo. Since 2019 he has been the head instructor of the Koyama Nishi Dojo in Arizona, teaching Hakko Denshin Ryu with a focus on practical self defense. His students include a former Texas sheriff who believes every law enforcement agency should train in HDR.

Twenty-one years after those first classes in Michigan, he returns home to teach.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.
hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: San Dai Kichu Erica Flemmer of Akron, Ohio.

Erica has trained in Hakko Denshin Ryu since 1993 and was awarded Menkyo Kaiden Shihan San Dai Kichu by Soke Michael J. LaMonica. She is president and head instructor of the Ninth Light Dojo, the only woman leading a dojo in the North American federation, and the third highest ranking woman in the art worldwide.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.
hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: Menkyo Kaiden Glen Archambault of Goderich, Ontario.

Glen began training in 1993 and has spent more than three decades in the art. He was awarded Shihan by Soke Michael J. LaMonica in 2003 and Kaiden by Soke Antonio García in 2025. Today he co-leads Goderich Martial Arts (Meiyodo Dojo) alongside Menkyo Kaiden Shawn Dejong, the same student he first taught in 1996.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.
hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: Menkyo Kaiden Shawn Dejong of Goderich, Ontario.

Shawn began training in November 1996 under Soke Michael LaMonica and Menkyo Kaiden Glen Archambault, and today he leads Goderich Martial Arts (Meiyodo Dojo) in Goderich, where he teaches Hakko Denshin Ryu Jujutsu.

This October, teacher and student share the same teaching roster: Glen Archambault will be on the mat in Livonia too.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.
hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: Menkyo Kaiden Jason Spirko, senior instructor at Koyama Dojo in Livonia, the dojo hosting this year's gathering.

Jason began training in 2008 under Hanshi Scott Evans. He was awarded Shihan by Soke Michael J. LaMonica in 2022 and Menkyo Kaiden by Soke Antonio García in 2024.

This October, the federation he has trained with for nearly two decades gathers on his home mat.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.
hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Teaching at the 2026 North American Tai Kai: Hanshi Scott Evans, founder of Koyama Dojo in Livonia, where this year's Tai Kai will be held.

Hanshi Evans began training in 1995 with a self-defense class at the University of Akron and has spent three decades in Hakko Denshin Ryu under the guidance of Soke Michael LaMonica.

He founded Koyama Dojo in 2004, earned the rank of San Dai Kichu in 2017, and was promoted to Hanshi in 2023. Under his leadership, Koyama Dojo was named Honbu Dojo for North America.

This October, the federation trains at the Honbu, on his home mat.

On the mat October 2 to 4 in Livonia. Registration $230.

hakkodenshinryu.org/taikai

Congratulations to Rowan and Nathan on your promotions to Shodan.