Instructors
Haruo Matsuoka
Haruo Matsuoka Sensei (7th dan, Shihan) is co-founder of Ikazuchi Dojo and Kaicho (President) of the Aikido Doshinokai Association. He has over 50 years of aikido training and has been a full time, professional aikido instructor since graduating from college in Japan. Matsuoka has participated in exchange programs with some of the world’s great martial arts masters, including the legendary Dan Inosanto (one of Bruce Lee’s top students and best friends) and Kenji Yamaki (Kyokushin Karate World Champion). Matsuoka was a direct student of Seiseki Abe, 8th dan (1915-2011), one of the closest and highest ranking disciples of the founder of Aikido. His aikido has appeared in numerous feature films and was an instrumental catalyst in bringing awareness of aikido to the United States after moving to America in the 1980s with Steven Seagal, his first aikido teacher.
Josh Gold
Josh Gold Sensei (5th dan) is co-founder, Chief Instructor, and Dojo-cho (Executive Director) of Ikazuchi Dojo. He has 30 years aikido experience having begun his training under Haruo Matsuoka in 1991. Josh is also Executive Editor of Aikido Journal, the world’s leading aikido media publication with a 46-year history, and CEO and co-founder of Budo Accelerator, a new nonprofit with a mission to elevate youth and forge a new generation of leaders through aikido-based programs that reach teens and young adults across North America. Josh is a notable speaker on the martial art of aikido, having led presentations and discussions for Fortune 500 companies and at premier events and idea festivals like Summit LA19.
Earlier in his career, Josh built over 15 years of entrepreneurial and executive management experience in the technology sector, having founded a series of start-ups and led special projects for clients such as Intel, Sony, Disney, and Formula One.
Wes Watkins
Wes (4th dan) was mesmerized by the martial arts since childhood, but it wasn’t until inspiration struck in 1996 that he decided to try aikido. He was hooked after the first class and has been a dedicated martial artist since. After 25 years of martial arts, Wes remains focused on polishing his technical capabilities, but also strives to apply the insight and wisdom gained from his training to his daily life.
James Young
James (4th dan) developed an interest in Japanese culture and martial arts that inspired him to begin aikido in 1994 at Cal Poly Pomona. He continued his study at Waseda University in Tokyo and frequently trained at Aikido World Headquarters while living in Japan. Over the years, James has traveled extensively to attend seminars and learned from many of aikido’s highest ranking masters. James joined Ikazuchi Dojo in 2001 after moving to Orange County. James is an operations management professional in the medical device industry. He speaks fluent Japanese.
Chris Jones
Chris (4th dan) began his aikido practice at the University of Kansas in 1989. His enthusiasm for the art later inspired him to grow the University of Kansas aikido club into one of the largest student-run organizations on campus. In 2000, after living in Germany for a year, Chris moved to Irvine and began training at Ikazuchi. In addition to over 30 years of martial arts training, Chris has 20 years of training as a gymnast.
Nastia Shuba
Anastasia “Nastia” Shuba (3rd dan) began her aikido training in 2005 and received her 3rd degree black belt in 2019. She enjoys researching new training methodologies and how other martial arts (namely BJJ, Jeet Kune Do and Kali) can be used to enhance her aikido. Nastia holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from the University of California, Irvine. Currently she is an R&D Engineer at Broadcom Inc., where she is focused on various security and privacy solutions.
Billy Vincenty
Billy (3rd dan) began his aikido training in 2010 and has nearly 50 years of martial arts experience. He grew up fast on the rough streets of the South Bronx, N.Y. In 1971, his martial arts journey began with the study of Shotokan karate as a necessary self-defense and personal empowerment skill. Today, Billy’s love for aikido and teaching stems from his drive to give back and help others build self-empowerment through martial arts training. He has an affinity for dance and along with his wife Adela, has competed in many styles of dance. Billy and his wife of over 35 years hail their best accomplishment as the raising of their two accomplished, loving daughters.
Setsuko Okumura
Setsuko (3rd dan) is Program Director and an instructor at Ikazuchi Dojo. She is responsible for planning and scheduling seminars, workshops, special programs, ranking tests, and other dojo events. Setsuko was originally introduced to the art in 1999 through the practice of Ki Aikido. She was fascinated by the notion of applying this concept to daily life and was inspired by its philosophy Setsuko began training at Ikazuchi Dojo in 2012 and received her nidan in 2020.
Dave Lee
Dave (2nd dan) started his aikido practice in 2008. He started aikido primarily as a way to practice martial arts with his son, but quickly found a deep connection to the art. Over the years, as his experience and understanding has grown, he’s been able to apply many aikido principles in his business life. As an entrepreneur, he’s used his training to help him grow and improve his web development company.
Todd Porter
Todd (2nd dan) began his aikido training at Ikazuchi Dojo in 2004 and received his nidan in 2016. Initially, Todd was motivated to begin his training as a way of improving physical fitness and mental discipline. However, aikido soon took on a much greater significance in Todd’s life. Todd, and his wife, Diane Cu, are published authors, run a successful food photography blog, and operate a professional photography studio, supporting clients such as Whole Foods, La Brea Bakery and Blue Bottle.
Rose Jones
Rose (2nd dan) began her aikido journey over 20 years ago and has been a part of Ikazuchi Dojo since its inception. Most recently, she has been instrumental in launching at UCI the exciting first-gen student leadership development program—UCI BOLD—a collaboration between Budo Accelerator and UC Irvine.
Rose is Director of UCI's Scholarship Opportunities Program, overseeing the program’s mission to encourage and support high-achieving students in applying for 21 national and international merit-based scholarships. She holds a doctorate from UC Irvine and has taught in multiple departments across the UCI campus. She is also Director of UCI's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious honor society.
Hui Reccow
Hui (2nd Dan) began her Aikido practice in 2009 while completing her Masters degree in San Francisco at The California Institute of Integral Studies for Counseling Psychology.
Hui became enthralled with the mind-body connection developed through the techniques in Aikido, which is how Hui works with her clients in psychotherapy.
Hui incorporates her training as a 200 hour certified yoga instructor, and meditation to the practice of Aikido. She sees martial arts is a platform to experience power and stillness, strength and balance.
Mark Cheng
Mark Cheng is our kali instructor. He has over 35 years of martial arts experience and holds black belts in Chinese wrestling, taekwondo, and Inosanto Kali. He has practiced taichi for over 30 years and has trained with world-class teachers in karate, aikido, and Brazilian jiu jitsu, among other martial arts. He is a contributing editor for Black Belt Magazine and has authored many cover stories for the publication.
Mark holds a licensure and doctorate (PhD) in acupuncture, a Master SFG ranking, and is the founder of K3 Combat Movement Systems. In his work as a movement performance specialist, Mark trains Olympians and professional athletes across a variety of sports.
Anne Lee
Anne is our yoga instructor and Ikazuchi Dojo’s Operations Director. She has been a dedicated yoga practitioner since 2009 and shares her knowledge in the form of yoga classes tailored for martial arts practitioners. Anne received her 200 hour instructor certification from Samrat Dasgupta at Pure Yoga in Hong Kong. Anne holds the rank of 3rd kyu in aikido and is also Aikido Journal’s photo journalist. She speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, and German.
Say Hello.
If you’d like to apply to join the dojo, schedule a tour, or have questions about aikido or the dojo, schedule a chat with our Chief Instructor.