Our Dojo Instructors

Michele stepped on the mat for the first time in 1989 in San Luis Obispo and has been teaching Aikido since 1995. One of the highlights of Michele's teaching was the opportunity to work with children age 4 - 12 when she directed a local Aikido program for 9 years. Michele considers Frank Doran Shihan (Aikido West, Redwood City) and Michael Friedl Shihan (Aikido of Ashland; California Aikido Association Division 2 Head) her primary teachers. 

In the various stages of her training for the past 30+ years, Michele's Aikido has been influenced and supported by many teachers: Tom Elliott, Mary Tesoro Sensei (Aikido of San Luis Obispo), Danielle Smith Sensei, Dennis Evans Sensei, Michael Smith Sensei (Aikido of Monterey), Cindy Hayashi Sensei (Aikido West), and Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan (Boulder Aikikai). Michele's interest in Aikido emerged while studying full contact, adrenaline-state, self defense training referred to as "Model Mugging" where she taught classes for over 10 years. For the last several years, Michele has been practicing Krav Maga (black belt), Kickboxing, and Jiu Jitsu as an extension of her interest in self defense and protective use of force. 

As a professional who specializes in trauma recovery for building resilience, Michele offers private and small group classes in trauma-informed self-defense customized to the needs of the student or  group. . Since 2009, Michele has provided Aikido training to at-risk youth and has presented to local agencies on the use of Aikido principles for effective interpersonal skills and conflict resolution in the workplace.

Larry Bardach started his aikido training under Greg Brodsky Sensei in 1975; since then he has studied under many renowned teachers. His training was solidified from 1981 - 1982 when, as a student living under the tutelage of Morihiro Saito Sensei in Iwama, Japan, he received the rank of shodan, and subsequently nidan. Under Saito Sensei, he received extensive training in Aiki-Ken and Aiki-Jo.  Over the years, he returned to Iwama to train under Morihiro Saito Shihan. Bardach Sensei also trained under Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan in New York City for five years. Thereafter he continued training with several Shihan instructors in the California Bay area. Bardach Sensei trained under Louis Jumonville Sensei and was promoted to Godan under Pat Hendricks Shihan. Currently, he is under Michael Friedl Shihan, 7th dan. 

Bardach Sensei continually strives to develop his budo practice and emphasizes the internal aspects of power inherent in Aikido, focusing on developing an "aiki body", which Ueshiba Sensei expressed as Heaven/Earth/Man or "The Dance of the Gods". As such, he furthers his shugyo training under the teachings of Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, Dan Harden, and Daito-Ryu Aikijiujitsu under Roy Shingen Goldberg Sensei.

Personally, Bardach Sensei follows an advaita spiritual tradition and Maha Kundalini Yoga path, and has traveled to India throughout the years to further his meditation practices. He seeks to train and teach earnestly with a sense of vitality, joy, and warmth.

Russ began training in 1980 in Olympia, Washington. He trained under a student of Hirata  Sensei in Seattle, Washington. A year later, he moved to Orange County and trained at Orange County Aikikai for three years until he then moved to the San Luis Obispo area. 

After spending a short time training in Aikijiujitsu with Kiama Sensei, Russ returned to Aikido training. For the next few years, he trained with a number of teachers, including Shiohira Sensei in Mountain View, California. 

In 1995, he began training at Aikido San Luis Obispo, an affiliate Aikido West dojo under Doran Sensei. There, he trained under Tom Elliot and then Mary Tesoro. After leaving Aikido San Luis Obispo in 2010, Russ rained for a year with Larry Bardach, a student of Pat Hendricks Sensei. In 2012, he started Aikido Central Coast with Michele Simone and Paul Stallman. 

There are many teachers and aikidoka who have had a strong and lasting influence on Russ' development, most notably Frank Doran Sensei, Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei, and Michael Friedl Sensei.

Greg Barker has been teaching aikido for 40 years.  He began training with Thomas Lyon Sensei of San Jose, California in 1971.  In college, he co-founded Cal Poly Aiki Kai and received instruction from Ken and Steve Ota of Santa Barbara.  Greg joined Hideki Shiohira Sensei's program at Foothill Community College in 1979.  He maintains his relationship with Shiohira Sensei through the Pacific Aikido Federation.

Barker Sensei began teaching aikido for the Urbana Recreation and Parks Department in 1983 when their prior instructor, Joseph Birdsong Sensei, moved to Texas.  Upon returning to California, he taught briefly at a private dojo in Los Osos until he began teaching at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo in 1987.  From 2001 to 2017 the program was relocated to the Morro Bay Community Center.  

Greg has trained with Aikido Central Coast since 2018, teaching on an as-needed basis.  He endeavors to present a range from the basic mechanics to the transcendent qualities beyond technique.  Students are welcome to train at the level of physical intensity appropriate to their physical condition and temperament, from soft to very vigorous.  In the end, he seeks to make aikido practical and relevant to daily living.