About Wildflower Aikikai
Aikikai Affiliation
Wildflower Aikikai is a member dojo of the United States Aikido Federation (USAF). The USAF is officially recognized by Aikikai World Headquarters, Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan, and the International Aikido Federation (IAF). The USAF registers kyu ranks and issues kyu certificates to its members. All dan (black belt) promotions are registered with Aikikai World Headquarters. Dan promotions are recognized by other aikido organizations worldwide.
copyright Jaime Kahn
Instructors
Noel Murphy
6th Dan, Shidoin
Dojo-cho/Chief Instructor
Noel Murphy was introduced to aiki-jujutsu in 1991 and began studying aikido in 1993, receiving all of his kyu ranks from the late Akira Tohei Shihan. In 1998, he received his shodan from Tohei Sensei at the Midwest Aikido Center in Chicago. He later received his nidan at Florida Winter Camp from a panel that included Y. Yamada Sensei, S. Sugano Sensei, and M. Kanai Sensei. Noel Sensei founded Alamo Heights Aikido (2001-2017) and later opened Alamo Area Aikikai with Angela Walker Murphy Sensei in 2013. It gradually grew to include full programming for adults and kids at the D.R. Semmes YMCA in San Antonio, TX. Noel Sensei is a Shidoin of the USAF and currently holds the rank of rokudan, or sixth degree black belt.
Kiley Haftorson
3rd Dan, Fukushidoin
Instructor
Kiley Haftorson began studying aikido in 2011 at Alamo Heights Aikido. She was a founding member of Alamo Area Aikikai (est. 2013) and grew to become a kids class instructor, teaching aikido to children ages 6+. She has received all of her dan ranks from USAF Technical Committee members. Kiley has a Master’s in Teaching with experience teaching kindergarten, 1st grade, and elementary art kinder-5th grade. She is passionate about guiding young aikidoka through their aikido training and loves helping beginners of all ages.