Aikido Summer Seminar Instructor Intro - Melissa Bell Sensei
Feb 20, 2025
Next up in our lineup of instructors at our upcoming Aikido Summer Seminar is Melissa Bell Sensei.
Melissa Sensei and I first met when we were co-teaching at the ASU Winter Intensive in Florida.
I liked Melissa Sensei's way of presenting themes, as well as her respectiful way with her uke's.
Read about Melissa Sensei's background, teaching approach, and vision below.
And after you've checked out her bio, be sure to click here to pre-register and get on the seminar notifications list!
I hope we see you in May in Los Angeles!
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Lia Suzuki
Author: The Teacher (From the Aiki Dialogues)
Director: Aikido Kenkyukai International USA
Melissa Bell Sensei
6th dan, Aikikai
Melissa Bell Sensei is the Chief Instructor and Dojo Cho at the Sarasota Aikikai in Sarasota, Florida. She personally teaches the majority of the aikido classes at the dojo.
Bell Sensei began her training in 1992 at the Aikido Shobukan Dojo in Washington D.C. under Shihan Mitsugi Saotome and other senior instructors including Patty Saotome Sensei and Frank Bell Sensei.
Bell Sensei presently holds the rank of 6th Dan (ASU/Aikikai) and has received all her ranks directly from Saotome Sensei. She has also trained six years (through Shodan) in Shotokan Karate under Rick Hotton Sensei at the West Wind Dojo in Sarasota, Florida and continues this association through the Sunday Morning Keiko martial arts community.
In addition, she has received the honor of the Ueshiba Juku designation from Saotome Sensei; This signifies she is a carrier of the teachings of O’Sensei as transmitted through Saotome Sensei.
She continues her own training at the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU) Intensive Training Camps, and at other national seminars under Saotome Sensei, Ikeda Sensei and Mary Heiny Sensei, along with other senior ASU instructors.
One of her favorite quotes from Saotome Sensei: “The secret of aikido? there are three: Distance… Timing… and Looking Good!”
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