Micheal Wood

Mike studied under Lou Perriello Sensei until Lou’s passing in 2012. He began teaching in 1995, and ran the Brandies University School under Perriello Sensei for 8 years. He has had the opportunity to train briefly at a few schools in Japan and to train in many styles of Aikido through out New England since 1988. His Aikido has been significantly affected by many instructors such as; Fumio Toyoda Shihon, Sekiya Sansei, and Von Krenner Sansei. He has had the unique privilege of participating in countless demonstrations and seminars for many years as Perriello Senseis Deshi. Mike was appointed Dojo Cho by John before his passing. He holds the rank of Rokudan (6th degree) and does his best to carry on Perriello Sansei’s legacy. Off the mat, Mike is a father, computer programmer and Reiki practitioner.

Sam Elmore

C.M. “Sam” Elmore has been a martial artist since the age of 17. She has trained in Kenpo Karate, Kung Fu, and Tae Kwon Do before finally finding her home in Aikido. Sam began her Aikido career in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1993, under the instruction of Chris Fulkerson Sensei, a student of T.K. Chiba Shihan. From there, her job moved her to Central Illinois where she studied under students of A. Tohei Shihan for 3 years. After she married, her husband Chad’s job moved the new family to New Jersey where she spent 7 years studying under Rick Stickles Sensei, a student of Y. Yamada Shihan. While there, she gave birth to her first three children. Chad’s new job moved the growing family to Southeastern Pennsylvania in 2004, and shortly thereafter she began studying directly under Okimura Shihan in Newark, Delaware. Sam received her Shodan promotion in 2006 and her Nidan promotion in 2008. In the summer of 2011, her husband’s job moved the family yet again, this time to Sweden where it was time to fulfill a lifelong dream of opening her own dojo! In 2013, Sam was promoted to Sandan and in 2018 she received her Yondan Promotion under Okimura Shihan, conferred by Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba. During this time, Sam’s dojo in Sweden thrived and grew. In 2025, Sam was proud to receive her Godan promotion through the Swedish Aikidoförbundet.

Life moves on though and shortly after receiving her promotion, her husband’s job took them back to the States again. NorthEast Aikido kindly gave her a new home shortly after arriving and she is grateful to find herself back on the mat again and able to train, teach, and learn again. Sam’s philosophy in Aikido focuses on proper ukemi, connection between nage and uke, and fluid movement that moves uke’s center.

Sam’s other interests include visiting her 4 kids and her grandchildren, woodworking, and cycling.

Erol Guven

Guven-san started practicing Aikido in 1984 in Istanbul Turkey under Kenji Kumagai Shihan. Prior to 1980 there was no Aikido in Turkey. When Kumagai Shihan moved to Turkey on business, he was assigned by Hombu Dojo as Shihan to Turkey and planted the roots of Turkish Aikido. Today Aikido is thriving under the leadership of Kumagai Shihan and his senior students.

Guven-san received his Shodan from Kumagai Shihan on 1986 in Turkey. When Kumagai Shihan moved back to Japan Sensei Guven was presented with an opportunity to go to Japan. He lived in Japan from 1989 to 1991 and primarily practiced at Hombu Dojo under Tada, Watanabe and Endo Shihans’ instruction. He was also fortunate to attend classes of Kisshomaru Ueshiba (then Doshu) and Moriteru Ueshiba (current Doshu).

Apart from Hombu Dojo Sensei Guven frequented Omiya Dojo (in a suburb of Tokyo) and practiced under Ichitsuke Sensei. At Kumagai Shihan’s insistance, Sensei Guven tested at Hombu Dojo for his Nidan rank. He was promoted prior to his leaving Japan in 1990.

After leaving Japan, Sensei Guven came to the United States and briefly practiced in Honolulu, Hawaii and Cambridge, MA. Since 2005, he has continued his Aikido practice at Northeast Aikido.

Sensei Erol currently holds Yondan rank

Brian Dunham

Sensei Dunham has studied Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido since 1989. He currently holds 5th Dan, and is a senior instructor in the North American San Shin Kai.

Sensei Dunham is one of the most highly skilled Iaido practitioners in the area and one of our earliest Iaido Instructors. We are very pleased to sponsor him for Iaido instruction

The Sempai of the Dojo

Many mentors and leaders within the student ranks help make our community inviting, rich, and enjoyable for everyone. They are a vital asset to our dojo.

Posthumously John Dore

John holds the rank of Godan (5th degree) in Aikido. He was appointed Dojo cho by Lou not long after Lou fell ill. He started practicing Aikido in 1978 at Andover Aikido. For many years he ran the youth program at Northeast Aikikai in Chelmsford. He studied Aikido under Newcomb Sensei, Kanai Shihon, and Perriello Sensei. John was also an accomplished archer, Iaido and Kendo practitioner. In May of 2019 John passed away due to Leukaemia. He is dearly missed.

 

Posthumously Louis “Lou” Perriello

Perriello Sensei was promoted to 6th Dan in 1988 while at Hombu and later to 8th Dan by the USMA. Perriello Sensei was a pioneering Aikido instructor and founder of Northeast Aikikai in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, established in 1978 under the direction of Kanai Shihon. He was one of the first Aikido students on the U.S. East Coast, beginning his training in 1958 and played a key role in inviting Kanai Shihon to the US and with the founding of the United States Aikido Federation in the 1960s. He also held the rank of 5th Dan in Judo (USJA) and taught Aikido as a functional martial art to both Aikido and non Aikido martial arts students alike.

Perriello’s career included teaching Aikido for law enforcement certification by the U.S. Department of the Interior and serving as the head of the Aikido Division for the United States Martial Arts Association (USMA), where he held the rank of Hachidan and was named Grandmaster of the Year in 2000. He trained under prominent masters such as Kanai Shihon, Yamada Shihon, Chiba Shihon and Masatake Sekiya Sensei, emphasizing internal energy and powerful martial technique. He passed away on March 12, 2012, at age 72, after a battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy of instructing thousands of students. He is dearly missed.