AKI USA Summer Camp Instructor Intro - Matt Bridi Sensei

If you’ve trained with us before, you may know Matt Bridi Sensei, 5th dan and chief instructor of AKI Pennsylvania.

He’s one of my earliest students—part of the first generation of black belts from when I returned to the U.S. in 1996—and this year, he’ll be joining us as a guest instructor! (Read his bio below.)

Also attending: John Peacock, another longtime student from those early days. John may even be leading portions of the camp, and we’re thrilled to have him there.

🧭 Expect a dynamic week of:

💥 All-levels training sessions

🌱 Young People’s Training (15–35 yrs)

🎓 Teaching Practicum

Registration opens May 5.

👉 Join the Notification List here.

Looking forward to training with you, {{ first_name }}!

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Lia Suzuki
Author
   • The Teacher
   • Mastering The Shoto
Director: Aikido Kenkyukai International USA

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BIO

Matt Bridi Sensei started training in Aikido in early 1993 with David Goldberg Sensei. His love for the art was immediate and deep, and by early 1995 he was living as an uchi deshi in the Germantown Pike dojo. During this time he was exposed to many influencial teachers within ASU and other Aikido schools, as many trips were made to Boston, Washington DC, Florida, New York and more.

One of these teachers was Lia Suzuki Sensei, who he met on one of her visits to the USA from Japan. When Suzuki Sensei moved back to the United States in early 1996 Matt's interested in her dynamic way of training deepened, and by mid 1996 he had been accepted as one of her students. After Suzuki Sensei moved to the west coast Matt followed her there a short time later, and spent 14 years in Santa Barbara under her tutelage. In his 28 years as a student of Suzuki Sensei Matt has been very fortunate to train with many teachers greatly influenced by Yamaguchi Shihan in Canada, the US, and Japan.

Matt has attained all 5 of his Dan rankings under Suzuki Sensei and Takeda Shihan, and is the longest continuing student of Suzuki Sensei.