Sabastian Velilla - President
As a student of Budo since 1984, He is a U.S. Army veteran and completed the Post-Graduate program in Japanese Studies at Sophia University in Tokyo. For several years he administered the International Military Education and Training to the Japanese Self Defense Forces as part of the Department of the Army Security Assistance Program. He has competed and placed in various Budo Arts in both the U.S. and in Japan. He is dedicated to protecting, preserving and expanding traditional Budo and Japanese Cultural Arts while cultivating character and fostering well-disciplined and capable individuals through participation in physical, mental and spiritual training.
As a student of Budo since 1984, He is a U.S. Army veteran and completed the Post-Graduate program in Japanese Studies at Sophia University in Tokyo. For several years he administered the International Military Education and Training to the Japanese Self Defense Forces as part of the Department of the Army Security Assistance Program. He has competed and placed in various Budo Arts in both the U.S. and in Japan. He is dedicated to protecting, preserving and expanding traditional Budo and Japanese Cultural Arts while cultivating character and fostering well-disciplined and capable individuals through participation in physical, mental and spiritual training.
Chelsey Velilla - Vice President
Chelsey graduated Summa Cum Laude from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor degree in Art Education. She spent 12 rewarding years teaching Art at the elementary level for Newport News Public Schools in Virginia and was designated Teacher of the Year. Currently she is also the Grant Writer for Arching Oaks Arts and Culture Center in Eustis, Florida and the our certified Forest Therapy (shinrin Yoku) Guide. Chelsey is a published working artist and instructor at Arching Oaks. She enjoys working in, and teaching methods of, mixed-media assemblage and visual journaling. Her work can be seen at www.chelseyvelilla.com.
Chelsey graduated Summa Cum Laude from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor degree in Art Education. She spent 12 rewarding years teaching Art at the elementary level for Newport News Public Schools in Virginia and was designated Teacher of the Year. Currently she is also the Grant Writer for Arching Oaks Arts and Culture Center in Eustis, Florida and the our certified Forest Therapy (shinrin Yoku) Guide. Chelsey is a published working artist and instructor at Arching Oaks. She enjoys working in, and teaching methods of, mixed-media assemblage and visual journaling. Her work can be seen at www.chelseyvelilla.com.
Mutsumi Oishi - Finance Officer
Mutsumi is a Kyudo practitioner under NY/NJ Kyudo Kai and a member of IKYF. She was born in Tokyo, Japan and moved to New York in 1983. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the State University of New York and is the Vice President of FRP Services & Co. America Inc. overseeing the Department of Finance and Administration. Her love and dedication to Budo is strongly influenced by her late husband, Etsuji Oishi, who was a 6th Dan Renshi in Kendo. She lives in Tuckahoe, New York.
Mutsumi is a Kyudo practitioner under NY/NJ Kyudo Kai and a member of IKYF. She was born in Tokyo, Japan and moved to New York in 1983. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the State University of New York and is the Vice President of FRP Services & Co. America Inc. overseeing the Department of Finance and Administration. Her love and dedication to Budo is strongly influenced by her late husband, Etsuji Oishi, who was a 6th Dan Renshi in Kendo. She lives in Tuckahoe, New York.
Ronda Maseman - Secretary
Ronda is a graduate from Florida State University and a central Florida resident. As an Art connoisseur all her life, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Children's book illustrations with a minor in Asian Art. She worked as a Draftsman for many years and is an Avid History lover and reader. She is currently a sought after Art instructor for the Mount Dora center of the Arts and creates props and sculpture for a major theme park in Orlando.
Ronda is a graduate from Florida State University and a central Florida resident. As an Art connoisseur all her life, she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Children's book illustrations with a minor in Asian Art. She worked as a Draftsman for many years and is an Avid History lover and reader. She is currently a sought after Art instructor for the Mount Dora center of the Arts and creates props and sculpture for a major theme park in Orlando.
John Neu Ph.D- Compliance Officer
John is an applied mathematician. (BS degrees in mathematics, physics-UCSD in 1974, PhD in applied mathematics-Caltech in 1978) After post-docs at NYU and Stanford, he was professor of Mathematics at the University of California Berkley from '82 to '12. He was introduced to Kyudo when he attended a presentation at Berkeley in 1993. That same year, he began practicing Heki ryu Bishu Chikurin ha Kyudo and in 2008 he transitioned to Federation Kyudo (IKYF) and is an active practitioner and yumishi (bowmaker).
John is an applied mathematician. (BS degrees in mathematics, physics-UCSD in 1974, PhD in applied mathematics-Caltech in 1978) After post-docs at NYU and Stanford, he was professor of Mathematics at the University of California Berkley from '82 to '12. He was introduced to Kyudo when he attended a presentation at Berkeley in 1993. That same year, he began practicing Heki ryu Bishu Chikurin ha Kyudo and in 2008 he transitioned to Federation Kyudo (IKYF) and is an active practitioner and yumishi (bowmaker).
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Kannushi Kato- Dojo Shinto Advisor
Taishi Kato is a graduate from the University of London SOAS school of Religion. He is the 22nd member of his family to become a Shinto priest. Currently his family operates Ikuta Shine in Kobe, Japan and the 1000 year old Hattori Tenjinju Shrine in Osaka, Japan. He is currently stationed at Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka Japan. Taishi Kato has dedicated himself to continuing the family tradition by spreading Shinto concepts to the English speaking world. He recently conducted a Shinto Purification ceremony at the Morikami Museum in conjunction with the Kashimon Dojo. He has co-written a book a called "Shinto Moments" with Ed Symmes and Sabastian Velilla.
Taishi Kato is a graduate from the University of London SOAS school of Religion. He is the 22nd member of his family to become a Shinto priest. Currently his family operates Ikuta Shine in Kobe, Japan and the 1000 year old Hattori Tenjinju Shrine in Osaka, Japan. He is currently stationed at Dazaifu Tenmangu in Fukuoka Japan. Taishi Kato has dedicated himself to continuing the family tradition by spreading Shinto concepts to the English speaking world. He recently conducted a Shinto Purification ceremony at the Morikami Museum in conjunction with the Kashimon Dojo. He has co-written a book a called "Shinto Moments" with Ed Symmes and Sabastian Velilla.
Ryushin Sensei- Dojo Zen Advisor
Konrad Ryushin Marchaj, Sensei is a Zen priest in the tradition of Zen Buddhism, and a Dharma heir of the late John Daido Loori, Roshi. Ryushin Sensei was the Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery from 2009-2015. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Yale University in 1976. He received his Medical Degree from Albany Medical College in 1980, working first as a pediatrician in Portland, Maine, and then serving in the US Navy as a physician for three years. He then returned to Albany for postgraduate training in Psychiatry. After completing his residency, he served as Medical Director for a community psychiatric outreach program. He left all this to enter full-time residential training at Zen Montain Monastery in 1992 and is currently teaching independently.
Konrad Ryushin Marchaj, Sensei is a Zen priest in the tradition of Zen Buddhism, and a Dharma heir of the late John Daido Loori, Roshi. Ryushin Sensei was the Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery from 2009-2015. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Yale University in 1976. He received his Medical Degree from Albany Medical College in 1980, working first as a pediatrician in Portland, Maine, and then serving in the US Navy as a physician for three years. He then returned to Albany for postgraduate training in Psychiatry. After completing his residency, he served as Medical Director for a community psychiatric outreach program. He left all this to enter full-time residential training at Zen Montain Monastery in 1992 and is currently teaching independently.
Charles Matza- legal Advisor