Instructors
Our instructors are talented teachers and experienced martial artists. With over fifty years of collective experience in aikido, they conduct classes that are both thoughtful and reflective as well as powerful and energetic.
Richard Price, Godan (5th Degree)
Richard Price-Sensei, Godan, Member of the Aikido World Alliance Testing Committee, and Senior Instructor for the Cape Fear Aikido Association, has trained and taught aikido around the globe. Price-Sensei recently retired from the Kure Beach Police Department. Currently, he trains various government agencies applications of Aikido in self-defense and law enforcement.
John Lothes, Sandan (3rd Degree)
John Lothes, Sandan, is a faculty member at UNC Wilmington where he teaches in both the Psychology and Health & Applied Human Sciences departments. He also has a private psychological practice. John is the founder and faculty advisor the the UNCW Aikido Club and UNCW BJJ club (where he holds a purple belt in BJJ under Charuto Verissimo).
In 2013, John published a research article on aikido and mindfulness in the Journal of Perceptual and Motor Skills: Aikido and Mindfulness. John conducts research on aikido training and well being, mindfulness, sports performance anxiety and other aspects of well being.
You can read of one of his articles here: Sports Performance Anxiety.
Chad Lanier, Sandan (3rd Degree)
Chad Lanier, Sandan, is the founder of the Northeast Cape Fear Aikido Club. An engineer by profession, Lanier Sensei brings a wealth of spatial knowledge to his teaching.
Joseph Nash, Nidan (2nd Degree)
Joseph Nash, Nidan, has been training in aikido since 2007. He started with the UNCW Aikido Club while pursuing a bachelors degree in marine biology. He currently works as Special Activities Instructor at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
Tony Ventimiglia, Nidan (2nd Degree)
Tony Ventimiglia, Nidan, is one of the founding members of the UNCW Aikido Club. Tony also holds a black belt in karate. Outside of Aikido, Tony works for the New Hanover County Public School System.
Adam Gaweda, Nidan (2nd Degree)
Adam Gaweda, Nidan. Adam started the art in 2007 while attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington. While a student, Adam helped establish the UNCW Aikido Club, which is still going today. Outside the dojo, Adam is a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He teaches in the Business Technologies department of Cape Fear Community College.
