Colin Max Roach

Founder, Mountain Wind Dojo Group

Credentials

Biography

Roach Sensei is the founder and head instructor of Mountain Wind Dojo Group. His background in Japanese arts, language, and culture extends back several generations. His father grew up in Japan with his uncle and several close friends. With his uncles shouting boisterously (in Japanese) over a homemade sushi dinner, he heard tales of his father's wild times in Tokyo. In this way, Roach Sensei developed an early affinity for the language and culture of Japan. His grandfather lived in Tokyo and flew as a Captain for Japan Airlines


Since studying Judo in 1989 and 1990, Roach Sensei has traveled extensively to study Japanese martial arts, culture, language, and history. In the Fall of 1993, Roach Sensei began a lifelong practice of iaido.  


Although he did continue studying the Japanese language while in college, Roach Sensei focused primarily on his teaching degree and pursuing aikido and iaido. It was during his studies in college that he began to train in aikido (1996). All the while, Roach Sensei continued to train regularly in iaido, often traveling for hours to receive instruction.


Shortly after joining an Aikido school, Roach Sensei began to receive requests for instruction in iaido. He received permission to teach and officially formed the Mountain Wind Dojo in 2001. His depth of knowledge about Japanese culture and history, along with his easy-going personality, make him unique among traditional martial arts teachers.


Roach Sensei teaches to preserve iaido as transmitted by the Orthodox Lineage of Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu.  He is a member of the Keido Eishinkai dojo, under the 23rd generational headmaster, Fukui Soke.  


In Aikido, Roach Sensei is honored to train directly under The Aikido Doshu, as a direct student of Frank Doran Shihan, 8th Dan, and Cyndy Hayashi Shihan, 7th Dan.  Roach sensei travels to attend classes at hombu dojo in Tokyo with the Doshu.


In addition to teaching martial arts, Roach Sensei has a distinguished career as an educator. He served as a public elementary classroom teacher before shifting to private college-prep schools. He rose through the ranks, starting as a learning specialist and then transitioning to the dean of teaching and learning, upper-division director, and headmaster. 

 

Roach Sensei is available for private seminars, lectures, and lessons. 


Click here to contact Roach Sensei about hosting him for a seminar.


 Publications


Iaido Teachers and Advisors

Atsushi Shibata 

Tomohiro Ishida 

Sakio Watanabe

Ochiai Tadao Sensei

Iwasa Hidetoshi Sensei

Bob Ward Sensei

Mike Cimino-Hurt Sensei


Aikido Teachers and Technical Advisors

Frank Doran Sensei

Cyndy Hayashi Sensei

Pat Hendricks Sensei

Danielle Smith Sensei

Michael Smith Sensei

Michael Freidl Sensei