Colin Max Roach
Founder, Mountain Wind Dojo Group
Credentials
5th Dan, Iaido (Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu Seito Kai)
4th Dan, Aikido ( Aikikai World Headquarters)
Chief Instructor, Mountain Wind Dojo Group
President, Board of Trustees, Kokusai Nihon Budokai, a nonprofit 501c(3) Charitable Educational Organization.
Founding Trustee, Aikido Mountain West
M.Ed. Educational Management and Innovation
Peabody Fellow of Independent School Leadership, Vanderbilt University
Headmaster, Rivermont Collegiate
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
Japanese Swords: Cultural Icons of a Nation., Tuttle Publications 2010.
Pursuing the Martial Arts, article in the Deseret News
Katsujin Ken, The Sword of Compassion, article in the Shudokan Budokai Journal
Why Do Old Men Whittle Sticks? , Rokyo Times
Iaido and Self-Actualization, the Interconnectedness of Self and No-Self, Shudokan Budokai Journal
The Mountain Wind Aikikai and the art of Traditional Japanese Swordsmanship, Shudokan Budokai Journal
Introducing The Japanese Sword, Andon Journal - The Society for Japanese Arts
Iaido Teachers and Advisors
Atsushi Shibata
9th Dan (Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu)
Tomohiro Ishida
Hanshi, 9th Dan (Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu)
Sakio Watanabe
7th Dan (Keido Eishin Kai)
Ochiai Tadao Sensei
Hanshi, 10th Dan Iaido (Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu)
Iwasa Hidetoshi Sensei
Kyoshi, 8th Dan Iaido (Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu)
Renshi, 6th Dan kendo
Bob Ward Sensei
Kyoshi, 6th Dan karatedo (Wado-Ryu)
Renshi, 5th Dan Iaido (Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu)
4th Dan Kobudo (Shinto Muso-Ryu jodo)
Mike Cimino-Hurt Sensei
4th Dan Karatedo, Wado-Ryu (awarded by Suzuki Tatsuo Sensei - Hanshi, 8th Dan)
Board of Directors Member, Wado International Karatedo Federation USA
4th Dan Iaido (Muso Jikiden Eishin-Ryu)
Aikido Teachers and Technical Advisors
Frank Doran Sensei
Hanshi, 8th Dan (Aikido)
Head Instructor of Aikido West Dojo for over 28 years
Chief Aikido Instructor, Stanford University
Co-founder, California Aikido Association, Aikikai/ Honbu Dojo affiliate
Cyndy Hayashi Sensei
7th Dan Aikido (Aikikai)
Dai Sempai of Aikido West in Redwood City, CA
California Aikido Association Administrator, 18 years
3rd Dan Kyudo
Pat Hendricks Sensei
7th Dan Aikido
California Aikido Association Division Head, Division 1
Dojo Cho, Aikido of San Leandro
Danielle Smith Sensei
7th Dan Aikido
President, California Aikido Association
Dojo Cho, Aikido of Monterey
Michael Smith Sensei
6th Dan Aikido
Dai Sempai, Aikido of Monterey
Michael Freidl Sensei
7th Dan Aikido
President, California Aikido Association
Chief Instructor, Aikido of Ashland
Publications:
Meditation in Motion, A Solo Aikido Practice
Ah… To Be a Kid, Three dozen Aikido Games