After several years of holding classes at the Reno-Sparks YWCA, RENO AIKIDO CO-OP was founded in 1989 by Wolfgang Baumgartner Sensei (teacher) and his senior students of Aikido including Aviv Goldsmith, Ron Breaux, and Tim Waldren. Senior instructors held blackbelts and teaching certifications in Aiki-weapons (wooden sword and staff) training. Our instructors also trained as uchi-deshi (senior student in residence) under M. Saito Sensei, one of O-Sensei’s most senior students, at the Iwama Dojo in Japan. Reno Aikido Co-op was a member of the Aikido Association of Northern California – Division One and was affiliated with both the Iwama Dojo and Hombu Dojo (Aikido World Headquarters) in Japan. We practiced what is generally referred to as “Iwama style” Aikido.
Wolfgang Sensei moved from Reno to Berlin, Germany, in 1992 to found Aikido Berlin Karow. From 1992 to 1999, Aviv Goldsmith Sensei was the chief instructor and the dojo was run and owned cooperatively by the blackbelt instructors. When Aviv Sensei decided to move to Virginia, the dojo was sold to Vince Salvatore Sensei in January 2000.
Affiliated Dojos:
Some of our blackbelts – from left to right: Jason Hegne, TJ Blasco, Tim Waldren, Wolfgang Sensei,
Stan Gardner, Aviv Sensei, Mark Moore, Joe Calabrese, Tom Rennie