Chief Instructor - Alan Jackson, 4th dan

 

Alan began aikido training September 24, 1984 and currently holds the rank of yondan.  He is certified by the United States Aikido Federation as Fukushidoin (assistant instructor) . Alan has travelled extensively to train at seminars and camps instructed by leading shihan from around the world including uchi deshi (live-in students) of Aikido’s Founder, Morihei Ueshiba. In addition to aikido, he has also trained in Kendo and Iaido and has an interest in Chen Style Taijiquan.

 

Alan is a LEED accredited professional architect with a practice in Mt. Pleasant.  He is a self-taught photographer and an accomplished artist.  His abstract pen and ink compositions combine the two once common architectural graphic skills of hard-line drafting and freehand drawing.

 

Assistant Instructor - Bob Pitts, 3rd dan

 

Bob Pitts (Sandan) joined Mt Pleasant Aikido in 2004. He received his Sandan (3rd degree black belt) with the USAF in 2010.  Bob began his Aikido training in Chicago in 1987 under USAF Shihan Akira Tohei. He later trained under Shihan Fumio Toyoda at AAA’s Chicago home dojo with Andy Sato as his chief instructor. Moving to Omaha, Nebraska in 1997, Bob trained with Robert Christham (6th dan) at Sharpy Aikido and was awarded Shodan and Nidan by Shihan Robert Kubo (7th dan - Aikido of Hawaii International).  Prior to Aikido he trained in Judo for a number of years with top international competitors/instructors and explored several forms of Karate.    

 

Bob is a Professor of Marketing at the College of Charleston with a PH. D in Business Administration.