Back in September 2008, I wrote in our newsletter:
By all accounts, Rosiek Sensei had a relationship with Tom “Doc” Walker Sensei, the much loved founder of Sand Drift Aikido in Cocoa, Florida. (Walker Sensei was instrumental in establishing the United States Aikido Federation in its early days). [A]ccording to Buck Pittman, our dojo in those days was called Sand Drift Aikido, presumably after Walker Sensei’s school.
And in October 2009 I wrote:
You may be surprised to learn that the founder of our school, Curtis Rosiek, was a student of Tom “Doc” Walker Sensei, the much loved founder of Sand Drift Aikido. In fact, Walker Sensei tested our earliest students.
As it happens, I recently came across a 5th kyu certificate from 1993, from one of our earliest students. The certificate, issued by the United States Aikido Federation, confirms what I previously wrote.
Rosiek Sensei was in fact a student of “Doc” Walker Sensei, to the extent that the certificate identifies the school as Sand Drift Aikikai. (And therefore obviously connected to Walker Sensei’s school.) And although the certificate was signed by Rosiek Sensei, the test took place in Titusville, Florida, under Walker Sensei.
(Of course, at that time Walker Sensei was affiliated with the Federation.)
MM Says:
Buck Says: