William Xavier Staub
For much of my aikido career I was known as Bill Staub. Ten years ago, after moving to Hawaii, I began to use my middle name, Xavier.
I began the study of Aikido in 1974 at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
My first teacher was professor Ty Uno, along with his senior students Paul Sylvain and Lorraine Di Ann. When they all went off to Japan, I became a live-in student of Mutsuko Minegishi Sensei of the Nonotuck Aikikai in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Minegishi Sensei expanded my training to include weekend seminars and summer camps with Yamada Sensei of New York and Kanai Sensei of Boston. During these years, all testing was done at summer camp. Prepared by Minegishi Sensei I successfully went from 5th kyu to 2nd kyu promoted by Yamada Sensei and Kanai Sensei.
Minegishi Sensei went to Japan and I was accepted by Kanai Sensei as a student of the New England Aikikai in Boston. I was promoted to 1st kyu by Kanai Sensei during this time.
I subsequently moved to California and was accepted by Chiba Sensei at the San Diego Aikikai where I was promoted to black belt through 4th Dan.
I left San Diego for Santa Barbara, where along with Geraldine Louise Tremblay, the Santa Barbara Aikikai was created. During these years I was promoted by Yamada Sensei to 5th and 6th Dan. After passing the Dojo on to the Senior Students and moving to the Waianae Coast of Oahu Hawaii, I can now be found welcoming all comers to train at the Waianae Coast Aikido and Movement Center as a Shihan, where I teach and learn.
Geraldine “Louise” Tremblay
I began my study of aikido in 1977 in Quebec, at Montreal Aikikai with Sensei Massimo Di Villadorata.
​I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. I received graduate training in Social Psychology and earned my teaching credential in Quebec where I taught for 20 years in the public school system and part time in College and University.
In 1981 I moved to California to continue my training with Chiba Sensei at the San Diego Aikikai where I received my black belt through 4th Dan.
I also got certified in Shiatsu and in Brain Gym.
As co-creator with William Xavier Staub and instructor of aikido of Santa Barbara , I was promoted to 5th and 6th Dan and Shihan by Yamada Sensei.
Upon leaving the Santa Barbara dojo to the seniors students, I moved to the West Coast of Oahu in Hawaii where I currently teach and enjoy Aikido at the Waianae Coast Aikido and Movement Center.