Sensei Jason Beaudreau's study of the martial arts began in 1980 under the direction of his father, a Karateka, who had studied in Okinawa while serving in the Air Force in the 1960's. Jason's early training included Tae Kwon Do and Karate. One of Sensei Jason's early childhood memories is of looking at slides his father had taken of O'Sensei during an Aikido demonstration he had attended in Japan.   "My father always said that if I wanted to study a powerful martial art, that I should seek out a good Aikido school" comments Jason. In 1997, he switched his focus in training and began his study of Aikido. In 2000, after searching for a new Aikido dojo that taught the waza and philosophical ideals more in line with what he had read about O'Sensei, Jason stepped on to the mat at Kin Tora dojo in Buffalo, Ny.  He has been fortunate to study under Sensei Suenaka, as well as Shihan Mike Hawley, Shihan Valerie Wang, Shihan Eric Joseph, Shihan Judy Grundy, as well as the other Buffalo Yudansha. Currently, he is ranked Nidan (second degree black belt) in Aikido under Sensei Roy Suenaka.