Instructors
Patrick Hardesty, PhD. - Chief Instructor
Hardesty sensei began studying Aikido in 1975 under Akira Tohei, Shihan at The Northern Illinois University Club. He has started dojos in Aurora, Illinois and Holland, Michigan. Hardesty sensei moved to Louisville in 1989, and along with Mehter sensei and a few interested students, helped to start Kentuckiana Aikikai. He currently holds the rank of Godan (5th dan), and was recently made a fukushidoin by Yamada sensei. Hardesty sensei is an Associate Professor at U of L in Educational and Counseling Psychology. He currently teaches the Aikido PE class.

Alicia Hardesty - Instructor
Hardesty Sensei holds the rank of 5th dan, Shidoin. She began practicing Aikido at the New York Aikikai in 1968. She was one of Yamada Shihan's first female students and was also one of the first women to achieve Black Belt rank in this country. In 1971 and again in 1978 she traveled to Japan to train at Hombu Dojo. While there, she trained with Doshu Kissomoru Ueshiba and Koichi Tohei Shihan as well as Senseis Yamada, Kanai, Chiba and Moriyama. Billman Sensei moved from New York to Atlanta in 1981 and joined the Aikido Center. In 1985 she moved to Carrollton Ga. (which is closer to Alabama than to Ga.) where she founded the West Georgia Aikikai, in addition to teaching classes at the Aikido Center of Atlanta. In 2005, Sensei moved to Louisville, Kentucky and began teaching regularly at Kentuckiana Aikikai.

Dr. Ariff Mehter - Past Chief Instructor
Mehter sensei began studying aikido in 1962 in Burma. He moved to the U.S. where he became a student of Mitsunari Kanai, Shihan and Yoshmitsu Yamada, Shihan. In 1972, Mehter sensei founded Aikikdo of Central New York in Syracuse. His brother, Yousuf Mehter, is now head instructor of that dojo. Mehter sensei then moved to Ashland, Kentucky where he founded KYOWVA Aikikai. In 1989, he moved to Louisville and helped to found the Kentuckiana Aikikai. He currently teaches at Aikido of Cincinnati. Mehter sensei holds the rank of Rokudan (6th dan) and is a shidoin. His wife, Angela-Lotito Mehter, currently holds the rank of shodan.