Instructors
To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace.
- Morihei Ueshiba
Joe LaRue is Chief Instructor for Mt. Washington Aikido. He began his study of Aikido at MWA in 2013 under Sensei Jack Henry, and continues today under Sensei Scott Sobel of the Baltimore Aikido Academy (ATAFA). Joe spent over 15 years in experiential education teaching emergency medicine, and he brings a focus on quality of learning and teaching to his lessons on the mat. Joe has been a sometime triathlete, and road & trail runner over the years. He was a volunteer for 20 years in the NH SAR community. He enjoys biking and hiking and has a long standing interest in fitness. Joe has spent the last few years exploring body weight strength training and mobility, and has begun dabbling in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Joe currently holds the rank of Nidan (2nd dan).
Joe LaRue
Scott Freudenthal
Kerin Fiore
Other Instructors
Scott Freudenthal, Nidan (2nd dan), began his exploration of aikido in 1979 at Connecticut Aikikai. Though military service took him away from the dojo at times, he always returned. Scott has an impressive depth of knowledge of aikido and brings this to his instruction.
Kerin Fiore (2nd kyu), a lifelong martial artist, holds a Shodan (1st dan) in Gojo Ryu and Shorin Ryu, and a Sandan (3rd dan) in Tang Soo Do. She brings this extensive background and her experience teaching those arts to her aikido instruction.
Our Founder
Sensei Jack Henry was Chief Instructor for Mt Washington Aikido from 2012 until 2023. He began his martial arts exploration studying Kenpo in the mid-1970s and later moved on to study Tomiki Aikido. In 2003, Jack Sensei began his study of Aikikai Aikido at the Baltimore Aikido Academy (ATAFA). He then moved to the Mt Washington Valley and opened our dojo. He currently holds the rank of Sandan (3rd dan). Jack and his wife, Sue, moved in 2023 to be closer to their grandchildren.