Fudoshin Dojo of Cleveland, Ohio
Home History Certificates Hugh Cassidy began training in Minna-Jitsu in 1973 with the Chagrin Valley Academy of Self-Defense under the late Soke Dick Knapil and Ginny Glover Knapil. In 1975, Hugh continued the study of Jiu-Jitsu under the late Sensei Harvey Torok with the Midwest Jiu-Jitsu Association, the MJJA. At that time, the MJJA was a member of the Goshin Jutsu Kyu Jujo, under Soke Gerard Durant in Erie, PA. Hugh was a direct student of Master Durant for about three years. Hugh continues his relationship with the same Jiu-Jitsu class now located at the Karate Institute of Mentor, Ohio, under Harvey's son, Michael Torok Sensei.
In 1995, Hugh began studying Traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate under Jim O'Hara Sensei in Cary, IL with Focus Martial Arts, and continues to train in Shotokan Karate under Harry Sidhu Sensei in Abbotsford, BC, Canada.
In 2009, Hugh began training in Daito-Ryu Aiki-Budo with Antonino Certa Shihan from Milan, Italy, and was promoted to Shodan in 2018, Nidan in 2020, and Sandan in 2021. He is a Shidoin with the Daitokai International, and was granted the permission to open the Fudoshin Dojo of Cleveland by Certa Shihan. The word Fudoshin means Mountain, or Immovable Spirit.
As a member of the United Self Defense Federation since its founding by Soke Bob Fields in 2008, Hugh serves as the Director of Aiki Jutsu, and was promoted to 8th dan in Goshin Jutsu in 2019 by Soke Fields.
Hugh has also trained in a number of other martial arts including Aikido, under Betsy O'Donnell Sensei, Thomas Krumroy Sensei, and Wendy Whited Shihan, through the Lake Shore Aikido Dojo in Cleveland Heights, Ohio; and Tai-Chi / Kung-Fu under Sifu David Flugum at the Mentor Karate Institute. He believes in seeking a well-rounded martial arts experience.
Some recent seminars attended were:
- Daito-Ryu Aiki-Budo Intensive Seminar with Antonino Certa Shihan 2018
- Jiu-Jitsu Regional Seminar with Bob Fields Soke 2018
- Daito-Ryu Aiki-Budo Intensive Seminar with Antonino Certa Shihan 2019
- Daito-Ryu Aiki-Budo Seminar with Vladamir Soroka Sensei 2019
- Aikido Seminar with Michael Pabst Soke 2019
- Aikido Seminar with Michael Pabst Soke and Judith Robinson Sensei 2019
- Aikido Seminar with Kay Sandacz Sensei 2019
- Aiki Jutsu Seminar with Bob Fields Soke 2019
- Aikido ASU Bokken Seminar with Wendy Whited Shihan 2020
- Aikido ASU Winter Intensive Seminar with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan 2020
- Shotokan Karate Seminars with Tatsuya Naka Shihan 2020 and 2021
Antonino Certa Shihan Seminar in Cleveland, Ohio - November 2019
Antonino Certa Shihan Seminar in Twinsburg, Ohio - November 2019
Antonino Certa Shihan Seminar in Cleveland Heights, Ohio - November 2019
Sensei Harvey Torok Class - MJJA, Mentor, Ohio 2006
Site Design: Cassidy Web Creations
AikiJujutsu - Kanji by Thomas Krumroy Sensei