Vince Salvatore Sensei, presently holds a 5th dan in Taijutsu and is certified to teach Iwama Weapons. A martial arts practitioner for twenty years, Vince has spent the last fourteen years training directly under the supervision of Morihiro Saito Shihan and Hitohiro Saito Shihan, 7th dan, in the Iwama Dojo.
In 1991, Salvatore Sensei opened his first school, Takemusu Aiki Dojo - New Jersey, in order to promote the precise and rigorous training of the Iwama Dojo. After Salvatore Sensei's return to Iwama in 1994, this school moved to Gloucester City, NJ, and was maintained by Sensei's Yudansha level students. In January of 2000, Takemusu Aiki Dojo - New Jersey moved to it's present location in Moorestown, NJ. Salvatore Sensei remains as Sensei-responsible, insuring that his students are following the proper steps along the Aikido path.
Salvatore Sensei has assumed the teaching duties of Reno Aikido, Reno Nevada. This is Vince's main location and personal dojo. We, at Takemusu Aiki Dojo, participate in training at both Reno Aikido and Takemusu Aiki Dojo - New Jersey, pursuing our goals of attaining the precise technique our Sensei is known for.
Tony Pallante, presently holds the rank of 2nd dan and is Sempai at Takemusu Aiki Dojo - New Jersey. Tony Sempai has been training in the martial arts for over thirty years, twenty-five of which have been in various styles of Aikido. Tony has been training under Salvatore Sensei since 1991.
Pallante Sempai began his martial arts training while in Military Service. A combat veteran who served his country in the Vietnam Conflict, Pallante Sempai has received numerous accolades, including various medals for distinguished service.
At 54 yrs. of age, Tony remains one of the hardest working aikidoka in the dojo.
Tony teaches Weapons and Advanced Classes on Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Assistant Instructors
Ralph Yansick, presently holds the rank of 2nd dan. A veteran law enforcement supervisor, Ralph has studied the martial arts for sixteen of his eighteen years of career service. Along with Aikido, his backgrounds consists of Japanese Jujutsu and Shotokan Karate.
Training under the supervision of Salvatore Sensei since 1991, Ralph was the first student promoted to Yudansha rank from Takemusu Aiki Dojo - New Jersey.
Ralph presently teaches the General & Advanced Classes.
Joe Diaco, holds the rank of 1st dan. Joe has been a martial arts practitioner for over 20 years. In addition to Iwama Style Aikido, Joe presently holds a 3rd dan in Tae Kwon Do and is a student of Yoshitsune-waza Ju-jitsu, under Michael DePasquale, Jr., 9th dan. He teaches self-protection/defensive tactics to the faculty & students in the Moorestown School District and teaches a self-defense course for credit at Camden County College.
Professionally, Joe is also the owner of Diaco Construction, Inc., one of the largest General Contracting Firms in Southern New Jersey area.
For information regarding the TSAA Organization, please follow this link:
