Our Instructors
Tom Manfredi – Chief Instructor – 4th Degree Black Belt
Tom started his training in aikido in the mid 1960’s while he was a college student. He has trained in and holds ranking in several aikido systems including Yoshinkai, Aikikai, Ki Society, and Tomiki. He has started dojos in Chicago, IL, Albuquerque, NM, and Wickenburg, AZ. Each of these dojos are still in operation and Tom keeps in touch with the teaching staff on a regular basis. Tom actively participates in Tomiki aikido tournaments at the regional, national and international level as a kata judge and competition referee. Recently, Tom started training in Matsumura Seito Shoinryu Okinawan karate in order to broaden his knowledge base.
In the business world Tom is a self employed professional trainer with 25 years experience teaching adult courses in interpersonal communication skills. That training experience has greatly influenced the way in which he conducts his aikido classes.
Jurek Rakoczynski – Instructor – 2nd Degree Black Belt
Jurek started his aikido training in the mid 1970’s in Chicago. At that time, Tom was an assistant instructor in the same dojo. A few years later, when Tom started his own dojo with another black belt, Jurek followed him. Jurek’s job required him to leave Chicago for Phoenix in the mid 1980’s. For the next 10 years Jurek and his wife Laura concentrated on raising their 2 young children. In the mid 1990’s, with Tom’s encouragement, Jurek got back into aikido in the Phoenix area training in the Seidokan system of aikido, where he attained the rank of 1st degree black belt. As fate would have it, Tom moved out to the Phoenix area at the beginning of 2004. Within 6 months, Tom and Jurek started up Mushin Dojo. In 2006 Jurek was awarded his 2nd degree black belt.
Laura Rakoczynski – Assistant Instructor – 1st Degree Black Belt
Laura, who is Jurek’s wife, paralleled her husband’s aikido training until they moved to the Phoenix area. When Jurek started back in aikido in the mid 1990’s, Laura continued to focus more on raising their two children. A few years later, she finally decided to take up her aikido training once again and attained the rank of 1st degree black belt while becoming extremely proficient at teaching aikido to young children. Shortly after Tom and Jurek opened the Mushin Dojo, Laura joined them.
