Matt Lowry has studied the martial arts consistently for over 30 years, beginning his studies in karate, tae kwon do, and kung fu before turning his practice to Aikido, studying under Meido Moore Shihan and other instructors in the American Aikido Association, Aikido Schools of Ueshiba and Birankai. He finds the emphasis in aikido practice on tai sabaki (basic body movement), maai (positioning), musubi (blending), and zanshin (balance/awareness) to be fundamental to the study of any martial art. He currently holds the rank of yondan (4th degree blackbelt) and has been certified as shidōin (teacher) by Aikido Shimbokukai.

Meido Moore Shihan holds the rank of nanadan (7th degree blackbelt) and has been certified as Shihan (Master Teacher) by the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo. He began Aikido practice in 1986 at Rutgers University, founding the Aikido club that still exists there. In 1990 he became uchideshi under the late Fumio Toyoda Shihan, living in that teacher’s training hall in Chicago for seven years practicing Aikido and Zen. During that time, he began traveling internationally to teach Aikido and was further directed by Toyoda Shihan to lead applied training for law enforcement and military professionals. In that capacity he traveled widely instructing police, government security, and anti-terrorist units in North America and Europe.

Moore Shihan went on to serve as Director of Toyoda Sensei’s organizations, Aikido Association of America and Aikido Association International, while serving as dojo-cho of Ryoshinkan, the AAI headquarters. Following Toyoda Shihan’s death in 2001 he founded Shinjinkai in Chicago, which became known as a center for training in Aikido as well as classical bujutsu. His teachers during this period included the late T.K. Chiba Shihan and the late Tetsuzan Kuroda Sensei, Headmaster of the Shinbukan Kuroda Ryugi.

Since 2013 he has served as the abbot of Korinji, a Buddhist monastery he founded in Wisconsin, which also houses Korinji Budo Dojo. He has received inka shomei, recognition as a Rinzai Zen master, and is additionally ordained in several other Japanese Buddhist traditions. He continues to travel worldwide to teach.

Great Lakes Aikido is grateful for Moore Shihan’s continued inspiration and assistance as a technical advisor, and regular instruction at seminars.

Michael Malitsky began Aikido training in 1994 while studying at Northwestern University. He studied under John Mazza Sensei and a number of other instructors in AAA, ASU, and Birankai. Starting in 2002 he became an assistant instructor under Meido Moore Shihan at the Genseikan dojo in Prospect Heights, IL and eventually became chief instructor of the dojo, which later became Great Lakes Aikido.

Malitsky Sensei led Great Lakes Aikido as chief instructor until 2025 when he handed off full-time teaching and organizational duties, continuing as a technical advisor. Malitsky Sensei combines the practice of Aikido with his interests in other fields to explore biomechanics, improve the efficiency of movement, and in turn apply it to all areas of endeavor. He holds the rank of godan (5th degree blackbelt) in Aikido and has been certified as shidōin (teacher).