David Hurtubise

(Picture taken by Tim Gion at Capital Aikikai in 2004)

David Hurtubise has practiced various martial arts continuously since 1981.  He   began his martial arts studies with Shotokan Karate, which he practiced from 1981 until 1993.  In 1992 he began to study aikido under Frank Doran Shihan (8^th dan) while he was in graduate school at Stanford University. He attended aikido classes at Stanford University and Aikido West five or six times per week from 1992 until 1995, when he completed his Ph.D. and moved to Los Angeles. David continued studying aikido in Los Angeles at Southland Aikido under Jim Graves (6^th dan) from 1995 until 1997, when he accepted a position in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Penn State Altoona.

Since moving to Pennsylvania in 1997 David has continued studying aikido under Clyde Takeguchi Shihan (7^th dan) by attending monthly instructors classes and seminars at Capital Aikikai in Silver Spring Maryland.

In 1999 David began to study judo and ju-jitsu under Master Jan Finkbeiner (6^th dan), and he is currently an assistant coach for Joseki Judo and Ju-Jitsu.

David has been the head instructor for Allegheny Aikikai since 1997.  He currently holds the ranks of godan (5^th dan) in aikido through the Captial Aikido Federation, nidan (2^nd dan) in judo through the United States Judo Association, nidan (2^nd dan) in ju-jitsu through the United States Judo Association, and iikyu (1^st kyu) in karate through Shotokan Karate of America.