Julio Monsell Sensei,
Chief Instructor

Monell Sensei first discovered the Japanese martial art of Aikido in 1993 while developing a Defensive Tactics program for his law enforcement agency. A friend directed him to visit the dojo of a very kind and gentle man on Smith Street in Brooklyn. Shaku Joseph Jarman Sensei, a Buddhist priest and Goddan (fifth degree black belt) in Aikido embodied power, precision and compassion on the mat. A small man with soft voice, he dominated attackers before they even threw their first punch and controlled their attacks with almost effortless movements. Monell Sensei, already a black belt in the Korean martial art Tae Kwon Do enrolled as a student at Jkishinkan Dojo that same night.

Monsell Sensei practiced under Jarman Sensei for 12 years earning the rank of Sandan, or third degree black belt. He instructed the advanced classes at the Jkishinkan Dojo for several years. He studied under the late Fumio Toyoda Shinan of the Aikido Association of America for less than a decade and now operates his own dojo, the NYAA under Andrew Sato Sensei, Chief Instructor of the Aikido World Alliance. Monell Sensei has also practiced under Shizuo Imaizumi Shihan.

Monell Sensei is a state certified firearms and defensive tactics instructor. He has more than 22 years of law enforcement training. Monell Sensei trained in defensive tactics and firearms with the New York City Police Department at Rodman's Neck and with the Federal Bureau of Investigation at Camp Smith, Peekskill, New York.

Monell Sensei opened his new dojo, The New York Aikido Alliance in June 2005.