Kristen Benson started as a student of Doran Sensei in the early eighties at Aikido West.
She is thankful for this life-giving and fun art that O-Sensei created. Taking care of oneself and training partners is a focus while looking to the larger shapes and forms in technique that are informed by the natural world.
When not training she is often wandering in the woods looking for these patterns, that can be also be expressed while painting or in finding rhythms with her drum.
