Aikido Center of Dover

Janice Taitel, MD, Fukoshidoin

(Chief Instructor)

Janice has trained in Aikido since 1992, initially under Mitsunari Kanai Sensei, uchi deshi of Morihei Ueshiba, then under Greg O'Connor Sensei.  She received her nidan from Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan.  She continues to  train with various USAF instructors, especially Jerry Zimmerman Shidoin, and attends many USAF seminars.  Prior to Aikido, Janice competed in and coached gymnastics and practiced Tae Kwon Do for six years.  She has taught children gymnastics then Aikido for over 30 years.  For 15 years, Janice also facilitated a support group for adults abused as children. 

Janice is a pediatrician at the Zufall Health Center, right across the lot.  She is the mother of two and enjoys gardening, hiking, reading and traveling.

Bill Oakes (Assistant Instructor)

Bill started training in Aikido in 1996 under Greg O'Connor Sensei. He received his shodan in 2005 from Yamada Sensei.

Samantha Taitel (Assistant Instructor)

Samantha began Aikido at 5 years old.  She achieved the rank of shodan at 17 years old, awarded by Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan. She is has been an uchi deshi (live-in student) at New York Aikikai under Yamada Sensei.  She graduated from the Academy for Math, Science and Engineering and will be attending NYU.  She enjoys reading, art, driving tractors  and, of course, Aikido.