Don Hebert (Dojo Cho)
Don began his Aikido studies in 1978 at the New Haven Aikikai in New Haven, Connecticut. His early teachers were Bob Barrett, Donald Hailey, Terry Dobson, Ken Nisson and Mitsugi Saotome Shihan. Later he was deeply inspired and influenced by Mary Heiny Sensei. Captivated early on by the depth and beauty of Aikido movement, Don’s interest continues to be to explore the many ways that Aikido practice can be personally transformative, in both the physical and inner realms. Integral to his practice is his fundamental belief that he is on the path as a student of Aikido. To this end he often travels to seminars and other opportunities to further his growth and hopefully set an example for his own students. Don has been awarded the rank of Godan with the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba.
Don has lived and worked in the Keene-Brattleboro area since 1983. In 2001 he renovated a hundred year-old church in Brattleboro, Vermont to be his home and the location for the River Valley Aikido club. He has one daughter whose passion is dance.
Amy Hyatt
Amy first heard about aikido from a friend in the summer of 1997. The friend encouraged her to first start out with Tae Kwon Do. She trained in Tae Kwon Do with two different lovely intergenerational dojos in Arizona & New Mexico. When she returned to southwest Ohio where she grew up, she couldn’t find a similar Tae Kwon Do dojo…but did notice there was a large aikido dojo. She visited an advanced class and was captivated by the beauty of the practice. She began training at Aikido of Cincinnati (USAF dojo) in September 1998.
Amy started training in aikido at Aikido of Cincinnati (USAF) in September 1998 where she trained through July 2001. She developed a solid foundation in the basics there and had achieved the level of 3rd Kyu]. In 2001, Amy moved to southeastern Vermont and continued training at Monadnock Aikikai, a USAF dojo in Keene, NH. While at Monadnock Aikikai, Amy tested for Shodan (2013) and then for Nidan (2019). She currently holds the rank of Nidan – second level black belt – registered with the International Aikikai Foundation. She began visiting and periodically training at River Valley Aikido in Brattleboro, VT in 2012. In 2021, after Monadnock Aikikai closed, she officially joined River Valley Aikido, an ASU dojo.
Amy began teaching aikido classes in 2011 under supervision of Liz Dinowitz Sensei at Monadnock Aikikai. She has continued developing as an aikido teacher over the years and now regularly teaches Monday classes and periodically Friday classes at River Valley Aikido under Don Hebert Sensei. Since 2012, Amy’s aikido has been heavily influenced and shaped studying with Charles Colten Sensei (Endo Sensei lineage), Mary Heiny Sensei, Don Hebert Sensei (Saotome Sensei lineage), Jan Nevelius Sensei, & Aimee Bel Sensei (Toyoda/Germanov/Heiny lineages).
“Aikido practice has been an anchoring practice of my life throughout these years. Sometimes I didn’t really know why I was doing it – just that I felt better physically and mentally when I showed up on the mat and practiced. As I have deepened in my practice over the years, I have a much clearer understanding why I feel better when I show up for practice…and the many profound subtle ways it helps me navigate all my life. I experience aikido as one pathway (or Do/Tao) to developing oneself, healing, and learning to navigate conflict – both physical conflict and emotional conflict. A path to develop oneself as a sincere and joyful person contributing to the world.” – Amy Hyatt