Bernice Tom, 7th Dan, Shihan
August 26, 1946 - May 16, 2026

Bernice Tom Sensei is a direct disciple of Morihiro Saito Shihan and holder of the Menkyo Kaiden in Aiki Ken and Aiki Jo. She was invited to teach Iwama Style Weapons at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in the mid 1980’s, and in 1990 she became SCA’s Chief Instructor until her passing in 2026.

For the past four and half decades, Tom Sensei has dedicated herself to the dissemination of Aikido and makes every effort to pass the Iwama System to her students as it was passed down by Saito Shihan. Through her efforts, and the efforts of her students, SCA has become one of the few dojos where the Iwama curriculum is practiced in its entirety.

Bernice Tom Sensei served on the Tech and Rank Committee of the Takemusu Aikido Association.

Ben Teeter, 6th Dan, Dojo Cho

Ben Teeter Sensei is one of the dojo’s longstanding members at Sunset Cliffs Aikido.  He studied directly under Morihiro Saito Shihan in Iwama and during Saito Shihan’s historic visits to San Diego and other U.S. venues in the 1980s and 1990s.

Don Vierra, 4th Dan

Don Vierra has trained at Sunset Cliffs Aikido for over three decades, and had the privilege of training under  Morihiro Saito Shihan on his annual visits to SCA.

He has taught a weekly class at SCA for many years.  In his classes, he often emphasizes basic Iwama techniques with an emphasis on their practical applications.

Greg Harkless, 4th Dan, Shidoin

Greg Harkless, 4th dan, is a certified instructor (shidoin) who began his aikido career at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in 2000. He has a combined seven years’ experience as a live-in student (uchideshi) in two Takemusu Aikido Association dojos, where he played instrumental roles in the development of youth aikido programs, and in short-term stints in Switzerland and Japan. He previously served as the executive director of Aiki Extensions, a non-profit organization committed to applying principles of aikido in everyday life. Greg is a native Californian with a background in education and leadership.

Richard Payne, 4th Dan

Richard Payne began training at Sunset Cliffs Aikido in 2003 and has been a longtime uchi deshi.

Richard has taught classes at SCA for many years. In his classes, Richard emphasizes basic techniques and helps students prepare for their tests.