Deborah Fisher Sensei began studying aikido as a graduate student at UC San Diego in 2001, because an artist she respects told her to. She had no idea what aikido was, or the central role aikido would have in her life, at the time. ​Since then, she has studied with multiple teachers across different styles. Deborah was a student of Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan at the New York Aikikai for more than a decade. Since 2018, she has been a student of aikido, misogi, iaido, and zen under Ryugan Savoca Shihan at Brooklyn Aikikai. Her teaching is focused on the precise aikido and weapons curriculum developed by T.K. Chiba Shihan as taught by Savoca Sensei, while maintaining an awareness of other styles. 

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Deborah's professional background is arts administration. She currently serves as President of the Board of Birankai North America, the federation that links our dojo to a larger community.