Michael Baron has been training in martial arts for over eighteen years. He holds the rank of Ni Dan in Aikido and trained at New England Aikikai for nine years. Michael has also been training in Iaido for 10 years, and was a close student of the late Mitsunari Kanai Shihan. Kanai Sensei’s death was a great personal loss and a tremendous loss for the Aikido community in general. Michael has committed himself to passing on the unique teachings of his late teacher. Michael is also an English professor, a writer, and an amateur sword maker. Part of this unique gift he received from his teacher was an appreciation of Japanese swords and fittings and the process of making these timeless pieces of art. His young son Nathaniel knows more about Aikido and swords than any young man should know.