Knut Bauer began training briefly in Aikido in 1976, as a member of the Illini Aikikai under the direction of Jo Birdsong Sensei. After a two-year hiatus, he began training in 1980 under Akira Tohei Sensei, with whom he trained until Tohei Sensei’s passing in 1999. Since that time, he has trained under the direction of Y. Yamada Sensei, who promoted him to 6th Dan in 2017. Bauer Sensei is also a Shihan in the United States Aikido Federation.
In addition to his training under Tohei Sensei and Yamada Sensei, Bauer Sensei has also been greatly influenced by Clyde Takeguchi Sensei. He has had the great privilege of attending many seminars and summer camps over the last 45 years. These were taught by some of the greatest aikido teachers in the world, including the second and third Doshu, Osawa Sensei, Shirata Sensei, Frank Doran Sensei, Chiba Sensei, Sugano Sensei, and many others.
Bauer Sensei has been teaching three or four classes per week at Central Illinois Aikikai since 1981 and was appointed Chief Instructor in September 1994.
Julio Soares started his Aikido practice at Central Illinois Aikikai under the supervision of Knut Bauer, Sensei in October 1998. Moving to Brazil in 2002, he joined the Federação Paulista de Aikido (FEPAI) and continued to study Aikido under the guidance of Paulo Nakamura, Sensei, 7th Dan.
In 2004, he returned to Champaign-Urbana, where he re-joined Central Illinois Aikikai. He received his Sandan in 2025 and received the title of "Fukushidoin" (Assistant Instructor) in 2022. He is currently the lead instructor of the Central Illinois Aikikai Youth Program. He works as a Research Scientist for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at the Materials Research Laboratory. His hobbies, besides Aikido, include: camping, ping-pong, and the game of Go.
Dean Karres was introduced to Aikido in 1988 by Lamar Sanders Sensei in Columbia, South Carolina. Since then, he has studied in dojos affiliated with: Fumio Toyoda, Hiroshi Ikeda, and Yoshimitsu Yamada. He has been a student of Bauer Sensei since 2003. He received the rank of Sandan in 2025 and the title "Fukushidoin" (Assistant Instructor) in 2018.
Dennis McMillan was introduced to martial arts in college with Tae Kwon Do. He followed the “Way of the Fist & the Foot” for many years, starting out in Michigan, moving to New York, and finally settling in central Illinois. Along the way hearing whispers of a Japanese art called Aikido, the “Way of Harmony”. Around the turn of the century he joined Central Illinois Aikikai and has trained with Sensi Bauer since. Mr. McMillan received his Shodan in 2022.
Julia Jamieson has studied Aikido since 2016 under the instruction of Knut Bauer Sensei and received the rank of Shodan in 2025. Julia is inspired by how Aikido invites one to be observant, centered, and peaceful, and she appreciates the welcoming and friendly community at Central Illinois Aikikai. Outside the dojo, Julia performs, teaches, composes, and gives workshops as a professional harpist.
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