Our Teachers
Each of us brings different things to the mat.
Carla Garrett: Chief Instructor (Sandan)
3rd Degree Black Belt
Carla is the Chief Instructor and runs/manages the dojo. While Carla started Aikido late in life she still trains 4 or 5 times per week. In addition to being the Dojo Cho at ACC, she has the privilege of training regularly at ASL with Patricia Hendricks, Shihan, 7th Dan (and the head of our division at the CAA). She began her Aikido journey in 2009 with Louis Jumonville, Shihan, Dojo Cho of Hikari Dojo (our Sensei before he moved to MA in 2020). Carla is responsible to bring Hendricks Sensei’s teachings to our dojo as well as maintaining what we’ve learned over the years from Jumonville Sensei.
Carla also does Toastmasters, writes teaching materials for high school government/economic classes, hangs out with friends on Zoom and drinks lots of Peets tea every day.
Nick Burcher: Instructor (Sandan)
Nick, Brian and Carla started training in 2009. We all trained together for many years before COVID. Nick has both excellent technique and takes amazing ukemi (in fact he and Guido took the ukemi for Sensei when Sensei did his Shihan demo).
Nick’s budo journey began with Hapkido. His Hapkido Shodan was awarded by master Jino Kang in 1992 at the Karate Club in San Francisco. Hapkido has similar elements to Aikido and that was his introduction to Waza (techniques). He is passionate about the Iwama style Waza and the teachings of O’ Sensei that have been passed down from Saito Sensei to us through Jumonville Sensei. He is fascinated daily by the artistry of Aikido and considers himself a traditionalist in our style.
Suzanne Rudiger: Instructor (Nidan)
2nd Degree Black Belt
Suzanne began training Aikido in 1981 with David Gamble Sensei and Terry Dobson Sensei with breaks in training in later years for reasons of health and restorative care.
She had the great privilege of studying with a number of amazing and renowned teachers from differing lineages. She is ranked Nidan by Louis Jumonville 6th Dan Shihan of Hikari Dojo.
After taking a break from Aikido, she has returned to the mat with deep gratitude for all her teachers and the legacy of the Art of Peace.
She enjoys time with her family, travel, water coloring, the practice of Taoist Tai Chi, Reiki, and meditation. The practices of Tai Chi and Aikido are especially a delight to her when she travels.
Gil Rech: Instructor (Nidan)
During his personal exploration of the Way of Budo, Gil discovered Aikido, and started practicing it in 2000. He has more than 34 years of Martial Arts experience and studied Aikido with different schools of different lineages. As a chemical engineer he followed different job opportunities living and practicing aikido all around the world:
Before joining Contra Costa Aikido in California, he started with Santarella Sensei (4th Dan) of Kawamukai’s lineage school in Italy, continued with T.K. Lee Sensei (6th Dan) of Yamada Sensei’s lineage school in Texas (2014-2018) who also confirmed his Shodan in 2018. He then moved to France and practiced with Gabriel Valibouze Sensei (7th Dan).
As Aikido-ka he is a person seeking harmony: merging together Logic (Ri) and Harmony (Ai), Gil will guide you in your Path of the Ri-Ai quest. He is also a Shotokan Karate 3rd dan black belt.
As an engineer Gil is a logical person, who likes math and science. He has three children: two boys aged 9 and 6 (who practice Aikido in kids class at our dojo) and a daughter age 4.
Brian Johnson: Instructor (Nidan)
Brian started training in 2009. He embodies the techniques that our Sensei taught. His teaching style focuses on the angle and linear progression of technique and principles.
Brian’s background in Information Technology and systems administration gives him a unique perspective on applying martial arts movements with a foundation of logical process and body mechanical analysis. A father of two, and husband he finds his free time spent hosting a family game night, or in the kitchen stirring up trouble with a new recipe.
Jennifer Platt: Instructor (Shodan)
Jennifer is our latest addition to the teaching staff, having gained her Shodan in February 2024. Jennifer started Aikido in 2015 at Hikari Dojo under Louis Jumonville 6th Dan Shihan, training with him consistently until he moved in 2020. Jennifer then continued to train with Carla as she worked to found Aikido Contra Costa.
Outside of Aikido, Jennifer is passionate about animals, previously working as a veterinary nurse and volunteering for various cat and dog rescues. Currently Jennifer and her husband are volunteering for a wildlife rescue, rehabilitating squirrels for release back into the wild. Outside of Aikido and animal rescue, Jennifer works for a local biotechnology company and helps her husband run his Fire Sprinkler business.
Guido Gaiteri: Of Counsel (Sandan)
Guido began his training in Argentina and continued to train when he moved to California. Guido trained with the four of us until he moved to Roseville where he continues to train and teach. Guido is definitely “of counsel” since he is a lawyer in his day job.
Even with his busy life (lawyering and raising two daughters with his wife Macaela), Guido hopes to join us in person whenever he can.