Senior Members

Senior Members at Bucks County Aikido
(known as Yudansha, a Japanese term referring to a person who holds the rank of black belt.)

Patti Meisenbach-Lyons, Sandan (3rd-degree black belt)

Patti started practicing Aikido in 1995. She is an organic farmer and is married to Lyons Sensei.

Helen Tai, Nidan (2nd-degree black belt)

Helen started practicing aikido at North Shore Aikido in Skokie, Illinois. She took several years off from training when living overseas and began with Lyons Sensei in 2001. Helen is a Master Black Belt in Design for Six Sigma and an internal business consultant at Johnson & Johnson.

Nick Fritz, Nidan (2nd-degree black belt)

Nick started practicing Aikido at BCA in 2001. He works for Solebury Orchards in New Hope.

John McDevitt, Shodan (1st-degree black belt)

John started practicing Aikido at BCA in 2001.  He is Global Director of Design Project Management at Johnson & Johnson. He is also a sculptor working with stone, steel and bronze.

Michael Port, Shodan (1st-degree black belt)

Michael started practicing Aikido in 1996 at New York Aikikai. After a few years away from training, he moved to Bucks County and in 2005 became a student of Lyons Sensei. Michael is an author of business books and advisor to businesses all over the world.

Nafis Zahir, Nidan (2nd-degree black belt)

Nafis started practicing Aikido in 1994 and trained for several years at Aikido Center City Philadelphia. He joined Bucks County Aikido as a student of Lyons Sensei in 2006. Nafis currently works for the United States Postal Service.