MITS UCHIDA, FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
RANK: 7TH DEGREE BLACKBELT (NANA DAN)
Uchida Kaicho grew up in Shizuoka, Japan practicing karate and judo during his earlier years, and later began learning Taido from Dr. Seiken Shukumine in college. After being selected by Shukumine to bring Taido to the U.S., Uchida Kaicho embarked on opening the first school on Buford Highway in Atlanta, GA. Through Uchida Kaicho’s well-regarded teaching methods that focus on personal development, discipline, and self-defense, the school has been producing outstanding students continuously in the Atlanta area since 1975.
Aside from having incredible students, Uchida Kaicho’s greatest honors are being named the “Son of Taido” by Shukumine in 1979 during a tournament trip to Japan, and receiving the first ever 7th-degree black belt given by Shukumine at our summer camp in 1994.
In addition to his martial arts studies, Uchida Kaicho also holds degrees in both sociology and economics from Dana College and Tokyo International University, respectively. Uchida Kaicho has also been a successful restaurateur, business consultant, real estate developer, and is a proud father and husband of more than 40 years. He has four sons who are all black belts themselves.
Uchida Kaicho’s son Mitsuaki serves as the school’s head instructor and has been participating in Taido himself for 30+ years, and is a 6th-degree black belt. Uchida is very proud that his sons have participated well in Taido competitions over the years, winning multiple tournament events including free sparring, forms, and group events.
However, one event is extra special for the Uchida family, and that is of course “Summer Camp.” The Uchidas relish the opportunity to come together as a family every year, and practice and celebrate with their extended “Taido family”!
MITSUAKI UCHIDA, DIRECTOR & HEAD INSTRUCTOR
RANK: 6TH DEGREE BLACKBELT (ROKU DAN)
Tournament Credentials: Various Gold, Silver, Bronze medals won in Japan, Europe and the United States.
Mitsuaki started Taido in 1980 when he was only three years old. From a young age, Mitsuaki was extremely lucky to have a close relationship with Taido Grandmaster Shukumine, and even mistook him for his grandfather on one visit calling Shukumine "Oji-chan" (Japanese for grandfather). This relationship has always given Mitsuaki a great deal of inspiration for Taido. After many years of training, Mitsuaki began instructing in '93 although he was only a brown belt, he could beat anyone in his own age division in jissen (free spar), even the black belts. In '94 he received his 1st degree black belt, being tested by both Uchida Sensei and Grand Master Shukumine.
Mitsuaki was the assistant head coach for team USA in the '96 International Tournament here in Atlanta. Many of his students won medals but Mitsuaki had to settle for "best point of the tournament", an Ebi Geri for Ippon against his European competitor. Mitsuaki received his 2nd degree black belt at the conclusion of this tournament.
Mitsuaki and Brendan Dumont trained four students (D. Magnuson, R. Grant, T. Neese, A. Korenfeld) for the '97 World Taido Championships in Finland. At the WTC medals are hard to come by and the tenkai doesn't place but, Mitsuaki and Brendan mowed through the competition in Jissen and it looked like they would meet in the finals when Mitsuaki lost a highly controversial match. Mitsuaki ended up in 5th place and Brendan in 4th.
In 1998, Uchida Sensei visits Shukumine in Japan and Mitsuaki makes his first attempt to organize the annual summer camp. Shukumine directs Uchida Sensei to test Mitsuaki for 3rd degree after hearing of his accomplishments. This same year Mitsuaki, Hiyoshi, and Brendan train a team for competition in Japan. At an international competition in Tokyo, Mitsuaki's team wins gold medals both in tenkai and team jissen. The rest of the team does equally well, and it is a wonderful trip.
In 2000 Mitsuaki receives 4th degree black belt and starts training a team for the '01 World Taido Championships in Okinawa. The team does great but Mitsuaki and Brendan cannot escape their bad luck in the WTC. This time Brendan looses a highly controversial match where points are miscounted and Mitsuaki is disqualified in the bronze medal match for knocking out his opponent. They end up, once again, in 5th and 4th place.
The year 2002 marks U.S. Taido's arrival in mixed martial arts (MMA) also known as "no-holds barred fighting". Although Mitsuaki is supposed to fight first, an opportunity arises for Brendan to fight and he takes it. In an auditorium in Augusta, Ga. Brendan becomes the first Taido-ka in the world to compete in MMA. Of course he wins and is the talk of the tournament because of his "unique and unorthodox" techniques. A month later it is Mitsuaki's turn to fight in mid-town Atlanta. Mitsuaki also wins, and as with Brendan much of the talk is about his "unique and orthodox" techniques. Mitsuaki and Brendan would go on to compete in more matches and have only one loss each in MMA.
In 2005 U.S. Taido hosted an International Tournament with over 75 competitors from Japan. It was a huge success and an overwhelming amount of Mitsuaki's students won medals. At the awards banquet that followed, Mitsuaki received 5th degree from his father. One year later during a Japan Fest demonstration, Mitsuaki breaks concrete blocks to close the show, and after the last demo Uchida Sensei tells Mitsuaki, "Son, your time is coming." In 2015, Mitsuaki again leads our school in hosting our amazing 40th anniversary international tournament celebration. With some of Japan's strongest competitors under the age of 18, the U.S. team is dominant in all events.
BRENDAN DUMONT, ASSOCIATE HEAD INSTRUCTOR
RANK: 5TH DEGREE BLACKBELT (RENSHI DAN)
Dumont Sensei began training Taido in 1994 under Mitsunobu Uchida at U.S. Taido. He advanced quickly through the belt system due to his dedication and athleticism. Dumont Sensei has competed domestically and internationally in Finland and numerous times in Japan. His endless energy and positive teaching style has helped to make U.S. Taido one of the best martial arts schools in the Southeast.
Upon achieving his black belt in 1997, he became a volunteer instructor. In 2001 he became a full-time instructor at U.S. Taido. Over the past 24 years he has helped to produce numerous international champions in Taido and has been an outstanding mentor to thousands of students on a daily basis. He is especially talented at inspiring children and teens to reach their highest potential.
Dumont Sensei is accredited by the World Taido Federation as an instructor and can promote students up to 3'd degree black belt. We are blessed to have him instructing at U.S. Taido.
Experience:
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International Competitions In Japan: 1998, 2001, 2018, 2024, & 2025
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International Competitions In Finland: 1997
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International Competitions In The United States: 1996, 2005, 2015
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Competed In Both Amateur MMA & Amateur Kickboxing: 2002-2004
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International Awards:
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4* Place In Jissen (Free-Sparring), World Taido Championships In Finland, 1997
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1s* Place In Tenkai (5-v-1) & Team Jissen (Free-Sparring), International Tournament In Japan, 1998
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1* Place In Jissen (Free-Sparring), 1* Place In Submission Wrestling, & 2nd Place In Hokei (Forms), International Tournament In Atlanta, 2005
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1S Place In Dantai Jissen (Team Free-Sparring), International Tournament In Atlanta, 2005
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1s Place In Hokei (Forms), & 2nd Place In Jissen (Free-Sparring), International Tournament In Japan, 2025