Alumni Celebrate 25 Years of
Teaching 'Peaceful Warrior Mindset' to Campus Community

June 6, 2005

Over the last 25 years, thousands of students and hundreds of faculty and staff have learned the practice of Aoinagi Karate-do from Neville Billimoria, Paul Schwartz and Barbara Sedgwick-Billimoria. The three UCSD alumni have been practicing and teaching the traditional martial arts group on campus since 1981.

Neville founded the group, with Schwartz and Sedgwick-Billimoria serving as members of the first class. All three are still actively teaching at UCSD.

Aoinagi UCSD was initially offered as a club but later was converted into a recreational class and is now one of the longest-running groups on campus. The group offers classes for both children and adults in applying the peaceful warrior mindset and way of being into ones daily life. Today, UCSD alum from the organization are all over the world with other Aoinagi Karate schools operating in Toronto and Philadelphia by former UCSD students that are now professors in these cities.

Neville was Valedictorian and Student of the Year, Muir College 1982, chairperson of the Muir College Council, and a Muir House Advisor. He has been teaching Yoga, Stress Management, and Wellness classes at UCSD over the last 25 years.

"In the early 80's, Barb and I had the opportunity to develop our critical thinking skills and learn from UCSD Communications professor Herb Schiller," said Neville. "Twenty years later, I had the privilege of teaching his grandson. That's coming full circle."

Over the last 25 years, members of Aoinagi Karate from UCSD have participated and won national and international competitions, led groups on international adventures, and participated in local community service efforts including food drives and beach clean ups to give back to the community.

"UCSD is part of my very being. I am there four days a week and it is an honor and privilege to give back to people and the institution that had such a profound impact on me as a person" said Neville.