Youth Program Instructors
The instructors for the Youth Program are Leigh-Anne Plattner, Steve Plattner, and Dick McKeever. In
addition, several assistant instructors from the adult classes are actively involved in the Youth Program.
Leigh-Anne Plattner
Leigh-Anne has been training in Aikido since 1995. Leigh-Anne holds the rank of 3rd Dan (black belt).
She has trained under several instructors, including:
Bruce Stiles Sensei at University of Guelph Aikido Dojo in Ontario, Canada
Yoseuf Mehter Sensei at Aikido of Central New York in Syracuse
Charlie McGinnis Sensei and Ariff Mehter Sensei at Aikido of Cincinnati.
Leigh-Anne holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Developmental Biology and is currently a business consultant and market researcher for Convergys.
Steve Plattner
Steve Plattner began his martial arts training in 1981. Steve currently holds the rank of 3rd Dan (black belt)
in Tae Kwon Do and the rank of 2nd Dan in Aikido. Steve's martial arts history includes:
Master Sung Tae Kim, Kim's Koryo Martial Arts in Erlanger, KY (Tae Kwon Do)
Todd Jones Sensei, University of Miami, FL Tae Kwon Do (Tae Kwon Do and Aikido)
Charlie McGinnis Sensei and Ariff Mehter Sensei, Aikido of Cincinnati (Aikido)
Steve is the father of two, daughter and son.
Dick McKeever
Dick McKeever is an instructor for the youth/children’s aikido program and coordinator of the Iaido program at Aikido of Cincinnati (AoC). A high school and collegiate wrestler, he began his martial arts study of judo in 1961 while in the U.S. Air Force. On finishing his Air Force service in 1964, Dick continued his study of judo in Buffalo, N.Y. with Dr. Sachio Ashida, 8th Dan and former Olympic Judo Coach. He is 2nd Dan in Kodokan Judo, competed locally and nationally and was a Class C National Referee. Dick, 1st Dan aikido, began his study of aikido at AoC in 1998 under Dr. Ariff Mehter, 6th Dan, Shihan and Charlie McGinnis, 6th Dan, Shidoin. In addition to judo and aikido, Dick began practicing Muso Jikidan Eishin Ryu Iaijutsu (MJER) at Aikido of Cincinnati in 2004 under Masayuki Shimabukuro, 8th Dan, Hanshi, Carl Long, 6th Dan, Renshi and Dr. Jerry Wellbrock, 2nd Dan JKI. His prior instruction experience includes judo and junior wrestling in Western New York.
Dick is Principal of a Quality Systems consultancy, has a B.S. in Engineering, an MBA, and is a Professional Engineer and Fellow of the American Society for Quality. He served on the faculty of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Miami University, Oxford, OH from 1999 to 2008. Dick and his wife Dolores have two children living out of town and 4 grandchildren.