Lewallen Sensei is a traditionalist with an open mind.  He believes in hard work that makes you stronger, embraces obstacles that harden your resolve, and discourages learning the easy way.
He believes that Aikido should be effective- not a dance that just misguides you into thinking you can defend yourself in a crisis, but a martial art proven on the battlefield.  At the same time however, he stresses the importance of etiquette, tradition, and respect. 
    He teaches the importance of understanding the roots of Aikido and that as a Japanese martial art it needs to be learned and experienced while being immersed in the Japanese culture. He shows the importance of understanding the nuances of the language and how they influence one's understanding of Aikido.  With that in mind, a lot of his class is taught in Japanese because many ideas just don't translate well enough into English. Using his rare knowledge of Japanese language and culture, Lewallen Sensei re-creates for his students an authentic Japanese learning  experience. Why have someone tell you what riding a motorcycle is like when you could just get on it and ride it yourself? There is no way to describe the air hitting your face or the vibration of the handle bars. 
    Studying at Lewallen Sensei's dojo, you can feel the energy he and his students create.  Entering the Aikido Shoubu Dojo, you are able to leave your everyday experience behind and learn something foreign and wonderful that will strengthen your spirit.