Donation protected
On Thursday, May 17th John David (JD) Wright departed from our world. For those of you who did not know JD Wright, please let me introduce you. He wasn’t like the rest of us. He was completely original. JD was the brightest light and when he walked into the room you noticed. He lived in the moment with such passion. He was intelligent, gifted in his physical abilities and one of the funniest/goofiest people that I knew.
JD was full of love, wonder and adventure.

JD lived a life of freedom, he did not care about possessions - only what was necessary. He valued experiences and connections way beyond anything material. He cared so much for people, even people he didn’t know. He would give you his last dollar if you needed it, and many times he only had a dollar to his name. If he could help he would. He always had what he needed and was the ultimate optimist. JD treasured his friends and his family and was such a kind and sensitive soul. He was always active and from a very young age where you could find him 30ft up a tree or racing around on his bike. This since of excitement never left him. Through his adventures in life, JD loved to work on and race his motorcycles, and anything with bacon.
He drove cross country with no specific plans just searching for the next chapter of his journey. He landed in California where this easygoing lifestyle was a perfect fit for his personality with plenty of windy roads for him to race his bike. It was here where he was introduced to Hayward Aikido and started is training under Sandoval Sensei. JD was Sandoval Sensi’s uchideshi (内弟子 Full-time student/apprentice) and kenshusei 研修生, (intensive training student). He was so talented and such a presence in Aikido world. JD traveled with Sensei all around the country and to the U.K. demonstrating this Art that he was so deeply dedicated to.
In JD’s Honor, we have created this memorial fund where 100% of the monies raised will be gifted to Aikido Hayward under the care of Sandoval Sensei. It is our wish that JD’s legacy live on at Aikido Hayward and in the Aikido world.

JD was full of love, wonder and adventure.

JD lived a life of freedom, he did not care about possessions - only what was necessary. He valued experiences and connections way beyond anything material. He cared so much for people, even people he didn’t know. He would give you his last dollar if you needed it, and many times he only had a dollar to his name. If he could help he would. He always had what he needed and was the ultimate optimist. JD treasured his friends and his family and was such a kind and sensitive soul. He was always active and from a very young age where you could find him 30ft up a tree or racing around on his bike. This since of excitement never left him. Through his adventures in life, JD loved to work on and race his motorcycles, and anything with bacon.
He drove cross country with no specific plans just searching for the next chapter of his journey. He landed in California where this easygoing lifestyle was a perfect fit for his personality with plenty of windy roads for him to race his bike. It was here where he was introduced to Hayward Aikido and started is training under Sandoval Sensei. JD was Sandoval Sensi’s uchideshi (内弟子 Full-time student/apprentice) and kenshusei 研修生, (intensive training student). He was so talented and such a presence in Aikido world. JD traveled with Sensei all around the country and to the U.K. demonstrating this Art that he was so deeply dedicated to.
In JD’s Honor, we have created this memorial fund where 100% of the monies raised will be gifted to Aikido Hayward under the care of Sandoval Sensei. It is our wish that JD’s legacy live on at Aikido Hayward and in the Aikido world.
Organizer
Katherine Wright
Organizer
Troy, NY