Richard W. Babin, BS, M.D., is a practicing surgeon who served two years active duty in the USAF as chief of head and neck surgery at Maxwell Field during the Vietnam conflict. His interest in the martial arts began with several years of judo in the 1960s in San Francisco. Upon entering private practice he began studying yang-style taiji, which he still pursues. He has practiced muso shinden ryu iaido for eight years and has been awarded the rank of Sandan by the All-U.S. Kendo Federation.