Bill Hague

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

My name is Bill Hague. I was born and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts. At 13, I began studying Judo at the local YMCA as an early anti-bullying solution. My uncle was one of the instructors. After a few years the Y discontinued the judo program and I joined a new Kenpo karate school that had just opened. I thoroughly enjoyed both martial arts and continued training until I enlisted in the Marine Corps. After I made Sergeant, I participated in our base intramural boxing program. I learned a great deal during that time, including that I don’t enjoy getting punched in the head repeatedly. I discontinued competitive boxing after my coach broke my nose during a “light contact” sparring session.

After 25 years in the Marine Corps, during which I achieved the rank of LtCol., we retired to Deltona, Florida, in 2001. My wife Donna and I have been married for 51 years. We started Hague Consulting in 2002, using our military experience to help other small businesses enter the defense contracting world.

A few years after we began Hague Consulting, I signed up with Mushin Aikido Dojo as a beginning student. I was looking for a martial art to help me stay physically active and spotted an advertisement for a new Aikido class just starting up. Five minutes on the mat and I knew I would be doing Aikido for the rest of my life. In 2011, I earned my shodan, or 1st degree black belt. Shortly thereafter, my original teachers moved out of state, leaving Mushin Dojo to me and my training partner Troy Cunningham to continue operating. In January 2025, I achieved my godan, or 5th degree black belt. In May of that year, Troy passed away, leaving me heartbroken and the last remaining active member of our original teaching staff. I now operate Mushin Dojo under my Hague Consulting corporate umbrella.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

Deltona is a growing community, already large enough to need two public high schools. We are close enough to Orlando and Daytona Beach that recreational activities are within a 45-minute drive in any direction. It is also far enough away from the coast that we are fairly well protected from major storms.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

I have always been involved in the martial arts. I found Aikido later in life and it quickly became one of my passions. I knew I would be a practitioner forever, but I never dreamed I would become a teacher as well. Inheriting dojo leadership by default was depressing at first, as I enjoyed the friendship I had with both my teachers. Taking on the mantle of chief instructor required me to think deeply about how I perform techniques, rather than just doing them. Traditionally, Aikido sensei would simply demonstrate a technique and then the students would have to figure out the rest on their own. Teachers didn’t talk it through very much. That may work well in Japan, but Americans like to have things explained to them. Some techniques are potentially dangerous if performed incorrectly, so I take however much time is necessary to explain the biomechanics of each movement.

As a teacher, I learned very quickly that no two people are alike. We all come in different sizes, shapes and physical conditions. There may be a perfect human form we were all intended to have, but few of us are actually blessed with that. Students with physical or learning disabilities should be taught to perform our Aikido techniques in the most effective way they can given their limitations. In that regard, I grade each student on their mastery of a technique performed in the way that makes sense for them as an individual. As long as a student desires to be better tomorrow than they were yesterday, I will do whatever I can to help them find their way. As I develop a new generation of instructors, that is the ideal I hope to instill in all of them.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

Do something you are passionate about. Know your field or hire someone you trust who does. Even if you are profitable, if you don’t look forward to a new day at work, you will be miserable. Passion is paramount.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

I have students that drive a considerable distance to attend my classes. I knew there were schools much closer to them and given the rising cost of fuel I was compelled to ask why. I will paraphrase their answer. They said it was simple. My classes are fun and they always leave feeling better than when they arrived. I am humbled to have amazing students.

Where do you see your company in the future?

We are considering registering with the Step Up For Students program. That is a formal program designed to help homeschooled students complete their required Physical Education credits. As I step back from active military consulting, I will have more free time available to me. Step Up For Students is a compelling new direction.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

The rising popularity of MMA has caused a great many people to view traditional martial arts as no longer relevant in today’s society. I believe that the principles learned in classical martial arts (respect for others, respect for self, discipline, physical fitness and ethical conduct) will always be relevant. The ability to defend oneself and others is a parallel track in martial arts, not the primary goal. Self-defense and fighting are also completely different activities. No one should ever confuse them. Too many people already do.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

I never thought of Mushin Dojo as a business until COVID made interpersonal training impossible. A great many martial arts facilities across the country lost their leases as students who were prohibited from training stopped paying their membership dues. I was fortunate in that I had already built a small dojo in my backyard, mostly for personal training. It was an easy transition to a home-based dojo environment. Still, COVID reduced our membership dramatically. It’s been a long, slow journey back to a healthy student base. If we keep growing, I may have to return to a commercial location. That has financial implications I will need to address.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

My father was a country music fan when country really meant Western. Marty Robbins was our family favorite with his gunfighter ballads. Jim Thorpe, Joe Frazier and then Bruce Lee, of course, were my favorite athletes. I know I am older than most, but if you’ve never heard of Jim Thorpe, shame on you. Look him up.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

My personal teacher is Michael Moreno Shihan. I wouldn’t be where I am today without his instruction, guidance and support. To all my Aikido and Marine Corps friends: peace, love and harmony to you all!

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

Mushin-dojo.com is our website. My personal cell is (407) 435-9924. Email is aikido101@me.com. Always happy to make a new friend.