Born in Northern Arkansas, Mr. Nichols moved to Southern Missouri, settling in a small town and graduating from high school in a class of 22. Enrolling in a prestigious engineering school, he found his real passion was for music. He was accepted at the University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music, graduating 3 years later.

Since 1969, Mr. Nichols had been playing professionally and teaching privately, building a successful career in musical performance. However, being dissatisfied with the direction of his career, he took 3 years off to study intensively with the legendary bass trombonist Edward Kleinhammer of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Returning to Kansas City, Mr. Nichols continued playing and teaching professionally until an automobile accident ended his career in music. While recovering in California, Mr. Nichols began training and eventually teaching a severe but beautiful style of the Japanese martial art, Aikido. After 2 years, he had built a successful dojo but was suffering from a back injury. Not wanting to end a second career, he sought advice from leading sports doctors. Following their advice but seeing no long-term success, Mr. Nichols immersed himself in many modalities, eventually creating a program that addressed his back pain through the study of movement.
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