Takeda Shihan began his study of aikido in 1960 at Aikido Hombu Dojo in Tokyo as a student of the late Yamaguchi Shihan, a direct student of O-Sensei, the founder of Aikido. He was soon recognised as one of Yamaguchi Sensei’s most gifted students and was urged by his teacher to start his own dojo in the late 1960’s.

Today Takeda Shihan is regarded as one of the greatest living masters of Aikido. He is known for his uniquely flowing and physically liberating aikido practice and his top students reflect his unusual approach. Takeda Sensei’s style is incredibly beautiful, dynamic and powerful, yet overwhelmingly soft and effortless. This unique combination of qualities has attracted and inspired students all over the world.

Our dojo maintains an active connection to the other AKI dojos in North America and with Takeda Shihan’s dojos in Japan. Many of our students have the opportunity to make trips to train with Takeda Shihan. We also receive visits each year from Takeda Shihan or his senior students.

Takeda Shihan is currently the director of Aikido Kenkyukai International and of the Shonan Aikido Renmei in Kamakura, Japan, where he teaches. He is also a member of the Aikikai Board of Directors at Honbu Dojo in Tokyo.

Photo: Copyright AKI (Aikido Kenkyukai International)

The human spirit
has the wondrous capacity
to extend a hundred million light years
beyond the limits of space…

Let us try to purify our minds in practice.
If you can focus clearly
only for an instant,
in that moment you will know yourself
with the mind of the Universe.

~ Takeda Yoshinobu Shihan

(Parts of this bio were taken from Berin Sensei’s web site.)