Aikido was
founded by Morihei Ueshiba, whom we refer to as O Sensei ("Great Teacher"). O
Sensei lived from Dec 14, 1883, to April 26, 1969. His picture is on the home
page of this site. More information can be
found, eg., at the aikido FAQ web
site. We are a member Dojo of Aikido Schools of Ueshiba (ASU),
founded by Mitsugi
Saotome, Shihan (8th Dan) [picture at left]. Saotome
Sensei, who resides at the Aiki Shrine Dojo near Myakka City, FL and is
Chief Instructor of Shobukan Dojo Washington DC, was
a student of Aikido's founder for 20 years, during 15 of which he was uchi deshi
(a live-in student).
The second shihan of our organization is Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei (7th Dan) [picture
at right], Chief Instructor of Boulder Aikikai; he is a long-time student of Saotome Sensei,
having started training in Japan in 1968 and moving to Florida to be with
Saotome Sensei in 1978. He is also CEO of BuJin Design, a premier martial
arts manufacturing and company.
Both of our shihan
travel extensively giving seminars around the world. ASU is an
internationally recognized Aikido organization; your ranks will be recognized by
the World Aikido Headquarters
at Tokyo, Japan.
If you wish to receive rank through the offices of our chief instructor, you need to be a member of ASU in good standing. Prakash Sensei is authorized to test for promotions through 1st kyu. Certificates signed by Saotome Sensei and Prakash Sensei arrive a few weeks after the test has been successfully completed and are handed out in a formal ceremony during the next testing period.
For black-belt ranking students are recommended by Prakash Sensei and tests will be done by our Shihan (or by their designees). Information on the tests is in the ASU Training Handbook is available for download on the Aikido main page.
Students who continue to study with a different organizational affiliation are always welcome visit Redlands Aikikai while ranking at their home dojo.
Experienced students joining ASU will be accepted at their current rank,
upon formally withdrawing from their previous organization. Students under age
15 will be given local rankings from this dojo; after this age they may apply
for membership to ASU and will be inducted at a rank (up to and
including 3rd kyu) determined by Prakash Sensei.