Philippe Voarino is an aikido teacher. He received (directly from Morihiro Saito) the grade of 6th dan in Iwama Ryu Aikido and 5th dan Iwama Ryu aiki-ken and aiki-jo.
Voarino began studying aikido under Nobuyoshi Tamura in 1977.
He is one of several French Aikido teachers of international reputation, having worked within and beyond France to promote and develop Aikido. This includes his involvement as a founder of Takemusu Aiki Intercontinental, and his work in other European countries. Like many other French teachers, he has been an influence on British Aikido, particularly in Wales and the West country, where he has often been invited to teach courses and seminars by the National Aikido Federation and clubs such as Fudoshin Aikido Cardiff.
(13 April 1924-24 January 1996). 8th dan Aikikai. B. Fukuoka Prefecture. Aikikai Shihan. Began training at AIKIKAI HOMBU DOJO c. 1951 and quickly rose through the ranks. Dispatched to Burma in 1958 where he remained for several years. Presently, one of the senior instructors at the AIKIKAI HOMBU DOJO where he teaches Monday evening classes. Has traveled abroad on numerous occasions, especially to France where he has a large following.
(b. 29 October 1956). 5th dan Yoshinkan Aikido. B. Ehime Prefecture. Yoshinkan Aikido Kyoshi. Began training in 1975 at Tokushima University in Tokushima Prefecture in Shikoku under Taisuke Kudo. Accompanied Gozo SHIODA to the U. S. in June 1987 visiting Las Vegas, Nevada and later the same year in September to Detroit, Michigan.
Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu (大東流合気柔術), originally called Daito-ryū jujutsu (大東流柔術), is a Japanese martial art that first became widely known in the early 20th century under the headmastership of Sokaku Takeda (武田 惣角 Takeda Sōkaku). Takeda had extensive training in several martial arts (including Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu and sumo) and referred to the style he taught as Daito-ryū. Although the ryū's traditions claim to extend back centuries in Japanese history there are no known extant records regarding the ryū before Sokaku Takeda. Whether he is regarded as the restorer or founder of the art, the known history of Daito-ryū begins with Sokaku Takeda. Perhaps the most famous student of Sokaku Takeda was Morihei Ueshiba (植芝 盛平 Ueshiba Morihei), founder of aikido.
(10 October 1859-25 April 1943). B. at 63 Oikeda Oaza, Hirosemura, Kawanuma-gun, Aizu near Aizubange-cho, in present-day Fukushima Prefecture as the second son of Sokichi Takeda. Disseminator of DAITO-RYU AIKIJUJUTSU in 20th-century Japan. Married twice, his first wife, Kon, bore two children, the eldest named Munekiyo. His second marriage to Sue produced Takemune, Tae, Tokimune (present headmaster of Daito-ryu), Eiko, Munemitsu, Shizuka and Muneyoshi. Takeda traveled extensively throughout Japan giving seminars mainly to well-to-do persons, police and military officers. He left behind extensive written records in the form of EIMEIROKU and SHAREIKOKU documents which give a good idea of the extent of his teaching activities. Takeda's form of jujutsu is the most successful of surviving Japanese schools and his technical influence on AIKI BUDO and, hence, modern aikido is great. He is reputed to have taught some 30,000 students during his long career. Takeda first taught Morihei UESHIBA in ENGARU, Hokkaido in 1915.
(b. 10 February 1925). B. Yubari City, Hokkaido. First taught by Kodo HORIKAWA in 1963 in Kitami, Hokkaido. Received 7th dan from Horikawa in 1974. Okamoto was promoted to shihan by Horikawa in 1978. He separated from the KODOKAI to found Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu ROPPOKAI after moving to Tokyo in 1977. Okamoto's art is characterized by rapidly executed aiki techniques with a minimum of body movement on the part of the defender. The technical repertoire of the Roppokai represents a departure from the traditional Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu techniques of Sokaku TAKEDA. Okamoto is the author of two books (see bibl. ) and two videotapes on Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu and travels regularly to Denmark and Italy to conduct seminars.
(Mar 1945). Soke Kyoju Dairi, May 1988. Contractor. First learned DAITO-RYU AIKIJUJUTSU from Tsunejiro Hosono in 1957 at the Shineikan Dojo in Koiwa, Tokyo. Tokimune TAKEDA visited this dojo on several occasions and first taught Kondo in 1960. After the death of Hosono, Kondo learned from Kotaro YOSHIDA for a brief period starting in 1963 in Hitachi. The latter was paralyzed on his left side and taught while watching or by showing techniques on his right side. After Yoshida's death, Kondo became a student of Tokimune Takeda and visited ABASHIRI on numerous occasions. Takeda also taught at Kondo's dojo on several trips to Tokyo. Kondo founded a Daito-ryu club at Chiba Kogyo University in April 1964 which became the present aikido club after his graduation. He is the only person to have received the KYOJU DAIRI certification from Tokimune TAKEDA (1974). Kondo established the Shimbukan Dojo in Tokyo in October 1982. He was awarded the MENKYO KAIDEN by Tokimune in May 1988 receiving at the same time a total of six Daito-ryu scrolls. Kondo participated in the AIKI NEWS FRIENDSHIP DEMONSTRATION III in 1987 and Aiki Expo 2002 in Las Vegas, USA. He has made frequent trips abroad to conduct demonstrations and seminars and established a Daito-ryu study group in Baltimore, Maryland in 1998. Kondo is an authority on swordsman and calligrapher Tesshu Yamaoka and owns a large collection of original calligraphy. He published a bilingual technical manual covering the 30 techniques of the basic ikkajo series in 2000.
Hapkido (also spelled hap ki do or hapki-do) is a dynamic and somewhat eclectic Korean martial art. In the Korean language, hap means "harmony", "coordinated", or "joining"; ki describes internal energy, spirit, strength, or power; and do means "way" or "art". Thus, hapkido, which shares the same Chinese characters with aikido (合気道), translates literally to "joining-energy-way", but it is most often rendered as "the way of coordinating energy" or "the way of coordinated power."
A historical link to Daito-ryu aikijujutsu is generally acknowledged, though the exact nature of which is clouded by the historical animosity between the Korean and Japanese peoples and the confusion following the end of the Second World War.
Choi Yong Sul (1904 - 1986), alternative spelling Choi Yong Sool, was the founder of the martial art hapkido. He was born in the province Chungcheongbuk-do of today's South Korea and was taken to Japan, during the Japanese occupation of the country, when he was eight years old. It is said that while in Japan Choi became a student of Takeda Sokaku and studied a form of jujutsu known as Daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu.
He returned to Korea at the end of the second World War and in 1948 began teaching his art at a brewery owned by the father of his first student Suh Bok Sub. He first called his art Yu Sul (유술) or Yawara (柔) later changing it to Yu Kwon Sul (유권술(柔拳術)) and Hap Ki Yu Kwon Sul (합기유권술(合氣柔拳術)) and eventually hapkido.[1]
Choi Yong Sul is honored with the title doju (도주(道主)), which can be translated as "Keeper of the way".
It is claimed that the arts of Hapkido, modern Hwarangdo, Kuk Sool Won, as well as lesser known arts such as Han Pul all owe a debt to the teachings of Master Choi.[2]
(b. 4 October 1950). 7th dan Yoshinkan Aikido. B. Kanagawa Prefecture. Yoshinkan Aikido Shihan. Began training in 1969 at the Yoshinkan Aikido Yoyogi Dojo. Traveled to New Zealand in 1974 and then in 1979 accompanied Gozo SHIODA to the U. K. and France. In 1989, he conducted a joint seminar in England for practitioners from the U. K. , France and West Germany.
(14 February 1929-28 August 1998). 8th dan Aikikai. B. Osaka. Began training in early 1950s in Osaka. Operated a dojo in Osaka for many years. Maintained cordial ties with Kenji TOMIKI. Frequently traveled to Europe, notably France, Italy, and Germany, during the summer months to conduct seminars.
(b. 1948). 7th dan Yoshinkan Aikido. Professional aikido instructor. Began training at the YOSHINKAN AIKIDO Hombu Dojo in 1965. Trained as an UCHIDESHI in the U. S. under Takashi KUSHIDA. President and chief instructor of the Doshinkan Dojo in Philadelphia. Supervises aikido instructors on East Coast and conducts workshops.
Morihei Ueshiba 植芝盛平 (1883-12-14 – 1969-04-26) was a famous martial artist and founder of aikido. He is often referred to as Kaiso 開祖 (founder) or Ōsensei 翁先生 (Great Teacher) by some aikidoka.
Miyako Fujitani, 6th Dan by the Tokio Aikikai and director of the Aikido tenshin Dojo in Osaka married Steven Seagal in 1975 when Seagal was in his twenties. Her father owned an aikido dojo in Osaka.
(b. 1937). 8th dan Aikikai. B. Ibaragi Prefecture. Civil servant, Aikikai Shihan. An UCHIDESHI in IWAMA Dojo while middle school student. Known for his powerful technique.
(b. 10 September 1935). 8th dan Yoshinkan Aikido. Graduate of Chuo University. Entered YOSHINKAN AIKIDO dojo in 1955 together with Takashi KUSHIDA. Became a full-time aikido instructor of policewomen at Metropolitan Police School in December 1970. Taught police classes until his retirement when he assumed the position of Dojo-cho lot Yoshinkan Aikido Hombu Dojo in Ochiai, Tokyo. Presently the Kancho-cho of the headquarters dojo.
(b. 21 April 1937). 8th dan Aikikai. B. Shinkyo, Manchuria. Aikikai Shihan. Entered Takushoku University in 1956. After graduation from university, Fujita was employed by the Aikikai in the late 1950s and rose to become head of the office. Fujita is one of the major-decision makers at the Aikikai and has traveled extensively abroad. Serves as the Technical Director of the National Cultural Aikido Bond of the Netherlands. Known for his powerful technique.
Bansen Tanaka (b. 21 march 1912, Osaka, d. dec. 1988) was an aikido master and one of the pre-war student of aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba[1].
Tanaka was a judo practitioner when he met Ueshiba in 1936. Eager to learn about aikido, he set up a dojo in Osaka for Noriaki (Yoichiro) Inoue, early student and nephew of Ueshiba. He followed Inoue and Ueshiba's teachings until 1939 when he was drafted to go to war. His proficiency in aikido secured him a position as a bodyguard in the army. He returned to Osaka a year after and resumed the practice of aikido.
Ueshiba contacted Tanaka in 1951 and suggested him to build his own dojo in Osaka. He accompanied Ueshiba to Iwama during the construction of the future Osaka Aikikai Dojo. After the inauguration (early 1952), Ueshiba spent several weeks there teaching aikido [2].
Tanaka remained the chief instructor of the Osaka Aikikai Dojo until his death. He was 9th dan Aikikai. Yukio Kawahara, technical director of the Canadian Aikido Federation, Higuchi Takanari, chief instructor of the Kyoto Aikikai Dojo, Seiji Tomita, founder of the Ban Sen Juku school in Belgium and Ishu Ishiyama, chief instructor of the Vancouver West Aikikai Dojo figure among his students.
(b. 20 March 1922). 9th dan Yoshinkan Aikido. B. Nagasaki Prefecture. First taught by DOSHU Kisshomaru UESHIBA at the AIKIKAI HOMBU DOJO in 1951. Presently serves as the shihan of Takushoku University and Kyoto Industry University. Also responsible for the aikido clubs of Numazu Industry High School, Numazu Nishi High School, U. S. Yokosuka Base, Yokohama YMCA, Yokohama City Office, Yokohama Aikidokai, and the following companies: Nippon Kokan, Hitachi, YMCA and Ricoh.
