Honolulu, Hawaii – Oahu
Yoshio Kuroiwa (黒岩洋志雄) at the Edogawa Aikido Renmei in 2005 Yoshio Kuroiwa was born in Tokyo Japan in Showa year 7 (1932). In Showa year 21 (1946) he joined the Nippon Kento Club (日本拳闘倶楽部) founded by the father of boxing in Japan, Yujiro Watanabe (渡辺勇次郎), with the intention of becoming a professional boxer. Forced to give up his dreams of a boxing career due to … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Yoshio Kuroiwa – Part 2
The boxer – Yoshio Kuriowa (黒岩洋志雄), 1932-2010 Yoshio Kuroiwa Sensei was one of the most original and innovative students at the post-war Aikikai Hombu Dojo, often integrating movements from his extensive knowledge of boxing into his Aikido. One of the strongest practitioners at the post-war Aikikai Hombu Dojo, his reputation led to an attempt by Gozo Shioda to recruit him into the Yoshinkan. Although he … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Yoshio Kuroiwa – Part 1
Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei in 1961, directly before leaving for Hawaii Hiroshi Kato Sensei by the door next to Kisaburo Osawa Sensei Hiroshi Kato was born in Tokyo on March 24th 1935, and entered Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1954 at the age of 18. He was one of the early post-war Aikido students at Aikikai Hombu Dojo, but chose to work as a printer rather … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Kato – Part 2
Hiroshi Kato Sensei (1935-2012) Hiroshi Kato was born in Tokyo on March 24th 1935, and entered Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1954 at the age of 18. In 1975 he formed an informal practice group at the Suginami Ward Koenji Gymnasium near his home, and in April 1987 he established the Suginami Aikikai (杉並合気会) dojo in the Suginami Ward of Tokyo, Japan as a branch dojo of the … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Shihan Hiroshi Kato – Part 1
Tsuneo Ando in Gekkan Hiden Magazine Tsuneo Ando (安藤毎夫) started Aikido as a university student with the Aikikai’s Taisuke Kudo Sensei. After a brief experience with the Yoshinkan he trained under Sadao Takaoka Sensei in Wakayama, birthplace of Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba. A change in his employment situation and a call to his university Sempai Tsutomu Chida (former Dojo-cho at Yoshinkan Hombu Dojo) led him … Continue reading Talking to Tsuneo Ando Part 2 – Aikido and World Peace