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 Chief Instructor T.S. Okuyama
has studied Aikido for more than thirty years under a number of renowned
Aikido teachers in both the United States and Japan in the direct lineage of
the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba O-Sensei. Okuyama Sensei, a native of Japan, began his Aikido training
in the United States in 1972 under the late A. Tohei Shihan, 8th Dan, from
Hombu dojo (Aikido headquarters). He trained there while earning a degree in engineering
and returned to Japan in 1976, where he has studied at Hombu Dojo in Tokyo and Gessoji Temple with H. Tada Shihan, 8th Dan. In 1979, he returned to the United States, and in 1981
he met and began training under T.K. Chiba Shihan, 8th Dan, in San Diego. He moved
back to Japan in 1983 and again trained under H. Tada Shihan at Gessoji Temple.
In 1985 he moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and founded Great Lakes Aikikai in 1988.
He has also taught Aikido for the sports club program at the University of Michigan. On January 12 2003, At Kagamibiraki
ceremony at Hombu Dojo, he received 6th Dan from the current Doshu.
He has also studied Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido under T.K. Chiba
Shihan and T. Mitsuzuka Shihan, 8th Dan, in Tokyo for over 20 years
and holds 6th Dan and Shihan title. Okuyama Sensei relocated to Albuquerque in September of 2001.
In addition to Aikido and weapons
system, Okuyama Sensei teaches separate Iaido classes for students who just
want to study Japanese sword. |
