| United States Aikido Federation | 7601
E. Gray Road, Suite C Scottsdale, AZ 85260 480.367.0222 |
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Akira Tohei, 8th dgree black belt, was
the highest ranking Aikido instructor in America, as well as, the
technical director of the United States Aikido Federation. Mr. Tohei
began his practice of Aikido in 1946 under the direct instruction
of Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba.In 1963, Tohei was asked by the Aikido founder to accompany his son on a tour of Aikido dojo (schools) throughout the United States. When the three-month journey ended in Hawaii, the son Kisshomaru Ueshiba, returned to Tokyo, and Tohei was asked to stay and teach Aikido throughout the Hawaiian Islands for nine months. in 1964, he returned to Japan and joined the teaching staff at Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo). |
| For the next eight years Tohei, in addition
to his teaching at the headquarters, was also an instructor at Asia
University, Akita Economics University, Keio University, Nihon Women's
University, the Ground Self-Defense Forces, and the Naval Self-Defense
Forces. |
 In
1966, Aikdo Headquarters awarded Mr. Tohei the title of Shihan,
"Master Instructor". In 1972, Aikido Headquarters dispatched
Mr. Tohei to America specifically to become the chief instructor
of the Midwest Region of the United States Aikido Federation, headquartered
in Chicago, Illinois. Tohei was promoted to 8th degree black belt
in 1989, and now has over 50 dojo throughout the United States.
Tohei Sensei taught Aikido classes daily up until his death in July
of 1999 just before his 70th birthday. |