2024 KC Bridge Seminar
Join us for the 2024 Kansas City Bridge Seminar at our new location!
This seminar will take place at our new dojo in Olathe, Kansas. The seminar will feature Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan from the Boulder Aikikai, Boulder Colorado USA and Ryoichi Kinoshita Shihan from the Suisenkan Dojo in Osaka, Japan. Ikeda Shihan is world famous and travels extensively conducting Aikido seminars within the USA and Europe as well as other parts of the world. Kinoshita Shihan served on the instructional staff at Amenotakemusu Juku Aikido Dojo under Seiseki Abe Sensei for three decades and is the chief instructor at the Suisenkan Dojo in Osaka. The seminar will also feature Larry Graham Shihan (USAF) and Ken Baker Hanshi (Yoseikan). A detailed schedule is below. There will be a dinner celebration at Aikijuku Dojo at 7:30pm on Saturday July 13th.
Aikijuku Dojo
This seminar will be held at our new dojo in Olathe, Kansas. Come enjoy all of the amenities our new dojo has to offer. Filled with natural light and plenty of space to move, our new location is a peaceful and tranquil area for you to train. Come join us!
Instructors
Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan is founder and chief instructor of Boulder Aikikai. He began his study of aikido in 1968 at the Aikido club of Kokugakuin University in Tokyo, of which Saotome Sensei was the chief instructor. Upon graduation, he trained regularly at Honbu Dojo and at Saotome Sensei’s Remeijuki Dojo. In 1978 he followed Saotome Sensei to the U.S. and in 1980 established Boulder Aikikai. He is a frequent guest instructor at Aikido seminars in the U.S. and abroad.
Larry Graham Shihan is founder and chief instructor of Kansas City Aikido School. He began practicing Aikido in 1981. His current rank is Rokudan (6th Dan) and shidoin in the United States Aikido Federation. Graham Sensei continues to share the teachings of Akira Tohei Shihan.
Ryoichi Kinoshita Shihan began Aikido training under Abe Seiseki Shihan in 1974. At age 24, he became a live-in student of Abe Shihan. From 1996 to present day, he has been director and head instructor of Suisenkan Aikido Dojo in Suita, Japan. He instructs full-time in Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. As a longtime student of Abe Sensei, calligraphy teacher of Osensei, Kinoshita Sensei studied calligraphy as well as Aikido with Abe Sensei.
Jim Alvarez Sensei (ASU 6th Dan through the Aikikai Hombu Dojo) is the founder and chief instructor of Aikido of Livermore – Shinrei Dojo. He began his martial arts training in 1973 in Chinese Kung Fu and in 1978 began his study of Aikido. He studied under numerous Aikido Shihan until he met Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan and Mitsugi Saotome Shihan. He has trained exclusively with both Ikeda Shihan and Saotome Shihan since 1990. He is one of Saotome Shihan’s senior students in the USA. In 1992 he began his study of traditional Japanese sword under Toshishiro Obata sensei and is his most senior student in Northern California.
Ken Baker Hanshi started his training in 1970 in the United States Marine Corps. He enrolled in a jujitsu class taught by Albert C. Church, Jr. After his tour in the service he returned home and enrolled in tae kwon do classes as well as an aikido class taught by Dr. Andrew Williamson. Over the years he had the opportunity and pleasure to train with Robert L. Taylor in tae kwon do, with Ron Rogers, Hanshi in karate, judo and jujutsu, with Leo D. Wilson, Kancho in Jujutsu and Eagle Claw Kung Fu, with Bill Marron, Hanshi, Dan Kennedy, Hanshi, and Larry Williams, Hanshi in Okinawan Kenpo, Okinawan Kobudo, and Hawaiin kempo. He currently is studying under Howard High sensei in Jinmukan kenjutsu and iaijutsu and under Grand Master Fred Lazo in Luzviminda Arnis. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Midori Yama Budokai. He presently holds the following ranks: Karate (10th), Eagle Claw Kung Fu (9th Hi-Master), Jujutsu (9th), Aikido (9th), Kobudo (9th), Tae Kwon Do (9th), Hapkido (8th), Okinawan Kenpo (3rd), Luzviminda Arnis (3rd), Aiki-Jujutsu (2nd) and Judo (1st).