"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." —F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Welcome!

We are so excited to welcome you to Los Angeles to kick off the summer together!

Summer is a time for growth and new beginnings.

And so it is with our Aikido Summer Seminar, bringing together teachers and students from different backgrounds to experience Aikido and fellowship together.

Looking forward to making new friendships and deepening old ones.

See you there!

About the instructors

Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan

7th dan, Aikikai

Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan is Founder and Chief Instructor of Boulder Aikikai, in Boulder, Colorado.

He travels extensively as a guest instructor, conducting Aikido seminars at dojos around the world.

Ikeda Sensei began studying Aikido in 1968. In 1976, he moved to the United States, becoming an instructor at Sarasota Aikikai and Vice President of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba organization.

In 1980, he founded Boulder Aikikai, and spent the following 40 years traveling extensively throughout the United States and the world, promoting Aikido’s philosophy of non-violence, peace, and self-development through constant training.

His teaching emphasizes learning and understanding Aikido with the body, specifically the concept of “chushin” or how to maintain one’s own center while breaking another’s balance.

In 2016 he joined the Aikido Shimbokukai organization as Vice President, working very closely with its Director, Lisa Tomoleoni Sensei.

Lia Suzuki Shihan

7th dan, Aikikai

Lia Suzuki Shihan is a senior student of Yoshinobu Takeda Shihan and National Director and Founder of Aikido Kenkyukai International USA. She's also the author of the book, "The Teacher", from the Aiki Dialogues.

She began training Aikido in 1982 with the renowned William Gleason Sensei. Then, for nearly 10 years, she lived and trained intensively under Takeda Shihan in Japan.

Suzuki Sensei's experience in Japan also gave her the opportunity to train with Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, the late Yamaguchi Sensei, and other notable masters.

She currently is based in Los Angeles, and directly oversees several dojos in her network. Suzuki Sensei travels extensively throughout the world, teaching at dojos outside of her affiliation, as well. She has taught in Berlin, Helsinki, Shanghai, New York City, and other cities around the world.

Suzuki Sensei's classes are active but meditative, and fun but intense. They focus on connection, posture and exploration. She encourages each individual participant to create their own Aikido, suited to their own body and temperament.

Her mission is to foster inclusion in the Aikido world and to increase Aikido’s popularity among youth and those in their 20's and 30's.

Greg Angus Sensei

6th dan, Aikikai

Greg Angus Sensei is a roku dan (6th-degree black belt) and chief instructor at Naka Ima Aikikai. Greg Sensei has practiced martial arts for over 45 years and is also a yondan (4th-degree black belt) in karate.

At 13, he began his martial arts training in Karate, a discipline he pursued throughout his high school and university years. In 1986, upon completing his graduate degree in Fine Arts, Greg Sensei travelled to Japan to further his Karate martial art studies. Once there, Greg Sensei encountered Aikido and immediately began his practice at the Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. His Aikido training continued throughout his 10 years in Japan, primarily under the direction of Endo Shihan.

Greg Sensei is an active participant in the Aikido community of Toronto and Canada, and teaches at seminars in North America and Europe. As a deshi of Endo Shihan, Greg Sensei hosts an annual Aikido seminar that is conducted by his teacher in Toronto, with participants attending from all over North America. Off the mat, Greg Sensei works as an artist whose paintings have been exhibited both locally and internationally.