Aikido Academy USA

The Aikido Academy is dedicated to providing instruction through classes and seminars in the art and philosophies of aikido to the citizens of the Los Angeles area. All are welcome.

The founder and head instructor of the Aikido Academy is Francis Y. Takahashi Shihan, 7th Dan, an original pioneer of aikido in Southern California, a historical figure in the development of aikido in America, and one of the world's premier teachers of aikido.

In addition to Takahashi Shihan's leadership, the Aikido Academy boasts the most experienced and diverse aikido teaching staff in the Los Angeles area, with well over 100 years of combined experience.

The Aikido Academy's staff strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students and assist them in achieving their highest potential, not only in martial arts, but also in their daily lives.

Francis was born on August 26, 1943 in Honolulu, Hawaii, moving to Los Angeles in 1961, where he currently resides. Currently active as a real estate broker, he continues to teach and inspire at the Aikido Academy in Alhambra, California. Francis is currently ranked 7th dan as recognized by Aikikai Hombu Dojo. He is also the Aikikai representative for Aikikai Associates West Coast, affiliated with Hombu Dojo.

Francis's grandfather, Noriyasu Kagesa, as president of the Hawaii Nishi Kai, was instrumental in inviting Koichi Tohei Sensei to introduce aikido to Hawaii. Francis started his aikido career in 1953 or so, under the instructorship of Ietoshi Takahashi, who also instructed him in kendo, Japanese fencing. Additionally, in the late 1960's, Francis learned Shotokan karate from Hidetaka Nishiyama Sensei.

In 1961, Francis moved to Los Angeles, California, where his stepfather, Isao Takahashi, a senior student of Koichi Tohei Sensei, became head instructor of the infant Los Angeles Aikikai. Francis himself spent two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Chicago, Illinois from November 1963 to September 1965. While there, he succeeded Chet Sasaki as the head instructor of the Illinois Aikido Club. Upon returning to California in 1965, Francis assumed leadership of the Rafu Dojo in East Los Angeles while his father took over the Illinois Aikido Club and further developed aikido in the Chicago area. These were among the first aikido schools to develop in the United States outside of Hawaii, and would pave the way for future aikido instructors.

In the early 1970's Francis formed Alhambra Aikikai, and the name was eventually changed to the Aikido Academy. During this time Francis's Los Angeles home became a favorite sojourn stop for many important luminaries in the aikido world who were visiting America, including Nidai Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Sandai Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, Mitsunari Kanai, Yoshimitsu Yamada... the list goes on and on.

The greatest influences of Francis's aikido career are hard to define. Amongst the names he recollects are: Nidai Doshu, for his example of class as a human being, along with his appropriate statesmanship; Osawa Sensei for his leadership by example; Mitsunari Kanai Sensei for his special friendship and unbelievable ability to demonstrate aikido as a truly effective martial art; and Yasuo Kobayashi Sensei, who has set the standard of making Aikido instruction an economically viable profession, while preserving the essence of O-Sensei's vision and integrity of aikido as a true cultural as well as genuine martial art form. In addition, there were and remain innumerable fine aikidoka who impressed and continue to inspire and teach Francis. In all honesty, however, no greater inspiration and input matches the students themselves, who consistently and lovingly challenge Francis's current understanding and flexibility in his own ongoing growth and development. They are, always have been, and always will be his greatest teachers, mentors, and inspiration.

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  Richard Klein
  Godan - 5th Dan

  Rick Klein has been practicing Aikido for over 25 years. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, he began his Aikido training in 1966 at the University of Hawaii while attending summer school. He returned to L.A. to finish his undergraduate degree at Cal State Northridge and continued practicing aikido at L.A. Aikikai. Rick joined Aikido Academy in 1985 and became part of the teaching staff several years later, and still trains at the Aikido Academy every week. Rick is currently a godan and is founder and chief instructor of Sycamores Aikido, a specialized aikido program for "at risk" children since 2000.

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  Robin Mitsui
  Godan - 5th Dan

  Robin Mitsui is the Aikido Academy's most senior student, having started his aikido training over 30 years ago. Robin was one of the Academy's most dedicated instructors, and he still trains at the Aikido Academy every week. Robin is currently a godan and teaches at Pasadena Aikikai in addition to training at the Academy.

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  Isamu (Sam) Ryono
  Godan - 5th Dan

  Sam was born on October 16, 1938 in San Pedro, California. He is currently semi-retired and enjoys traveling with his wife. Sam practiced judo during his high school years and became interested in aikido to increase and expand his mental and physical training. He is currently a godan. Through his aikido instruction, he would like to assist students in learning fundamentals that they can apply to their daily lives. From 1986 until the present time, Sam has been privileged to train under Frances Takahashi. Under the shihan's guidance, our dojo instructors are prepared to give prospective students their time, knowledge, and experience to help them find a path in reaching their goals. Aikido training can be a lifelong journey towards a happier life.

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  Ron Dahl
  Yondan - 4th Dan

  Ron Dahl recently received yondan from Takahashi Sensei and currently heads the Juniors Program at the dojo in addition to teaching an Adult Fundamentals class. After teaching aikido for seven years to troubled teenagers at the Sycamores Group Home in Altadena, he finally felt qualified to deal with five-year-olds. Ron began his study at the Aikido Academy with his own daughter when she was eight. Somewhere along the way she went on to other things (paleontology) but he's still here, plugging away. He has supplemented his study of aikido with a couple years of Shotokan karate, in an effort to understand how other disciplines emphasize different aspects of Martial Arts.



John Harney
Yondan - 4th Dan

John Harney began his aikido training at the age of 13 in Puerto Rico at a United States Aikido Federation-afilliated dojo. He moved to Iwama, Japan at the age of 15 to study as uchideshi (live-in student) under Morihiro Saito Shihan, from whom he received the rank of sandan and a weapons mokuroku (literally "catalog"; a certification to teach). John then studied under Lorcan Gogan in Dublin Ireland for a year, until he moved out to the Los Angeles area and joined Francis Takahashi Shihan's Aikido Academy. Takahashi Shihan recently awarded him yondan. He teaches Saito Sensei's Iwama style weapons system as part of the Aikido Academy's weapons curriculum. John hopes through his instruction to pass on the principles of Aiki as taught to him by his teachers.

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  Miles Wu
  Sandan - 3rd Dan

  Miles Wu began his aikido training with Chen Shitang and Wang Xianyang of the Chung Shang Dojo in Taiwan. Francis Takahashi awarded him sandan and he currently teaches a Fundamentals class. He is also a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and a licensed acupuncturist in California, and often helps in putting Academy members back together again after hard training. Miles credits his aikido training for his good health and energy, and tries to share his experience with his patients and students alike. He believes that aikido is a martial art that everyone can practice their entire life.

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  Kevin Chiu
  Nidan - 2nd Dan

  Kevin Chiu began training in aikido for a year before immigrating to the United States in 1986, and continued his aikido studies under Reverend Kensho Furuya Sensei of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles. Shortly afterward, Kevin met Francis Takahashi Sensei and has been a member of the Aikido Academy ever since. The class he teaches at the Academy focuses on the fundamentals, and he wishes every aikidoka a fulfilling and joyful experience along the path and welcomes everyone, veteran or novice, that comes to the Academy to "Train hard, have fun, and sweat a lot".

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  Robert Ramos
  Nidan - 2nd Dan

  Robert began training in aikido in 1989 in Riverside, where he obtained his shodan. Since then he has trained under many difference senseis, but in 1995 he began training at the Aikido Academy and has been here ever since. Takahashi Sensei recently awarded Robert nidan. He helps with the kids' classes, where in addition to providing solid and fun instruction, he also doubles as a solid climbing wall for the kids to clamber over. Robert has trained in other martial arts including kenpo and taichichuan, and plans to be a superhero when he grows up.

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  Aaron Sims
  Nidan - 2nd Dan

  Aaron Sims began studying Aikido in 2001 while in college and has been with the Aikido Academy since 2002. Takahashi Sensei recently awarded him nidan and he helps with the kids classes and enjoys training at a variety of dojos when traveling for work and vacation.

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  Pedro Flores
  Shodan - 1st Dan

  While a student at Cal State LA, Pedro Flores tried several of the martial arts classes offered at the school but decided to continue with aikido, then taught by Richard Klein Sensei. When the aikido program at Cal State LA was discontinued, Klein Sensei extended an invitation to all his students to come train at the Aikido Academy, which Pedro accepted. At the Academy, he feels fortunate to not only be able to train hard in the fundamentals of aikido, but also to elevate his training by being given the opportunity to teach the juniors' classes. Now a shodan, he feels he has grown with the kids, and appreciates the Academy's mindset of constant development, improvement, and enjoyment.

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  Violet Casillas
  Shodan - 1st Dan

  Violet Casillas has been studying aikido since 2006. In addition to training, she instructs the kids classes. She truly enjoys how her growth in aikido practice reflects her growth as a person.

The Aikido Academy is located in the Alhambra Masonic Center at 9 Woodward Drive in Alhambra, CA, an unusual place for an aikido dojo but a venue that has its own unique advantages. Click here for directions.

The Academy is spacious, brightly lit, and air conditioned, and equipped with 92 high quality foam tatami mats, giving the Academy the flexibility to host both small classes and large seminars. The Academy is also conveniently located within walking distance of many fine restaurants and shops located on Main Street, Alhambra.

The Academy has a large waiting area for visitors and parents of students, and provides hot and cold beverages, snacks, wireless internet, and clean restrooms for Academy members and families at no extra charge.

The Aikido Academy would like to thank the Alhambra Masonic Center for providing such a wonderful facility in which to train. We look forward to seeing you on the mat!