Greenwood Aikido and Japanese Swordsmanship

Koji Yoshida Shihan was a direct student of Shoji Nishio for over 34 years. He holds the rank of 7th dan in Aikido Aikikai, 6th dan Renshi in Iaido (Musoshinden-ryu), and 7th dan in Nishio-ryu Iaido. Shoji Nishio appointed Yoshida as represntative to the U.S.A., France and Ukraine at 2000. Yoshida Sensei is one of the leading technical authorities on Nishio Aikido in the world. He covers the fundamental and core principles of Nishio Budo through empty-hand techniques expressed with bokken, jo, and sword. He is also an accomplished Calligraphy teacher.

Greenwood Sensei conducted an intensive training at Greenwood Aikido.

Iaido 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Aikido 9:30 am - 12:00 noon
Aikido 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Students at Greenwood Aikido participated in this intensive training. Sensei wasted no time getting right into the action showing the relationships between hand, sword and jo techniques. He also took time to explain the importance of ma-ai (spacing) in both aikido and in relationships.  The closer the space, the more intimate the relationship, the more delicate the ma-ai becomes. The seminar finished with a lot of happy faces and a few sore muscles.

Koji Yoshida Shihan was a direct student of Shoji Nishio for over 34 years. He holds the rank of 7th dan in Aikido Aikikai, 6th dan Renshi in Iaido (Musoshinden-ryu), and 7th dan in Nishio-ryu Iaido. Shoji Nishio appointed Yoshida as represntative to the U.S.A., France and Ukraine at 2000. Yoshida Sensei is one of the leading technical authorities on Nishio Aikido in the world. He covers the fundamental and core principles of Nishio Budo through empty-hand techniques expressed with bokken, jo, and sword. He is also an accomplished Calligraphy teacher.

Koji Yoshida will conduct a two-day seminar in Santa Monica. Yoshida Sensei will also be conducting a shodo (Japanese calligraphy) workshop at The Dojo in Santa Monica on Friday, September 24. Click here for more details and registration information.

Philip Greenwood, Sensei taught a one-day seminar at Pasadena Aikikai focusing on the fundamentals of Nishio Ryu Aikido. The turnout was great and the students were very open to learning new things and expanding their aikido experience. We covered basic gyakuhanmi and aihanmi techniques along with a few related ken no tebiki and ken tai ken forms. Greenwood Sensei also introduced the students to related Nishio Ryu Iaido forms as they related to certain techniques being practiced.
See pics.

Varjan Sensei, 6th Dan Aiki ToHo Iai, 5th Dan Aikido, 5th Dan Aikido Weapons and is the author of two books on the material of Nishio Sensei, "The Nishio Sensei Aikido Notebook" Vol.1 Aikido / To Ho & Vol.2 Weapons.

Philip Greenwood was guest instructor along with Francis Takahashi, Jay Bell and Ray Feliciano at Pasadena Aikikai's Annual Friendship Seminar at The Pasadena Japanese Cultural Center.
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Koji Yoshida Shihan has been a direct student of Shoji Nishio for over 34 years. He holds the rank of 7th dan in Aikido Aikikai, 6th dan Renshi in Iaido (Musoshinden-ryu), and 7th dan in Nishio-ryu Iaido. Shoji Nishio appointed Yoshida as represntative to the U.S.A., France and Ukraine at 2000. Yoshida Sensei is one of the leading technical authorities on Nishio Aikido in the world. He covers the fundamental and core principles of Nishio Budo through empty-hand techniques expressed with bokken, jo, and sword. He is also an accomplished Calligraphy teacher.
See pics.

Koji Yoshida conducted a two-day seminar in Santa Monica.

Rober Bryner has been in martial arts for over 50 years and is chief instructor at the Shotakekan Dojo in West Los Angeles. Bryner Sensei is 6th dan Aikido, 6th dan Ryu Te, 7th dan Oyata Shin Shu Ho with dan rankings in iaido and judo as well. Bryner Sensei is a long time student of Nishio-Ryu Aikido.
Chikako Bryner has trained in Aikido for 25 years. She is a 4th dan Aikido, 4th dan Ryu Te and 5th dan Iaido. Chikako has also served as translator for many visiting sensei from Japan including Shoji Nishio and Koji Yoshida.
Read about it here. See pics.

Outdoor training on the beach to celebrate the start of summer! See pics.