Instructors
Philip Greenwood began training in aikido in the mid-1970's at the Pasadena Aikikai which was founded by Tadaharu Wakabayashi. Wakabayashi Sensei was a student of Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido. Pasadena Aikikai hosted many top instructors in the aikido world. At the time the dojo was under the direction of Gene Anderson and in association with Francis Takahashi with whom Greenwood Sensei also trained. Greenwood Sensei was an instructor at the Pasadena Aikikai for many years before he moved to Temecula in 1990. He currently holds the rank of godan (5th degree black belt) in Aikido and yondan (4th degree black belt) in iaido (Aiki Toho Iai) through Koji Yoshida, Sensei, Shoji Nishio's appointed representative to the U.S. Greenwood Sensei founded Temecula Aikikai in 1991. The dojo is affiliated with Nishio Ryu Aikido through Koji Yoshida, Sensei and the Aikikai Foundation Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. Dr. Greenwood has also maintained a busy chiropractic practice in Temecula and Murrieta for nearly 20 years.
John Johnson started training with Greenwood Sensei on the opening day of Temecula Aikikai in 1991 and has trained diligently ever since. John teaches as well as assists in many ways in the operations of the dojo. He currently holds the rank of shodan (1st degree black belt) in Aikido through Mitsugi Saotome and Hiroshi Ikeda and shodan in iaido (Aiki Toho Iai) through Koji Yoshida, Sensei. John currently teaches the Thursday night iaido (sword) class.
