Instructors
Philip Greenwood began training in aikido in 1975 at the Pasadena Aikikai which was founded by Tadaharu Wakabayashi. Wakabayashi Sensei trained under Koichi Tohei Sensei, Seigo Yamaguchi Sensei, Hiroshi Tada Sensei and Kisshomaru Ueshiba at Aikikai Hombu. Pasadena Aikikai hosted many top instructors in the aikido world including Mitsunari Kanai Sensei, Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei, Kazuo Chiba Sensei and many others. At the time the dojo was under the direction of Gene Anderson and in association with Francis Takahashi, Shihan 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 then trained for many years under Mitsugi Saotome, Shihan a personal student of the founder of Aikido and his leading student Hiroshi Ikeda, Shihan. Dr. Greenwood currently holds the rank of 5th dan in Aikido and 5th dan in iaido through Koji Yoshida, Sensei, Shoji Nishio's appointed representative to the U.S. Dr. Greenwood is affiliated with Nishio Ryu Aikido through Koji Yoshida, Sensei and the Aikikai Foundation Honbu Dojo in Tokyo, Japan. He has practiced chiropractic in Temecula and Murrieta since 1990.
Pradeep Nair started training in Aikido at Zenshinkan dojo in Worcester, Massachusetts. On moving to Temecula, he started training Nishio Ryu Aikido with Greenwood Sensei at Greenwood Aikido. He currently holds the rank of shodan (1st degree black belt) in Aikido through Greenwood Sensei in association with Nishio Ryu Aikido as well as a shodan in Iaido (Aiki Toho Iai).
Born in Paris, Didier Chatelain grew up in Morocco and France. Following a sixteen-month tour with the French Foreign Legion in Tahiti, he attended college in London and traveled extensively before settling in California. He joined Greenwood Aikido in 2005 where he’s been training in Nishio Ryu Aikido and Aiki Toho Iai under Philip Greenwood, Paul Steinbrook and John Johnson. Didier regularly attends Aikido seminars with Koji Yoshida Shihan, Francis Takahashi Shihan, Robert Bryner and Stephi Varjan. He was recently awarded the rank of shodan (1st degree black belt) in Iaido through Greenwood Sensei.
"The study of the movement of the body is the study the movement of the mind. Understanding the mind leads to a deeper understanding of yourself. A deeper understanding of yourself leads to a deeper understanding others. A deeper understanding of others leads to compassion."
~Philip Greenwod, Sensei
