Kobayashi shihan at the center of the front row
Kobayashi Yasuo, 8th dan Aikikai, is the representative of Aikido Kobayashi Dojo which has more than 120 affiliate dojos around the grove. He is the honorary director at Meiji University Aikido Club, and the honorary shihan at Saitama University Aikido Club and Tokyo Economics University Aikido Club.
In 1987, Aikido Kobayashi Dojo received a medal for excellence in developing martial arts by Japan Martial Arts Association. And in 2005, Kobayashi Yasuo as an individual received a medal for outstanding contribution to the development of Aikido.
Kobayashi was born on September 20, 1936, in Kudan, Tokyo. He began his martial arts training with Judo when he was at 5th grade in elementary school. He entered Meiji University, department of electrical engineering, and started aikido training at Hombu Dojo in 1954. For a while, he continued both Judo and Aikido.
He founded Meiji University Aikido Club when he was a junior. He was then very much inspired by Aikido, so he became an uchideshi at Hombu Dojo while he was still a university student.
Kobayashi shihan standing on the righ
He learned aikido from many instructors including the founder Morihei Ueshiba, the 2nd doshu Ueshiba Kisshomaru, chief instructor Tohei Koichi, (currently leads Ki no Kenkyukai), Osawa shihan, Saito shihan, Yamaguchi shihan, Arikawa shihan, Tada shihan, Tamura shihan, Noro shihan (currently in France and leads Ki no Michi), and others.
Kobayashi shihan next to O'sensei
He is senior to Asai shihan of Germany who entered Hombu Dojo when he was a junior high school student. Asai shihan then became a Meiji University student, and became a member of the University Aikido club which Kobayashi founded.
Used to be very flexible
In 1985, after graduating from university, Kobayashi becomes a teaching staff of Hombu Dojo. He then continued training diligently under the 2nd doshu, Kisshomaru Ueshiba.
Dojo opening in April 1969
In Nov. 1972, he opened 48-tatami dojo in Tokorozawa, Saitama. He started to spread aikido in areas around Tokyo-Santama, Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba. At the same time, he started training the next generation of Aikido Instructors. In 1975, he sent Shikanai shihan to Brazil. As Kobayashi accompanied him in South America, he stopped by some part of American continents and felt the possibility of developments in aikido in these areas. Since then, he frequently visited many areas including Asia and Europe.
The dojo built by the hands of Kobayashi shihan
He made diligent efforts in training aikido instructors, such as Kazuo Igarashi, Kengo Hatayama, Haruyoshi Horikoshi, Haruo Ishigaki, Hiroyuki Hasegawa, Takuya Oiwake, Katsutoshi Shirakawa, and many others. He continues to train aikido instructors, Hiroaki Kobayashi and others, at Aikido Kobayashi Dojo.
Today, instructors are being sent to more than 20 countries, including American continents, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Kodaira dojo today
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