|
Our Sensei
Gordon Sakamoto is the chief instructor of the Northern Virginia Aikikai. He was born and
raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where he began practicing Aikido in 1963. After graduating from
the University of Hawaii, he entered the U.S. Air Force in 1965. He received an assignment
to Japan in 1967, where he practiced daily at Hombu Dojo for two and half years. During
this time, Sakamoto Sensei was privileged to receive instruction from O Sensei during the
last years of his life. O Sensei passed away in 1969. After leaving the Air Force in 1969, he
returned to the University of Hawaii to attend graduate school where he also taught Aikido at
the university until 1973, when he accepted a job on Okinawa, Japan. There he started an
Aikido class and periodically returned to practice at Hombu Dojo in Tokyo. In 1980, he
arrived in northern Virginia. He was invited to become the instructor of this club because the
incumbent instructor moved out of the area. He has seen the rapid growth of Aikido in the
area and along the east coast over the past two decades. Increasing interest in Aikido caused
the expansion of the club into the Dale City and Winchester areas. Sakamoto Sensei
currently holds the rank of 6th dan.
|
|
Please e-mail us with any questions about NVA or this web site.
Design ©1998 Flashicon.
Portions of this site written by Sensei
Eugene Waddell, 5th Dan, 1911-1990.
Northern Virginia Aikikai • http://www.aikidoka.com
|
|
|