"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." —F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Welcome!

We are so excited to welcome you to Los Angeles to kick off the summer together!

Summer is a time for growth and new beginnings.

And so it is with our Aikido Summer Seminar, bringing together teachers and students from different backgrounds to experience Aikido and fellowship together.

Looking forward to making new friendships and deepening old ones.

See you there!

About the instructors

Hiroshi Ikeda

Shihan, 8th dan Aikikai

Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan is Founder and Chief Instructor of Boulder Aikikai, in Boulder, Colorado.

He travels extensively as a guest instructor, conducting Aikido seminars at dojos around the world.

Ikeda Sensei began studying Aikido in 1968. In 1976, he moved to the United States, becoming an instructor at Sarasota Aikikai and Vice President of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba organization.

In 1980, he founded Boulder Aikikai, and spent the following 40 years traveling extensively throughout the United States and the world, promoting Aikido’s philosophy of non-violence, peace, and self-development through constant training.

His teaching emphasizes learning and understanding Aikido with the body, specifically the concept of “chushin” or how to maintain one’s own center while breaking another’s balance.

In 2016 he joined the Aikido Shimbokukai organization as Vice President, working very closely with its Director, Lisa Tomoleoni Sensei.

Lia Suzuki

Shihan, 7th dan, Aikikai

Lia Suzuki Sensei is a senior student of Yoshinobu Takeda Shihan and National Director and Founder of Aikido Kenkyukai International USA. She's also the author of the book, "The Teacher", from the Aiki Dialogues.

She began training Aikido in 1982 with the renowned William Gleason Sensei. Then, for nearly 10 years, she lived and trained intensively under Takeda Shihan in Japan.

Suzuki Sensei's experience in Japan also gave her the opportunity to train with Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, the late Yamaguchi Sensei, and other notable masters.

She currently is based in Los Angeles, and directly oversees several dojos in her network. Suzuki Sensei travels extensively throughout the world, teaching at dojos outside of her affiliation, as well. She has taught in Berlin, Helsinki, Shanghai, New York City, and other cities around the world.

Suzuki Sensei's classes are active but meditative, and fun but intense. They focus on connection, posture and exploration. She encourages each individual participant to create their own Aikido, suited to their own body and temperament.

Her mission is to foster inclusion in the Aikido world and to increase Aikido’s popularity among youth and those in their 20's and 30's.

Tatsuo Toyoda Sensei

6th dan, Aikikai

Tatsuo Toyoda Sensei is the current President and Chief Instructor of the Aikido Association of America.

He is the son of the founder Fumio Toyoda Shihan and has been an uchideshi under Yasuo Kobayashi Soshihan in Tokorozawa, Japan.

Mr. Toyoda is also the dojo-cho of Tenshinkan Dojo in Chicago, Illinois, and has taught extensively throughout the United States and the world.

Melissa Bell Sensei

6th dan, Aikikai

Melissa Bell Sensei began her training in 1992 at the Aikido Shobukan Dojo in Washington D.C. under Shihan Mitsugi Saotome and other instructors including Patty Saotome Sensei and Frank Bell Sensei.

Bell Sensei presently holds the rank of 6th Dan (ASU) and has received all her ranks directly from Saotome Sensei. She has also trained six years (through Shodan) in Shotokan Karate under Rick Hotton Sensei at the West Wind Dojo in Sarasota, Florida and continues her association through the Sunday Morning Keiko martial arts community.

In addition, she has received the honor of the Ueshiba Juku designation from Saotome Sensei. This signifies she is a carrier of the teachings of O Sensei as transmitted through Saotome Sensei.

Bell Sensei is the chief instructor at the Sarasota Aikikai in Sarasota, Florida and is chair of the Instructional Committee for ASU. She continues her own training at the ASU Intensive Training Camps and at other national seminars under Saotome Sensei, Ikeda Sensei, and Mary Heiny Sensei, along with other senior ASU instructors.