Kazuo Chiba

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Kazuo Chiba (born Feb 5,1940,Tokyo) is an aikido teacher from Japan who has spent a considerable part of his teaching career in the United States. He is an 8th dan from the aikido organisation Aikikai, and the founder of the dojo (aikido club) San Diego Aikikai in San Diego where he relocated to in 1981. He is also the founder of an international aikido federation known as Birankai. In the aikido world, Chiba is sometimes known as a representative of the "hard" or "tough" side of aikido, with a strong emphasis on weapons training. As of May 2006, Chiba sensei has announced his gradual retirement from seminar-style training, which often imposes a heavy travel schedule. He has cited a desire to spend his remaining years closer to his family.

[edit] Biography

T.K. Chiba was born February 5, 1940 in Tokyo. At 14 years of age, he began serious judo training at the International Judo Academy. He began the study of Shotokan karate at age 16. Dissatisfied with the martial arts he had studied, he began searching for the art which would satisfy his yearning.

In 1958 he found aikido and began seven intensive years of live-in study as an uchideshi with aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, at the Hombu Dojo alongside others like Yoshimitsu Yamada and Mitsunari Kanai. During this time, he also studied iaido. By 1960, Chiba earned the rank of san dan, 3rd degree black belt, and was assigned to Nagoya to establish a branch school and serve as its full-time instructor. In 1962, he earned 4th dan and began teaching at the Hombu Dojo. Within three years, during which he taught at many local universities, Chiba completed his training as uchideshi, earning promotion to 5th Dan.

Chiba then moved to Sunderland, England, in 1966. There he formed the Aikikai of Great Britain, which later changed its name to the British Aikido Federation. In 1970, he was awarded the title of shihan, meaning "teacher of teachers," and received 6th dan as well. In 1975, he returned to Japan and served as Secretary of the International Department at the Hombu Dojo. During this time he also studied zen meditation in Shizuoka.

In 1981, he accepted an invitation from the United States Aikido Federation (directly affiliated with the Hombu Dojo, Aikido World Headquarters, and currently headed by the doshu Moriteru Ueshiba) and moved to San Diego, California. There he formed the San Diego Aikikai. Currently he is Chairman of the Teaching Committee of Birankai International. He holds the rank of 8th Dan.