Shizuo Imaizumi Sensei, 7th Dan
Imaizumi Sensei began his Aikido career in April of 1959 while a student at Waseda University in Tokyo. Waseda was a 15-minute walk from the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, and on May 1st, Sensei saw an Aikido demonstration by Morihei Ueshiba (O-Sensei, the founder of Aikido) and started studying Aikido shortly thereafter. In 1965, with a rank of 3rd dan (3rd degree black belt), Sensei Imaizumi became an apprentice to the teaching staff (shidoin) at the Hombu Dojo and his career as a professional Aikido instructor began. During this period he frequently took ukemi for O-Sensei during the early morning Aikido classes when O-Sensei would demonstrate and teach. After O-Sensei’s death in April of 1969, Imaizumi-Sensei was chosen to accompany Waka-Sensei (the son of O-sensei) and his wife to enshrine the remains of O-Sensei at the Ueshiba family graveyard at Tanabe.
Imaizumi Sensei was an instructor at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo until 1975 when he joined Koichi Tohei Sensei in his new organization, the Ki-no-kenkyukai (Ki Society; Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido). In July 1975, Imaizumi Sensei came to New York to found the New York Ki Society and assume the role of Chief Instructor for the Eastern Region and the US. In September of 1987, he resigned from the Ki Society. Shin-Budo Kai was founded in October 1988. Imaizumi sensei continues to follow the teachings he received from O-Sensei, while developing and offering his own perspectives on technique, form and philosophy.
On October 1, 2022, before a large gathering of students and family at our new dojo, Imaizumi sensei formally announced his retirement from Aikido instruction. From the beginnings of his professional budo career in 1964, Imaizumi sensei’s teaching has influenced countless lives throughout the United States and abroad. His unique curriculum and traditional teaching philosophy is carried on and built upon by a core of dedicated instructors and students.
Imaizumi Sensei continues to train privately and to share his research and thoughts about budo through his writing. Read more about Imaizumi sensei’s thoughts on aikido by visiting our “Messages from Imaizumi Sensei” page →