A Modern Art from Ancient Ways

Dan Boyle Sensei currently holds the rank of Yondan (4^th degree) black belt in Yoshinkan Aikido and is registered in Japan at the honbu dojo (head quarters) as a certifed instructor of the art. You can visit honbu dojo website here. You will find our dojo listed on the Worldwide Dojo Directory.

Boyle sensei began his martial arts trainin in 1985 when he started studying in Wado-Ryu Karate-Do. After a few years he transitioned to Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate-Do and received his Shodan (1^st degree) black belt from Frank Baehr Sensei, Kyoshi, 8^th Dan, in 1994. Much of his training was also under the instruction of Ward Jardine Sensei, Renshi, 6^th Dan.

Boyle sensei entered into the world of Aikido in 2000. He achieved his Shodan (1^st degree) black belt under the instruction of Jim Arsenault Sensei, Sandan (3rd degree) black belt.

The martial art of Aikido is from Japan. It is pronounce Ai (eye), ki (key), do (doe). It was developed my Morihei Ueshiba from 1920 through 1960s. It was first practiced under the name Aikido in the 1950s.

Ueshiba O'Sensei was a student of Daitō-ryū Aiki-jūjutsu which is said to come from ancient Japanese martial arts. Ueshiba O'Sensei developed Aikido with the goal of being able to defend yourself without seriously injuring your attacker. The techniques taught are still capable of causing serious injury we train them in a way that they are controlled.

We do not have any competitions in Aikido. Our focus is more on cooperation as we assist each other in our training. It is more about self-development and personal accomplishment than about engaging in conflict.

Aikido has very unique movements and it based on highly developed techniques that can allow a smaller individual to control a larger one. The techniques are not based on strength but rather the capture of balance and using the force of the attack against the attacker.