History

Takemusu Aikido Salisbury - Iwama Ryu was founded by John Gorzanski sensei (4th Dan) in 1997.

Over the years John’s dedication to the club and its members has produced a full range of students including several black belts who all assist in the teaching at both the Salisbury Dojo and the Aiki dojo in Hyde near Fordingbridge.

John is BAB Coach Level 1 and BAB Coaching Young People Qualified

Our technical principle is Patricia Hendricks sensei 6th Dan (Head of Division 1 California Aikido Association, San Leanadro, California, USA) she is a renown international teacher and travels to the UK and Europe on a regular basis, she is a direct pupil of Saito Sensei 9th dan Iwama Ryu.

We also support and are affiliated to the Institute of Aikido, under Foster sensei 7th dan here in the UK.

Style

Takemusu Aikido, teaches Iwama Ryu (School of Iwama) the name given to the style of Aikido taught by O’sensei at his lbaraki dojo in Iwama, Japan (between 1942 and 1969), which he handed down to the late Morihiro Saito (1928-2002) 9th dan his longest serving student.

Saito sensei dedicated his life to preserving the aikido taught by O’sensei, he systemised the Tai-Jutsu (Body Techniques) and weapons techniques of Jo (staff) Bokken (wooden sword) and Tanto (knife) for which the Iwama style is well known.