Instructors

Christian Tissier Shihan 

Born in Paris in 1951 Christian Tissier began practicing aikido at the age of 11. As a nidan, at the age of 18 Tissier travelled to Japan to practice at Aikikai Hombu Dojo. For the next seven years he remained in Japan studying under all the major teachers at the Aikikai, including Kisaboro Osawa, Seigo Yamaguchi, and Mitsugi Saotome.

In 1976 Tissier returned to Paris and established the Cercle Christian Tissier. Tissier regularly returns to Japan, and was awarded 7th dan in January 1998 from Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba.

Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan 

Hiroshi Ikeda is founder and chief instructor of Boulder Aikikai. He began his study of aikido in 1968 at the aikido club of Kokugakuin University in Tokyo, of which Saotome sensei was the chief instructor. Upon graduation, he trained regularly at Honbu Dojo and at Saotome sensei's Remeijuki Dojo. In 1978 he followed Saotome sensei to the U.S., and in 1980 established Boulder Aikikai. He is a frequent guest instructor at aikido seminars in the U.S. and abroad.

Ikeda owns and operates a martial arts equipment supply company, Bujin Design.

Frank Doran Shihan 

Frank Doran shihan, one of the most senior of American aikidoists, is founder and chief instructor of Aikido West in Redwood City, California. His varied background in the martial arts began with judo in 1955. As a U.S. Marine, he was a hand-to-hand combat instructor and police defensive tactics instructor. He began his aikido training in 1959.

Doran sensei is a frequent guest instructor at seminars in the U.S. and abroad, teaches at Stanford University and is a leader of the California Aikido Association.

Morihiko Murashige Shihan 

Born in Obatake village in the Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1945, Morihiko (Mark) Murashige began studying aikido under with father Aritoshi Murashige at the age of 17.

After meeting O-Sensei and Chiba sensei Murashige moved to Tokyo and began his training at Hombu Dojo. For six years he studied daily under O-Sensei and Yamaguchi Sensei under the guidance of Chiba, Kanai, and Yamada sensei among others.

In 1965 Murashige began teaching at Yamada sensei's dojo in New York. Three years later he returned to Japan, and after several more moves settled in San Diego where he joined Chiba sensei after the opening of San Diego Aikikai in 1981.