Santa Barbara Martial Arts School to Host Internationally Recognized Aikido Instructor, Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan

SANTA BARBARA, CA--(Marketwire - Jul 3, 2012) - Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara (AKSB), Santa Barbara's premier non-profit Aikido organization, will host an internationally acclaimed Aikido Instructor, Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, for a three-day seminar. The seminar is already attracting visitors from across California and around the United States.

"Ikeda Shihan is a gifted instructor and Aikido-ist, who believes that Aikido students should have the opportunity to train freely across affiliations," said Lia Suzuki Sensei, a 30 year Aikido veteran who started AKSB in 1999. "It's an honor to host someone who has committed himself to uniting Aikido practitioners and raising the standard of Aikido in the US."

The seminar will be held July 13 - 15, opening at 6 pm on Friday, at the dojo training facility, located at 121A East Mason St. Santa Barbara. In addition to Aikido classes, AKSB will organize fellowship with traditional "Kampai" (or toasts) and communal meals between classes at local eateries. For information, please visit: Seminar with Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan or call: 805 870-5437.

About Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan
Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan is the founder and chief instructor of Boulder Aikikai, a non-profit school of Aikido in Boulder, Colorado. Ikeda sensei, a 7^th dan (7th degree black belt), began his study of Aikido in 1968 in Tokyo. In 1978, he immigrated to the United States. In 1980, he established Boulder Aikikai, and now travels extensively as a guest instructor both in the U.S. and abroad. In 2005, he founded Aikido Bridge, an international organization bringing together teachers and students from diverse martial disciplines, including different styles of Aikido.

About Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara
Aikido Kenkyukai Santa Barbara is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging the practice of the Japanese non-violent martial art of Aikido and promoting Aikido as a positive and effective vehicle for self-improvement and spiritual growth. AKSB was founded in 1999 by Lia Suzuki Sensei who trained in Japan, the birthplace of Aikido, for nearly 10 years. In addition to offering traditional Aikido classes to beginner through advanced level practitioners, AKSB has done pioneering work using Aikido as a therapeutic vehicle for youth and adults with mental health and substance abuse issues, and has worked closely with drug rehabilitation centers, probation departments, and jails, offering workshops on AiKi Conflict Transformation.

For more information on Akidio Kenkyukai Santa Barbara or to schedule an introductory class, please visit www.aksb.org