Massimo Di Villadorata

(b. 19 March 1939). 4th dan Aikikai. B. Novara, Italy. Certified acupuncturist and aikido instructor. M. A. in Psychology from Concord University. A former judo practitioner who was first taught aikido by Motokage KAWAMUKAI and Hiroshi TADA in 1964 in Milan. Di Villadorata later taught aikido in Milan before immigrating to Montreal, Canada in January 1967. He established an aikido class in February the same year, the first AIKIKAI HOMBU-style group in Canada. Di Villadorata received additional training from Yoshimitsu YAMADA at the New York Aikikai, and later from Mitsunari KANAI in Boston on frequent visits to the U. S. He also studied under Mutsuro NAKAZONO when the latter stayed in Montreal for several months c. 1970. From 1975-1982, di Villadorata taught aikido for eight years at the National Theatre School of Montreal. He has also studied acupuncture in China on several occasions and operates a clinic in Montreal. He is the author of two books on aikido and martial arts (see bibl. ) and two books on acupuncture. In 1976, he contributed to the establishment of aikido in Mexico. Di Villadorata is currently chief instructor of the Montreal Aikikai, the largest dojo in Canada with more than 200 members.

Josh Gold

Executive Editor of Aikido Journal, CEO of Budo Accelerator, and Chief Instructor of Ikazuchi Dojo.

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