Minoru Kanetsuka 金塚稔

(b. 1939). 7th dan Aikikai, 2nd dan Yoshinkan Aikido. Aikikai Shihan. Began training in YOSHINKAN AIKIDO while a student at Takushoku University. Kanetsuka met Kazuo CHIBA in 1972 in Katmandu and accepted the latter’s invitation to go to England to train. He decided to remain and was awarded 3rd dan in 1973, and was made a SHIDOIN of the Aikikai of Great Britain and promoted to 4th dan in 1976. Kanetsuka was appointed Chiba’s successor when the latter returned to Japan in 1976 and became the new Technical Director of the BRITISH AIKIDO FEDERATION (the name change occurred shortly after Chiba’s departure). Kanetsuka holds the same position for Greece, the Netherlands, and South Africa. He is presently the official AIKIKAI HOMBU representative in the United Kingdom.