Isao Takahashi 高橋一佐男

(1912-6 February 1972). 7th dan Aikikai [awarded posthumously]. B. Maui, Hawaii. Lived in Japan from age five to ten. Attained high rankings in kendo and judo. Takahashi was one of the first to study aikido under Koichi TOHEI in 1953 in Honolulu and became a pioneer of the art in Hawaii. He relocated to Los Angeles in 1960 to become the chief instructor of the Los Angeles Aikikai. He later moved to Chicago to serve as chief instructor of the Illinois Aikido Club. Takahashi was a major force in the early development of aikido in the western United States. He remained active until a few months before his death due to stomach cancer.

Josh Gold

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

1 comment

  • I believe Takahashi sensei was a visiting instructor at Ken Ota’s Goleta Dojo where I
    trained in the middle 1960ies. What was being studied was Aikido with Ki, but I think
    it was before 1969 and the split from the Aikikai. I remember the glasses did not fall
    off when he did a roll or other technique which I thought was quite impressive. He was
    a very thin individual , but he moved like a cat on the mat. We learned a lot from his visits
    which I recall were about once a month. We did one hour of Judo and one hour of Aikido
    three days a week after school and on Saturdays. Now I know Stan and I shared an insturctor, However I went the other way and ended up doing Yoshinkan when Payett
    was here on the West Coast.

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