Athletes - Kazuo Chiba

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	Athletes - Kazuo Chiba

Kazuo Chiba (born 1940) is an aikido teacher from Japan who has spend a considerable part of his teaching career in the United States. He is an 8th dan from the aikido organisation Aikikai, and the founder of the dojo (aikido club) San Diego Aikikai in San Diego where he relocated to in 1981. He is also the founder of an international aikido federation known as Birankai. In the aikido world, Chiba is sometimes known as a representative of the "hard" or "tough" side of aikido.

Biography

Kazuo Chiba began his budo training with judo in 1956 at the International Judo Academy. However, he eventually decided to seek out a new art. In February 1958, at the age of about 18, he journeyed to Aikikai Hombu Dojo, where he waited outside in the winter cold for someone to speak with him. Since he lacked the letter of introduction expected of prospective students in that time, it was about three days before he had a chance to speak with Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of aikido. He trained at Hombu as an uchideshi for about 7 years alongside Yoshimitsu Yamada and Mitsunari Kanai. During this time, he also studied iaido.

Timeline

1940: Born on the fifth of February in Tokyo.
1956: Begins judo training at the International Judo Academy.
1958: Begins uchideshi training at Hombu dojo.
1960: Receives third degree black belt. Becomes instructor in Nagoya.
1962: Receives fourth degree black belt. Becomes instructor at Hombu dojo.
c.1965: Receives fifth degree black belt, completes uchideshi study.
1966: Moves to Sunderland, England; founds Aikido of Great Britain.
1970: Receives sixth degree black belt, appointed shihan.
1975: Returns to Japan.
1981: Founds San Diego Aikikai in San Diego, California.

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