Organizational Structure
Aikido Shimbokukai has established its organizational structure in accordance with guidelines set forth by Aikikai Hombu Dojo (the Aikido World HQ):
Director
The Shimbokukai Director is Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan. She serves as liaison with Hombu Dojo and the coordinator of organizational business including, but not limited to, rank registrations, Aikikai membership registrations, invitations to instructors from Hombu Dojo, and similar tasks.
Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan
Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan holds the rank of Roku Dan (6th dan), received from Aikido Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru and the Aikido World Headquarters. She began training in the late 1980s in Chicago, IL under the instruction of Tohei Akira Shihan. In 1991 she moved to Tokyo where she lived for over 14 years. During that time she trained daily for multiple hours at the Aikido World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo). She also became an uchideshi at Aikido Shindo Dojo, where she experienced a traditional, rigorous residential training program. There she was given teaching responsibility and eventually designated successor of that dojo.
Tomoleoni Shihan decided to return to the USA in 2005. At the suggestion of Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu, she opened a dojo, and connected directly to Hombu through him. From this beginning, Aikido Shimbokukai was established. In 2014 Aikido Shimbokukai was designated an Officially Recognized Organization by Hombu Dojo and the Aikido World Headquarters.
While living in Japan, Tomoleoni Shihan also trained in other arts and cultural pursuits which have informed her deep study of Aikido. For example, she practiced Judo at the Kodokan and also, through a personal introduction, with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Judo Team - one very few foreigners permitted to train with them daily for a number of years; she holds yudansha ranking in Kodokan Judo. She also trained in Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido as a member of Danzaki Tomoaki Sensei's Kenshukan Dojo, training 4 times weekly and reaching the rank of 3 dan issued by the All Japan Kendo Federation Iaido Division; she continues to practice and teach Iaido today. Other arts she studied include Kobori Enshu Ryu tea ceremony, Nagauta-style Shamisen, Japanese calligraphy, and traditional Japanese etiquette. She is fluent in Japanese.
Tomoleoni Shihan is a co-author of the book Along the Way, a collection of writings about training. She travels regularly across the USA and internationally to teach Aikido, and serves as the Chief Instructor of Abiding Spirit Aikikai. She is also a licensed acupuncturist and Director of the Abiding Spirit Center, a nonprofit holistic wellness center.
Shihankai
The Shihankai is composed of the Director together with other Shimbokukai instructors holding the title of Shihan, who serve to support and advise her. Together, the Shihankai works to further the aims of our organization, provide instructional leadership to our members, and promulgate the principles and practice of Aikido. Shihankai members include Lisa Tomoleoni Shihan (bio above), Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan, and Meido Moore Shihan.
Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan is Founder and Chief Instructor of Boulder Aikikai, Inc., a non-profit school of Aikido in Boulder, Colorado, where he also lives. He holds the rank of 8th Dan through the Aikikai World Headquarters (Hombu Dojo) and travels extensively as a guest instructor, conducting Aikido seminars at dojos around the world.
Ikeda Shihan was born in Hachijojima, Tokyo, and began studying Aikido when he was a student at Kokugakuin University. In 1969, he joined Saotome Shihan's Reimeijuku Dojo and in 1976 moved permanently to the United States, becoming an instructor at Sarasota Aikikai and Vice President of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba organization.
After moving to Boulder, Colorado in 1980, he started the Boulder Aikikai, a non-profit educational organization and Aikido school, and spent the following 40 years traveling extensively throughout the United States and the world promoting Aikido’s philosophy of non-violence, peace, and self-development through constant training. His teaching emphasizes learning and understanding Aikido with the body, specifically the concept of “chushin” or how to maintain one’s own center while breaking another’s balance.
In addition to his responsibilities as an instructor and ambassador of Aikido, Ikeda Shihan also founded several companies and organizations, including a proprietary martial arts clothing and equipment design company, Bu Jin Design, and Aikido Bridge, an organization created to bring together teachers and students from different Aikido organizations and backgrounds to share their skills, build friendships, and support the future growth of Aikido.
Hiroshi Ikeda Shihan
Meido Moore Shihan
Meido Moore Shihan holds the rank of 7th dan, issued by the Aikido World Headquarters. He began Aikido practice in 1986 at Rutgers University, founding the Aikido club that still exists there. In 1990 he became uchideshi under the late Fumio Toyoda Shihan, living in that teacher's training hall in Chicago for seven years practicing Aikido and Zen. During that time he began traveling internationally to teach Aikido, and was further directed by Toyoda Shihan to lead applied training for law enforcement and military professionals. In that capacity he traveled widely instructing police, government security, and anti-terrorist units in North America and Europe.
Moore Shihan went on to serve as Director of Toyoda Sensei's organizations, Aikido Association of America and Aikido Association International, while serving as dojo-cho of Ryoshinkan, the AAI headquarters. Following Toyoda Shihan's death in 2001 he founded Shinjinkai in Chicago, which became known as a center for training in Aikido as well as classical bujutsu. His teachers during this period included the late T.K. Chiba Shihan and the late Tetsuzan Kuroda Sensei, Headmaster of the Shinbukan Kuroda Ryugi.
Since 2013 he has served as the abbot of Korinji, a Buddhist monastery he founded in Wisconsin, which also houses Korinji Budo Dojo. He has received inka shomei, recognition as a Rinzai Zen master, and is additionally ordained in several other Japanese Buddhist traditions. He continues to travel worldwide to teach.
Administrative Board
Shimbokukai Administrative Board members are appointed annually by the Director. Their duties include support with membership issues and registration, dissemination of information, and coordination of activities such as seminars and meetings.
Instruction Committee
Shimbokukai Instruction Committee members are appointed by the Director from among active Aikido Shimbokukai instructors holding the title of Shidoin. Their duties include assisting with the implementation of instructional support and guidance for our members.
Grading Committee
The Shimbokukai Grading Committee members are appointed by the Director, and are responsible for conducting examinations of members for rank qualification.