Ichiro Shibata
Ichiro Shibata is a 7 Dan in Aikido Aikikai Japanese Shihan who relocated to the USA to become a chief instructor at the Berkeley Aikikai.
Sensei was born in 1950 on Kyushu Island, Japan. He started practicing as a 16 years old teen and at 20 he joined Hombu Dojo as an uchi-deshi to learn from the second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba.
Little by little Shibata Sensei became an instructor in the Aikikai and some of the Universities in a country. In 1989 he moved to the Berkeley, California to become a chief instructor in the Berkeley Aikikai. Sensei got married to Marriane Shibata who is a current chief instructor and a 7 Dan Aikido Aikikai holder just as her husband.
Ichiro Shibata Shihan worked closely with the Kazuo Chiba Sensei from San Diego, also California. Shihan is a member of the United States Aikido Federation where he holds many key technical positions. He regularly conducts seminars in the USA and around the world.
Ichiro Shibata is known for his strong Atemi. His Aikido technique is fast and powerful. Take a look at some of the Shibata’s related articles on the aikidosphere.com. Thoughts on Neru, Weapons Training in Aikido and there’s a nice one on the aikiweb.com.