Aikido World Alliance
Genshinkan Aikido, NYC is a member of the international organization, Aikido World Alliance, which is headed by Andrew Sato Shihan, and is directly affiliated with Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Andrew Sato Shihan, 7th dan, is the founder and chief instructor of the AWA. Sato Shihan and several dedicated dojo and students started the organization in 2005. Under his leadership, the AWA has grown to more than 50 dojo worldwide, and is one of only a few US-based aikido associations directly affiliated with the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters, in Tokyo, Japan.
As head instructor of the AWA, Sato Shihan travels the world regularly giving seminars. He also regularly teaches at Kiku Matsu Dojo, Chicago, which he started in 2005. It is now under the direction of Laura DeGraff Sensei, 6th dan.
Sato Shihan began his study of aikido with the late Fumio Toyoda Shihan (1947-2001) in his home city of Chicago in 1977.
