Gozo Shioda

Gozo Shioda was born in 1915 in a family of rich doctor. As a consequence Gozo Shioda practiced kendo, gymnastics and Judo as a youth. Gozo Shioda, born in 1915, studied and earned a 3rd Dan in Judo while still a teenager. Gozo Shioda had a great sense of humor and incredible technique. On his first visit to the Kobukan, Soke Gozo Shioda was invited by O'Sensei to use his Judo skills to try and throw him.

Skeptical of his opponent ability, Gozo Shioda launched an attack only to find himself flying through the air head first. A dazed and bewildered Gozo Shioda was awed by what had taken place. The very next day which was 24th May 1932, Gozo Shioda joined the Kobukan Dojo as an uchideshi or "residence disciple". Gozo Shioda left the Kobukan in 1941 upon the completion of his university studies. Born in 1952, Yasuyuki Shioda started training in Aikido in 1965 under his father, Gozo Shioda, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido.

Gozo Shiodas Legacy

From My Understanding of the late great Gozo Shioda he wanted every technique of the Yoshinkan sylabus to be taught exactly the same in every country in every yoshinkan dojo, His Sylabus was created to give every student the oppertunity to understand exactly where he needed to be in order to proceed in yoshinkan aikido.

The Grading System Starts at 10th Kyu and works its way downward towards 1st Kyu then you begin with the black belt awards First Dan (Shodan) Second Dan (nidan) Third Dan (sandan) and so on, the black belt is considered the first rung of the ladder in perfecting your techniques this system rises upward until 9th Dan, there is a 10th Dan but that is usualy reserved for the highest teacher in the overall style of any martial art.