An early student of Ueshiba O-Sensei and an aikido pioneer, Shioda Soke lived a life dedicated to Aikido.
Shioda Gozo Soke was awarded his 9th Dan by Ueshiba Morihei Sensei in 1961.
His outstanding contribution to the promotion of Japanese Martial arts in general and Aikido in particular was further acknowledged by the honorary award of 10th Dan by the International Martial arts Federation in 1984, along with the title of Meijin or Grand master.
Shioda Gozo Soke’s Aikido has a reputation as a strong style, concerned with the practicality of its techniques. As a consequence, it is taught to the Tokyo women’s police force and also to an elite group of riot police for over 40 years.
The dojo name ‘Yoshinkan’, or the house of cultivating the spirit, is made up of three words – yo meaning ‘to cultivate’ or ‘to foster’, shin meaning spirit, and kan meaning hall.
During his life, he was convinced that through the silent language of Aikido, all differences between peoples and between cultures disappear, making peace and a harmonious co-existence a reality rather than an ideal.
He passed in 1994.