BUDO 2024 | Aikido Center of Los Angeles Celebrates 50th Anniversary at Nishi Hogwanji Temple in Little Tokyo | October 19, 2024
This articles was published on November 25, 2024 issue of Weekly Cultural News
The Aikido Center of Los Angeles celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at Kaikan Hall of the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo.
In 1974, Rev. Kensho Furuya opened his first dojo in Hollywood called Aikido Renbukai. He shared the dojo space jointly with a gymnastics school, but he dreamed of opening an authentic Japanese style dojo that strictly focus on teaching aikido and offered classes seven days a week.
In 1984, Furuya Sensei realized his dream by establishing the Aikido Center of Los Angeles in a loft located in Little Tokyo, Downtown Los Angeles.
In 1989, Furuya Sensei was ordained as a Zen priest under the Most Reverend Bishop Kenko Yamashita of Zenshuji Soto Mission where he received the name of Kensho.
Furuya Sensei was not only Japanese art aficionado but also an expert in the care and
appraisal of Japanese swords and sword guards.
In 1992, he established the Los Angeles Japanese Sword Society or Kenshinkai. Furuya Sensei felt that by studying and understanding all aspects of the sword and all its accoutrements, one could gain a better understanding of the art of swordsmanship.
Furuya Sensi wrote numerous magazine articles, and he frequently appeared on television programs speaking on the subjects of Japanese culture and history, swords, Aikido, martial arts, Asian studies, and Eastern philosophy.
In 1994, Furuya Sensei authored the acclaimed nine volume video series, Aikido Shoshinshu: The Art of Aikido. In 1996, Furuya Sensei wrote Kodo: Ancient Ways, which is one of the most comprehensive and well-read books on martial arts philosophy.
Furuya Sensei was actively involved in Little Tokyo community. His grandfather was the
president of the Southern California Yamanashi Prefectural Association in the 1960s and he also was the president of the Yamanashi Association for 11 years.
Throughout the years, Furuya Sensei served on various boards and committees such as the Japanese Sword Society of the United States, the Southern California Sword Society, the Los Angeles Police Department Civilian Martial Arts Advisory Board, the Greater Little Tokyo Anti-Crime Association, Little Tokyo Gym (current Terasaki Budokan) and many others.
Furuya Sensei passed away on March 6, 2007 while overseeing a class at the Aikido Center of Los Angeles. Furuya Sensei had been teaching for almost 50 years and achieved the rank of six-degree black belt in Aikido and six-degree black belt in Muso Shinden Ryu Iaido with the teaching rank of Kyoshi.
As fate would have it, Furuya Sensei just signed the lease for the current location on 1121 North Main Street, ensuring despite skyrocketing rent and gentrification, the Aikido Center of Los Angeles would continue to have a dojo to practice in after his death.
After Furuya Sensei’s passing, the effort to keep the dojo was made by past and current students, led by current Chief Instructor David Nobuhiro Ito Sensei.
Ito Sensei began his study of Aikido and journey into Japanese culture at the age of 19. He has been studying Aikido for almost 35 years and has been awarded the rank of sixth degree black belt in Aikido from the Aikido Foundation—Aikido World Headquarters located in Japan.
Ito Sensei was a student directly under Furuya Sensei for 17 years until his passing in 2007. After that fateful moment, Ito Sensei became the Chief Instructor and Dojo-Cho of the Aikido Center of Los Angeles and Kai-Cho of the dojo’s international organization.
Ken Watanabe Shihan is studying Aikido for over 36 years and has been “most devoted student” of Furuya Sensei. Watanabe Shihan spent 18 years training directly under Furuya Sensei.
From 1992 until 2006, he served as Furuya Sensei’s aide-de-camp and was his senior most instructor in both Aikido and Iaido.
Watanabe Shihan is an expert in weapons technique utilizing the sword, bokken (wooden sword), jo (short staff) and tanto (knife).
(Source: The Aikido Center of Los Angeles)