DYNAMIC AIKIDO
IN YOKOHAMA
Our teachers are an international team of experts with decades of experience in Aikido, under the greatest masters of the art.
Official Aikikai Dojo
Yokohama AikiDojo is officially recognized by the Aikido World Headquarters.
Strong Credentials
All of our instructors hold credentials from the Aikikai Foundation.
International Team
Adapted Teaching
Yokohama AikiDojo History
Yokohama AikiDojo was founded in October 2020 in an effort to bring Aikido practice to the expat community in Yokohama's Yamate area. The classes initially took place in Yokohama Country & Athletic Club (YC&AC) but the rapid growth of the dojo required moving to a larger facility in Saint Maur International School's newly constructed Cougar Café Activity & Sports Center.
Since its inception, Yokohama AikiDojo has welcomed foreign and Japanese individuals, as well as many children of mixed heritage, and it has provided its member with a window to Japanese culture through the practice of budo.
At the end of three succesful years of operation, Yokohama AikiDojo was officially recognized by the Aikido World Headquarters (Aikikai Public Interest Foundation). The dojo regularly takes part in all major international and national events, including the International Aikido Federation Congresses, and the All Japan Aikido Demonstration.
Chief instructor
Guillaume ERARD
Shihan - 6th dan Aikikai
Guillaume started practicing budo in France at the age of 6. His encounter with Christian Tissier Shihan inspired him to relocate to Japan to train at the Aikido World Headquarters, where he was awarded the 6th degree black belt by Ueshiba Moriteru, the grandson of the founder of Aikido. Guillaume is a prolific writer for martial arts magazines and books in Japan and abroad. He was also the Director of Information of the International Aikido Federation for several years. He travels extensively to give seminars and lectures on Aikido. Guillaume is passionate about science and education, he holds an MSc in Education Science and a PhD in Molecular Biology.
Instructors
Mihály DOBRÓKA
Shidoin - 5th dan Aikikai
Mihály started practicing Aikido in Hungary, in 2002. He moved to Japan in 2011 to continue his studies and to train. He was the first non-japanese to become the captain of the Hirosaki University Aikido Club, where he organized an anniversary event under the direction of Aikido Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru. Since 2015, he has been training daily at Aikido Hombu Dojo and received the 5th dan from Doshu. He regularly gives Aikido seminars in Asia and Europe. Mihály holds a PhD in Physics from Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Allan FONTAINE
Fukushidoin - 2nd dan Aikikai
Allan started practicing Aikido as a child on the French island of La Reunion, off the coast of Madagascar, under the supervision of his father. Inspired by the teachings of Philippe Gouttard Shihan, he continued his training in mainland France, regularly attending his seminars. During this time, he joined the dojo of Franck Noel Shihan, where he trained daily under his guidance. After completing his studies in 2024, he moved to Japan to further his apprenticeship in Aikido by training daily at the Hombu Dojo, where he received the 2nd dan from Doshu.
Yudansha
David FRYKHOLM
3rd dan Aikikai
David started to practice Aikido in Sweden at the age of 12 in 1998 under the guidance of a friend of the family who had a dojo close by. He took his Shodan test when he was 18 in Sweden. After traveling to various countries around Europe to attend seminars, he first went to Japan for three months in 2008. From January 2009 he settled down permanently in Japan, first studying Japanese and now working in the Tokyo area. David has been practicing under the direction of a number of prominent instructors, mostly at the Aikido Hombu Dojo, where he was promoted to 3rd dan in 2012. After taking a break during the 2020 pandemic, he is now resumed practice at Yokohama Dojo with his family.
Emi KATSUURA
3rd dan Aikikai
Emi's parents are both teaching Aikido and she starting practicing from the age of 4 in the Aikido Futaba and Hijiyama schools in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture. She trained under her father Motooka Namio Shihan (6th dan) and under Peter Goldsbury Shihan (7th dan) for about 10 years. She was awarded 1st dan in 2006 as a university student, the 2nd dan 2010, and the 3rd dan 2015. After her marriage in 2015, she took a break from her training for a while in order to take care of her two children. She now trains with her whole family (her husband and two daughters) at Yokohama AikiDojo while continuing to raise her children.
Jun ATSUMI
2nd dan Aikikai
Jun started Aikido in 1984 at age 8 at the Aikido Kodokan in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, under Tanaka Koremitsu Sensei. He was promoted to the 1st dan while in high school and to the 2nd dan while in college. He has experience teaching internationally, notably while he was at the Kodokan branch dojo located in North Carolina, USA. After graduating, Jun had to quit Aikido, but by chance, he heard about Yokohama Aikido Dojo and decided to resume his training for the first time in 25 years. He is passionate about start-up business and about supporting foreign companies to invest in and expand into Japan thanks to his extensive e-commerce expertise.
Hiroyuki MINATO
2nd dan Aikikai
Hiroyuki started practicing Aikido at the Hokkaido University Aikikai Aikido Club. After that, he got the opportunity to train in numerous dojo, including University of Tsukuba Aikido Club, the Midwest Aikido Center in Chicago (USA), and the Aikikai Foundation Hombu Dojo. In 1997, he was granted the second dan by Fujihira Akira Shihan in Chicago. Although there were periods when he had to pause his practice to raise his children, the profound impact and inspiration that he received from the techniques of the late Fujita Masatake Shihan have stayed with him, driving him to continue practicing Aikido. In the summer of 2024, he was drawn to the logical and powerful Aikido of Erard Shihan and joined Yokohama AikiDojo.
Akihito KATSUURA
2nd dan Aikikai
Akihito started Aikido while attending college, inspired by watching his maternal grandfather, Onishi Masahito Sensei, teach and practice. After graduating from university, he earned his 2nd dan in Hiroshima under Peter Goldsbury Shihan (7th dan) and Motooka Namio Shihan (6th dan). After entering the professional world in 2014, he took a break from training, but was encouraged by his wife, who also practices Aikido, to resume training for the first time in seven years. Since then, he looks forward to the weekly practice with his wife and children.
Technical lineage
Since its inception, Yokohama AikiDojo has benefitted from the support of Osawa Hayato Shihan (8th dan) and Christian Tissier Shihan (8th dan). All of our titular instructors have trained for many years under the direction of Doshu and the senior instructors at the World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo, regularly serving as uke during classes and demonstrations.
Grades
The kyu and dan grades examinations are conducted within our dojo, under the direction of our Chief instructor. The certificates are issued by the Aikikai Foundation and are signed by Doshu. They are recognized all over the world.
World Martial Arts Masterships
Our instructors are regular contributors of the activities of the International Aikido Federation. They participated in the World Martial Arts Masterships as part of the team of experts representing Aikido.
The event, which was presided by former United Nations General Secretray Ban Ki-Moon, gathered 3,119 martial artists from 106 countries under the motto: "Beyond the Times, Bridge the World". The opening ceremony welcomed 15,000 attendees.
Official Merchandise
You can support Yokohama AikiDojo by purchasing our official merchandise!
