Spotlight - Scott Howard

I started my Aikido training with Sensei Bernice Tom in San Diego, CA in 1991. There, I was fortunate to receive very sound, basic technique which would prove invaluable throughout my Aikido career. I met Doran Sensei early in my Aikido practice and I would make it a point to go to as many of his seminars as possible for many years.

When I moved back to Los Angeles I started training with Sensei Dang Thong Phong from Viet Nam. I gained so much knowledge and experience in that Dojo, eventually becoming assistant instructor in the kids program. I was also very fortunate to be asked to go with Phong Sensei and Masatake Fujuta Shihan from Hombu Dojo, on an extended trip to Saigon Viet Nam. We went to many dojos for training and demonstrations. The following year, I would make the first of many trips to Japan to train at Hombu Dojo. These trips would have a great impact on the direction and development of my Aikido. Upon my return to the U.S., I was accepted as a student of Reverend Kenso Furuya Sensei, in downtown Los Angeles. The training there was very intense and required a great deal of dedication.

As I continued my Aikido practice, I found Doran Sensei’s sound advice and clarity of movement to have a lasting impact on my approach to Aikido. He always has a way of watching after us and monitoring our progress or lack thereof.

I opened Whittier Aikikai in 2003, we are now in our fourth year at the dojo. Even though we are a small dojo with only 30 tatami mats, we are growing and have great students and a big training spirit.

My most Memorable Aikido Experience
My first trip to Japan for the International Aikido Federation Seminar and Congress stands out as a great Aikido experience . It was there that I had a chance to train under so many great Hombu Dojo Instructors, and to meet and train with Aikidoka from all over the world. I met many friends from Japan, New Zealand, Germany, France, Singapore and Thailand.

I have been grateful to train with many wonderful instructors over the years.
And it is these friendships that is truly the greatest Aikido experience for me.

	Featured Dojo-cho, May 2007

Scott Howard, 3rd Dan Whittier Aikikai, Whittier, California Division 2
I started my Aikido training with Sensei Bernice Tom in San Diego, CA in 1991. There, I was fortunate to receive very sound, basic technique which would prove invaluable throughout my Aikido career. I met Doran Sensei early in my Aikido practice and I would make it a point to go to as many of his seminars as possible for many years. When I moved back to Los Angeles I started training with Sensei Dang Thong Phong from Viet Nam. I gained so much knowledge and experience in that Dojo, eventually becoming assistant instructor in the kids program. I was also very fortunate to be asked to go with Phong Sensei and Masatake Fujuta Shihan from Hombu Dojo, on an extended trip to Saigon Viet Nam. We went to many dojos for training and demonstrations. The following year, I would make the first of many trips to Japan to train at Hombu Dojo. These trips would have a great impact on the direction and development of my Aikido. Upon my return to the U.S., I was accepted as a student of Reverend Kenso Furuya Sensei, in downtown Los Angeles. The training there was very intense and required a great deal of dedication. As I continued my Aikido practice, I found Doran Sensei’s sound advice and clarity of movement to have a lasting impact on my approach to Aikido. He always has a way of watching after us and monitoring our progress or lack thereof. I opened Whittier Aikikai in 2003, we are now in our fourth year at the dojo. Even though we are a small dojo with only 30 tatami mats, we are growing and have great students and a big training spirit. My most Memorable Aikido Experience My first trip to Japan for the International Aikido Federation Seminar and Congress stands out as a great Aikido experience . It was there that I had a chance to train under so many great Hombu Dojo Instructors, and to meet and train with Aikidoka from all over the world. I met many friends from Japan, New Zealand, Germany, France, Singapore and Thailand. I have been grateful to train with many wonderful instructors over the years. And it is these friendships that is truly the greatest Aikido experience for me.