Kazuo Chiba
Kazuo Chiba (千葉和雄 aka T.K. Chiba, born February 5, 1940, Tokyo) is an aikido teacher from Japan who has spent a considerable part of his teaching career in the United Kingdom and United States. He is an 8th dan in the aikido organisation Aikikai, and founder of dojos in London and San Diego, California. He is also the founder of an international aikido federation known as Birankai International. In the aikido world, Chiba is sometimes known as a representative of the "hard" or "tough" side of aikido, with a strong emphasis on weapons training. In 2006, he announced his gradual retirement.
Biography
Chiba was born February 5, 1940 in Tokyo. At 14 years of age, he began serious judo training at the International Judo Academy. He began the study of Shotokan karate at age 16. Dissatisfied with the martial arts he had studied, he began searching for the art which would satisfy his yearning.
In 1958 he found aikido and began seven intensive years of live-in study as an uchideshi with aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. Chiba became a close disciple of Ueshiba, travelling with him as his personal assistant during most of this seven year period. During this time, he also studied iaido. By 1960, Chiba earned the rank of 3rd dan, and was assigned to Nagoya to establish a branch school and serve as its full-time instructor. In 1962, he earned 4th dan and began teaching at the Hombu Dojo. Within three years, during which he taught at many local universities, Chiba completed his training as uchideshi, earning promotion to 5th Dan.
On the instruction of Morihei Ueshiba, Chiba moved to Sunderland, England, in 1966. After a few months he moved to London where in 1967 he established London Aikikai. In 1968 he formed the Aikikai of Great Britain (later renamed British Aikido Federation in accordance with International Aikido Federation guidelines) with London Aikikai as its headquarters. In 1970, he received 6th dan and was awarded the title of shihan.
In 1975, Chiba returned to Japan to serve as Secretary of the International Department at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo. During this time he also studied zen meditation in Shizuoka Prefecture.
In 1981, Chiba accepted an invitation from the United States Aikido Federation to move to San Diego, California, where he formed the San Diego Aikikai. Currently he is Chairman of the Teaching Committee of Birankai International.