Seiseki Abe Sensei is a calligraphy master, a noted scholar and Japanese National Treasure, and was a direct student of the founder of Aikido. In the traditional manner, he built a dojo for his teacher just next door to his own home. O-Sensei himself gave it the name AmenoTakemusuJuku Dojo. For the last fifteen years or so of his life, O-Sensei spent one-third of every month living at Abe Sensei’s home, teaching aikido and learning calligraphy with Abe Sensei. It can be said that due to this unique relationship, he became one of O-Sensei’s closest and having received a verbal promotion to 10th Dan, one of his most senior disciples.

Haruo Matsuoka Sensei former Aikido Tenshin Dojo Chief Instructor, was introduced to Abe Sensei over twenty years ago by Steven Seagal Sensei, then his teacher. Seagal Sensei encouraged him to seek a deeper understanding of O-Sensei’s Aikido through this great master. Later, with this in mind, Matsuoka Sensei returned to Japan and became a direct student of Seiseki Abe Sensei. From this union, Aikido Doshinokai was founded in 2000.

Shaun Ravens Sensei began studying Aikido at Steven Seagal's Aikido Tenshin Dojo after returning from Japan at the end of 1989. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming one of Matsuoka Sensei’s assistant instructors by the early 1990’s. He was greatly inspired by Steven Seagal Sensei during the many intense private training sessions. He was also encouraged to seek a deeper understanding of Aikido, and was thus introduced to Abe Sensei in 1991 during a two week training intensive at Aikido Tenshin Dojo. At that time, Abe Sensei shared many of his personal experiences with O-Sensei. Along with sharing his high level of technical expertise, he explained that the basis for understanding aikido was to understand “Ki” (life force) “Kokyu” (breath power) and to maintain a daily practice of “Misogi-no-gyo” (ascetic ritual purification). After receiving an invitation from Abe Sensei to go to Japan and study at the Osaka dojo, he received permission from his teacher, and set off in late 1992. Thus he began his frequent trips to both the Suita and Habekino dojos. He was able to spend his weekends at Abe Sensei’s home where he was encouraged to ask any question that had come up during the daily misogi and aikido training sessions. After some time and many trips back to Japan, Abe Sensei tested him at his Osaka Dojo and promoted him with the instructions to return to the United States and encourage others by sharing his experiences.

Ravens Sensei, now back in New York, is the only student in the North East with this particular background. He is still a direct student of Haruo Matsuoka Sensei, 5th Dan and directly affiliated with his Aikido Doshinokai movement. He also continues to train under the guidance of Shihan Seiseki Abe Sensei, 10th Dan.

We invite you to join us, as Shaun Ravens Sensei continues sharing the instruction he received from his teachers, both in Los Angeles, California, and at Abe Sensei's AmenoTakemusuJuku Aikido Dojo in Osaka, Japan.

Please drop us a line to get your questions answered, or let us know that you are interested in becoming a member.