David G. Alexander Sensei
6th Dan
David Alexander first trained in Aikido at the New England Aikikai in Cambridge, Massachusetts under Mitsunari Kanai in the Fall of 1968. While in New England he attended seminars with Koichi Tohei and Yoshimitsu Yamada. In the Winter of 1971 Alexander-Sensei moved to Tokyo and enrolled in the Aikikai Hombu training for several months with numerous sensei including Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the son of the founder of Aikido. In the Summer of 1972 Alexander-Sensei visited Iwama, met Saito-Sensei.
After numerous trips from Toyko to Iwama to train with Saito-Sensei, Alexander-Sensei moved to Iwama in the Winter of 1972. There he trained in Ibaraki Dojo with Saito-Sensei for approximately 10 years between 1972 and 1984. While at Iwama Alexander-Sensei trained with many people who came to Iwama from all over the world as well as Iwama locals. In 1974, Alexander-Sensei accompanied Saito-Sensei as assistant and interpreter on Saito-Sensei's first overseas trip, giving seminars in California and Hawaii. In 1980, Alexander-Sensei was guest Aikido instructor in Whangarei, New Zealand where, for a period of six months, he taught regular and police classes and seminars. In 1982, he accompanied Saito-Sensei as assistant and interpreter, on his second European tour, teaching seminars in Germany, Denmark and Sweden.
| 1968 (Summer) | Visited several different martial arts dojos in Tokyo, including Aikikai Hombu. Was most impressed with Aikido. |
| 1968 (Fall) | Enrolled in New England Aikikai in Cambridge, MA. Trained with Mitsunari Kanai until Fall 1971. Attended seminars with Koichi Tohei and Yoshimitsu Yamada. |
| 1971 (Winter) | Moved to Tokyo and enrolled in Aikikai Hombu. Trained for several months with numerous Sensei including Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba. |
| 1972 (Summer) | Visited Iwama and met Saito-Sensei. Stayed and trained for 3 days. Made numerous subsequent trips from Tokyo to train in Iwama. |
| 1972 (Winter) | Moved to Iwama and enrolled in Ibaraki Dojo. Trained there with Saito-Sensei for approximately 10 years between 1972 and 1984, with a break of 2 years in the US in the mid 70s. Met and trained with many people from all over the world, including Iwama locals and others who had trained with O-Sensei. Trainees came from a number of Japanese universities and military units. |
| 1973 (Spring) | Promoted to Shodan. |
| 1974 | Accompanied Saito-Sensei as assistant and interpreter on his first overseas trip, teaching seminars in California and Hawaii. |
| 1980 | Spent 6 months in Whangarei, New Zealand as guest Aikido instructor. Taught regular and police classes and seminars. |
| 1982 | Accompanied Saito-Sensei as assistant and interpreter on his second trip to Europe, teaching seminars in Germany, Denmark and Sweden. |
| 1989 | Founded Westlake Village Aikido Club. |
| 1992 | Promoted to Rokudan. |
The following articles written by Alexander Sensei originally appeared in Dragon Times magazine.
The following stories and anecdotes written by Alexander Sensei are exclusive to this website.