Training Lineage

O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba 12/14/1883 - 4/26/1969
After he intensively studied various swordfighting and jujutsu styles, Ueshiba became famous as one of the strongest men of Japan. In 1919, he turned towards the spiritual, pacifistic teachings of the Omoto religion and started to develop the Art of Peace. In 1942, in the midst of the chaos of World War II, O-Sensei named his new martial art Aikido, and moved to the small country town of Iwama. There he continued to practice, teach and refine Aikido until he passed away in 1969.

Morihiro Saito Sensei 3/31/1928 - 5/13/2002
9th Dan Aikikai. Being an Iwama native, Morihiro Saito started training in Aikido in 1946 and became not only a student, but a close confidant of O-Sensei for the following 23 years. After the founder's death, he was put in charge of the Iwama dojo and became the guardian of the Aiki-shrine. Today, he is also known for his books, his clear and structured way of teaching, and the organization of the huge number of techniques that comprise Iwama-style Aikido. It is through Saito Sensei's timeless Iwama style techniques, that the teachers and students of Westlake Village Aikido will always remember him.

David G. Alexander Sensei 10/11/1945 -
6th Dan Aikikai. The Founder and Chief Instructor of Westlake Village Aikido.

Casey Rodgers, 4th Dan
Rodgers Sensei began studying Aikido when he was 18. Prior to that time he dabbled in various
other styles of martial arts but frequent moving prevented him from becoming grounded
anywhere. Twelve years ago he found Alexander Sensei and has been there ever since.
Rodgers Sensei believes an honest approach to your training is best suited to your
survival in this world. Acknowledging your chosen style's strengths is easy, but
acknowledging your style's weakness and doing something about it, is not.
To that end he is always on the lookout for something he can "steal" from
other martial art styles and has been training Karate for the past ten years.

Chris Powell, 4th Dan, Business Director
Powell Sensei's first taste of Aikido came in 1978 while in 7th grade. He trained for
about 6 months before the dojo moved. After the dojo moved, Powell Sensei could no
longer make it to the class, but that brief experience was enough to hook him for life.
He spent the next 15 years looking for something to fill his need for Aikido.
He trained Tang-Soo-Do from 1983 to 1987 while stationed at
Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
From 1987 to 1988 it was Tae-Kwan-Do while stationed in Taegu, Korea.
Then there was Kempo Karate from 1990 to 1992 in Newbury Park, California.
Powell Sensei finally found Alexander Sensei in 1993 and he's been here ever since.
Powell Sensei feels that "Training Aikido (with Alexander Sensei) has filled a large
void left in my life that was created in '78".