Philippe Voarino

Born in March 1960, Philippe was first taught Takemusu Aikido by Nobuyoshi Tamura Sensei in 1977 from whom he received grades to 2nd Dan.

He went to Japan to study with Morihiro Saito and was a regular uchi deshi (live-in student) at the Iwama Dojo. Further grades, including the 6th dan Aiki Dojo of Iwama, were conferred by Morihiro Saito. He is the third Iwama student to have been granted a sixth dan by Morihiro Saito Sensei.

From 1989 to 1991 he also received from Saito Sensei the five traditional Mokurokus (scrolls) of aiki-ken and aiki-jo which give the authorization to teach Buki Waza (weapons techniques). Fewer than ten other people in the world gained these certificates.

In 1992, with Georges Rousseau, Pierre Chassang and many others Philippe founded Takemusu Aiki Intercontinental, the goal of which is to preserve the original instruction of the Founder O Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and to promote an authentic and independent European Aikido.