About Us

     Our Chief  Instructor, Joe Anshel Sensei (3rd Dan), was uchideshi (live-in trainee or disciple) under Toyoda Shihan,  for the last four years of Toyoda Shihan's life and career.  Anshel Sensei had been living in Mission Viejo, CA, and had developed the feeling that the training that he had been receiving locally, did not live up to what he aspired to learn about through years of reading about the martial arts and eastern philosophy.  So after some research, Anshel Sensei found Toyoda Shihan's dojo and live-in training program to be the place that measured up to his image of true and intense Aikido and Zen training.  Anshel Sensei brings his years of experience of being beside his teacher, a true living master, to our community. We are here to provide true martial arts training to the surrounding areas, and we sincerely hope all who are interested will take advantage of the instruction being offered.

Our adult class assistant and Youth Program Instructor, Keely Hanley Sensei (2nd Dan), also trained under Toyoda Shihan for several years in his advanced training and instruction mentoring program.  Hanley Sensei brings her extensive background in psychology and counseling to her classes, and keeps a firm but delicate and nurturing atmosphere in the youth classes.