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Ranks and Awards
Menkyo Kaiden (teaching license, certificate of complete mastery) in aikido, awarded by aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei, in 1961
Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu 1972
Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Kodokan Judo and Jiu Jitsu (dual certificate), awarded by Kazuo Ito and Risei Kano, son of judo founder igoro
Kano, in 1970
Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958
Hawaiian State Golden Gloves Boxing from 1954 to 1958
Menkyo Kaiden (teaching license, certificate of complete mastery) in aikido, awarded by aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei, in 1961
Rokudan (6th degree black belt) in Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu 1972
Sandan (3rd degree black belt) in Kodokan Judo and Jiu Jitsu (dual certificate), awarded by Kazuo Ito and Risei Kano, son of judo founder igoro
Kano, in 1970
Nidan (2nd degree black belt) in Kendo, awarded by Shuji Mikami in 1958
Hawaiian State Golden Gloves Boxing from 1954 to 1958
| Sensei Suenaka's Instructors 1944-1958 Warren Suenaka (father): judo, jiu-jutsu, kenjutsu, kempo and boxing 1948-1952 Henry Seishiro Okazaki, founder: Kodenkan Jiu-Jutsu and Judo 1949-1953 James Masayoshi Mitose, founder: Kosho Ryu Kempo 1950-1953 Higami, Matsumoto and Yukiso Yamamoto: Kodokan Judo 1951-1952 Kalama: lua 1951-1951 Leong: kung fu 1953-1976 Koichi Tohei: aikido 1954-1958 Amateur boxing 1955-1958 Shuji Mikami: kendo 1957-1958 Nishioka: Shotokan Karate 1961-1969 Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei, founder: aikido 1961-1972 Hohan Soken, founder: Matsumura Seito Hakutsuru Shorin Ryu Karatedo & Kobudo 1961-1970 Kazuo Ito, Kyuzo Mifune: Kodokan Judo 1961-1963 Masutatsu Oyama, founder: Kyokushinkai Karate 1962-1962 Chosin Chibana: Kobayashi Karate 1963-1963 Kanei Uechi, founder: Uechi Ryu Karate 1964-1964 Ubon-Sing Chub: kung fu 1964-1965 Masanobu Shinjo, Masanobu Kinjo: Goju Ryu Karate 1967-1972 Eiichi Miyazato: Goju Ryu Karate |
Roy Y. Suenaka Sensei, founder of Wadokai Aikido, began his martial study
at age four under his father in their birthplace of Honolulu, Hawaii. This early
tutelage in judo, ju-jitsu, kempo and boxing was soon augmented by
instruction in Kodenkan ju-jitsu under founder Henry Seishiro Okazaki,
kendo under Shuji Mikami, and Kosho-ryu kempo under the renowned
James Masayoshi Mitose.
Following Koichi Tohei's inaugural visit to Hawaii in 1953, at age twelve
Suenaka Sensei commenced what was to become his lifelong study of
aikido. Suenaka Sensei studied under Yukiso Yamamoto until 1958, when
he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Following his initial service in Sacramento,
California, where he became one of the first instructors to teach aikido on
the U.S. mainland, in 1961 Suenaka Sensei was assigned to Tokyo, Japan,
and later to Okinawa.
From 1961 until 1972 – interrupted only by a mandatory two-year
assignment to Honolulu – Suenaka Sensei studied extensively with aikido
founder Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei, son Kisshomaru Ueshiba Sensei (then
doshu), and Koichi Tohei Sensei, serving when military duties permitted as
uchi-deshi (live-in disciple) at the Aikikai Hombu (headquarters), during
which time O'Sensei presented Suenaka Sensei with a menkyo-kaiden
certificate of aikido mastery. At age 21, Suenaka Sensei became the first
person to open a successful aikido school in Okinawa, in Kadena. While
there, he also commenced private study in Matsumura Seito karate-do and
kobudo under the legendary Grandmaster Hohan Soken Sensei, with
emphasis on Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu technique. He also continued his study
of judo and ju-jitsu at the Kodokan world judo headquarters, particularly
under Kyuzo Mifune and Kazuo Ito, the latter of whom sponsored Suenaka
Sensei's promotion to sandan in judo and ju-jitsu.
Following O'Sensei's death in 1969 and Koichi Tohei Sensei's subsequent
separation from the Aikikai, Suenaka Sensei allied himself with Tohei
Sensei's then-infant International Ki Society, receiving from Tohei Sensei an
okuden certificate of advanced Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido proficiency and
serving as an International Ki Society shihan (chief instructor).
at age four under his father in their birthplace of Honolulu, Hawaii. This early
tutelage in judo, ju-jitsu, kempo and boxing was soon augmented by
instruction in Kodenkan ju-jitsu under founder Henry Seishiro Okazaki,
kendo under Shuji Mikami, and Kosho-ryu kempo under the renowned
James Masayoshi Mitose.
Following Koichi Tohei's inaugural visit to Hawaii in 1953, at age twelve
Suenaka Sensei commenced what was to become his lifelong study of
aikido. Suenaka Sensei studied under Yukiso Yamamoto until 1958, when
he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Following his initial service in Sacramento,
California, where he became one of the first instructors to teach aikido on
the U.S. mainland, in 1961 Suenaka Sensei was assigned to Tokyo, Japan,
and later to Okinawa.
From 1961 until 1972 – interrupted only by a mandatory two-year
assignment to Honolulu – Suenaka Sensei studied extensively with aikido
founder Morihei Ueshiba O'Sensei, son Kisshomaru Ueshiba Sensei (then
doshu), and Koichi Tohei Sensei, serving when military duties permitted as
uchi-deshi (live-in disciple) at the Aikikai Hombu (headquarters), during
which time O'Sensei presented Suenaka Sensei with a menkyo-kaiden
certificate of aikido mastery. At age 21, Suenaka Sensei became the first
person to open a successful aikido school in Okinawa, in Kadena. While
there, he also commenced private study in Matsumura Seito karate-do and
kobudo under the legendary Grandmaster Hohan Soken Sensei, with
emphasis on Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu technique. He also continued his study
of judo and ju-jitsu at the Kodokan world judo headquarters, particularly
under Kyuzo Mifune and Kazuo Ito, the latter of whom sponsored Suenaka
Sensei's promotion to sandan in judo and ju-jitsu.
Following O'Sensei's death in 1969 and Koichi Tohei Sensei's subsequent
separation from the Aikikai, Suenaka Sensei allied himself with Tohei
Sensei's then-infant International Ki Society, receiving from Tohei Sensei an
okuden certificate of advanced Shin-Shin Toitsu Aikido proficiency and
serving as an International Ki Society shihan (chief instructor).
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In 1972, Suenaka Sensei was assigned to Charleston, S.C., where he opened the Southeastern U.S. Ki
Society dojo. Disillusioned, however, by the escalating factionalism within both the Ki Society and the
world aikido organization, particularly the political and philosophical conflicts between Koichi Tohei and
Kisshomaru Ueshiba Doshu, in 1975 Suenaka Sensei resigned from the Ki Society and created his own
organization, the American International Ki Development and Philosophical Society, under which he
taught Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Aikido and Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu karate-do. Suenaka Sensei devoted
himself to full-time teaching upon his Air Force retirement in 1978. In 1996, he changed the name of his
umbrella organization from the AIKDPS to Wadokai (the peaceful way) Aikido.
Roy Y. Suenaka Sensei is ranked nidan (second dan) in kendo, sandan (third dan) in judo and ju-jitsu,
and rokudan (sixth dan) in Matsumura Seito and Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu karate-do and kobudo, the latter
rank awarded by Grandmaster Hohan Soken himself. In addition to his aikido menkyo kaiden presented
to him by the Founder, he is recognized as hachidan (eighth dan) in aikido by the International Black Belt
Federation. Suenaka Sensei also saw active combat duty in Vietnam, where he taught unarmed combat
skills to Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs and others.
Suenaka Sensei is the author of Complete Aikido: Aikido Kyohan, published by Charles E. Tuttle
Company. He currently resides and teaches in Charleston, S.C., where he is at work on his second book.
Society dojo. Disillusioned, however, by the escalating factionalism within both the Ki Society and the
world aikido organization, particularly the political and philosophical conflicts between Koichi Tohei and
Kisshomaru Ueshiba Doshu, in 1975 Suenaka Sensei resigned from the Ki Society and created his own
organization, the American International Ki Development and Philosophical Society, under which he
taught Suenaka-ha Tetsugaku-ho Aikido and Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu karate-do. Suenaka Sensei devoted
himself to full-time teaching upon his Air Force retirement in 1978. In 1996, he changed the name of his
umbrella organization from the AIKDPS to Wadokai (the peaceful way) Aikido.
Roy Y. Suenaka Sensei is ranked nidan (second dan) in kendo, sandan (third dan) in judo and ju-jitsu,
and rokudan (sixth dan) in Matsumura Seito and Hakutsuru Shorin-ryu karate-do and kobudo, the latter
rank awarded by Grandmaster Hohan Soken himself. In addition to his aikido menkyo kaiden presented
to him by the Founder, he is recognized as hachidan (eighth dan) in aikido by the International Black Belt
Federation. Suenaka Sensei also saw active combat duty in Vietnam, where he taught unarmed combat
skills to Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs and others.
Suenaka Sensei is the author of Complete Aikido: Aikido Kyohan, published by Charles E. Tuttle
Company. He currently resides and teaches in Charleston, S.C., where he is at work on his second book.
| Aikido Suenaka-Ha Ashland 431 England St. Ashland, Va 23005 804 537 0526 |
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