seiwadojoinstructors

Dr. Mark Crapo started training in Hombu style Aikido in 1973 under Harry Ito Sensei in Hawaii. Ito Shihan is today one of the oldest and most respected living Aikido Instructors in Hawaii. At that time Mark was already a brown-belt in Judo and had been the captain of Judo Team at Central Michigan University. He also had several years of experience in both Japanese and Korean Karate. Mark was attending the University of Hawaii as an Honors Department exchange student studying Eastern Religious Philosophy, History and Ethics.

One of the two most influential of Dr. Mark’s instructors was Tri Thong Dang Shihan. Mark studied with him at his headquarters dojo: The Budo Education Center, while stationed at Mather AFB, Sacramento, CA. Tri Sensei was the Founder and President of the Vietnamese Judo Association, the Vietnamese Aikido Association, as well as a high ranking Karate instructor and a Master of several styles of Kung Fu, Taijiquan and Qi Gong. Tri Sensei had studied Aikido in Japan as a live-in student (uchi-deshi) of O Sensei and with Nakazono Shihan in France, South Africa and South America.

After practicing at a number of dojo in Los Angeles Dr. Mark finally settled at the Aikido Institute of America. Here he began an almost 20 year relationship with Seidokan Aikido Founder: Rod Kobayashi Shihan who quickly became the other major Aikido influence in Mark’s life.

In addition to studying across the States Mark has studied in both Hombu style and Ki Society (Shin Shin Toitsu Aikido) dojo in Tokyo, Kyoto and Chiba Japan. In 1989 he became a certified instructor in the Aikido Association of America under Fumio Toyoda Shihan. In 2000 he was recognized as Shihan by Ki Aikido International. Dr. Mark is currently a Rokudan or 6th degree black belt in Seidokan Aikido. He is listed in Who’s Who of Aikido published in Japan and has been inducted into the World Christian Martial Arts Hall of Fame and awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.