William Gleason Sensei (6th Dan)

William Gleason (6th dan) studied Aikido from 1970 to 1980 at the main world headquarters (Hombu Dojo) in Japan and also with grandmaster Yamaguchi Seigo Shihan. During that same period, Gleason Sensei studied Japanese swordsmanship (kenjutsu) as well as Japanese language, classical music, and Eastern religion. Since 1985 Gleason Sensei has continued to study with Mitsugi Saotome Shihan under the auspices of the Aikido Schools of Ueshiba.

Gleason Sensei founded Shobu Aikido, Inc. in 1980 in Boston, Massachusetts, and there are presently five Shobu affiliate dojos from the Midwest to the East Coast. His new book is Aikido and Words of Power: The Sacred Sounds of the Kototama. He is also the author of The Spiritual Foundations of Aikido, which has been translated into four languages.

His first DVD is also available entitled Aikido and Japanese Sword that shows how the movements in traditional swordwork and those in Aikido barehanded techniques are essentially one and the same.

Gleason Sensei is available for seminars worldwide. View his current seminar schedule below. Read his feature article in Bujin Newsletter about his experience with Yamaguchi Sensei.