Students of the Founder, Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan, Part 1 First half

In this series called “Students of the Founder”, we interviewed the direct students of the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba.

With us here this time is Yasuo Kobayashi Shihan, who after graduated from Meiji University　became a Dojo instructor, and was taught directly by Morihei Ueshiba.

After that, he became independent and established “Kobayashi Dojo” in his home, and expanded Dojo branches throughout mainly in the Kanto area.

The number of Dojo is currently over 130 under his direct management in Japan.He holds the position of the General Shihan of Kobayashi Dojo.

In part 1, we shall ask about how Kobayashi Shihan entered the Hombu Dojo, and the memories he has of the founder at that time, and about the circumstances that led to the establishment of his own Dojo, in relation to Aikido, Kobayashi Dojo, and Tokorozawa Dojo.