Meido Moore Sensei (Director of Parent Dojo)

Meido Moore, Director of Shinjinkai - The Japanese Martial Arts Society, began Aikido training in 1986. He went on to spend six years as uchideshi (live-in apprentice) under the late Aikido and Zen master Fumio Toyoda Shihan (1947-2001). Moore Sensei founded Shinjinkai to promulgate the teachings he received, and to promote training internationally in Budo (martial ways) and Zen. He has taught Aikido and Aikido applications to civilians, law-enforcement and military personnel across the United States and in Japan, England, Poland, Greece, Latvia, and Bulgaria. He currently holds the rank of godan in Aikido, issued by Aikido World H.Q. in Tokyo, Japan.

John Mazza Sensei (Head Instructor)

Mazza Sensei has had over 35 years experience in the study, practice and teaching of the martial way. He began his training in Korea in 1964 studying the art of Judo. Upon his return to the United States, he began his study of Oriental Philosophy and Meditation. Believing that, the only true path to self-understanding is through disciplined practice and the Martial Way, he immersed himself in the study and practice of various arts.

Mazza Sensei has studied various styles of karate and Kung Fu. Feeling that there should be more to the Arts than kicking and punching, he embarked upon the study of Aikido. It was through this study that he gained a deep understanding of the Martial Way. At this time, he began the study of Zen and came to realize that all practice is truly one. The purpose of all training is the development of the individual.

Mazza Sensei currently holds the rank of godan in Aikido, issued by Aikido World H.Q. in Tokyo, Japan.

Glenn Patterson Sensei (Assistant Instructor)

Patterson Sensei began practicing Aikido in 1992 at Rockland Aikido in New York. He moved to Chicago in 1998 to train under the late Aikido and Zen master Fumio Toyoda Shihan (1947-2001). While training under Toyoda Shihan, he was the head instructor of the Northwestern University Aikido Club for two years. He joined the Japanese Martial Arts Society (Nihon Bugei Shinjinkai) in 2002 and has instructional duties at the Northwestern University Aikido Club as well as at the headquarters dojo. He currently holds the rank of sandan in Aikido.

Will Light Sensei (Assistant Instructor)

Mr. Will Light Sensei, started his training, in Aikido, in 1999 at the University of Washington - Seattle under Mr. Gary Barnett Sensei (godan). In the spring of 2002, he went to Japan to further his study in Aikido at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Shinjuku, Tokyo, for one year. He returned to the U.S., in September of 2003, to continue his training at the Portland Aikikai under Mr. Okamoto Sensei (godan) and Mr. Mulligan Sensei (godan).

Mr. Light moved to the Chicago area, in 2004, and began training at Northwestern University under Mr. Mazza Sensei, and at the Headquarter Dojo, Shinjinkai, under the direction of Meido Moore Sensei. In the spring of 2005, he became a member of the Shinbukan Kuroda Ryugi study group under the leadership of Tetsuzan Kuroda Sensei. He has also studied Capoeira Angola Palamares under Contre Mestre Perrere.

Mr. Light currently assists with Aikido classes at Northwestern University and the Headquarter Dojo, Shinjinkai. He is also called upon to assist with the Children's Youth Aikido Program at Shinjinkai as well.

Light Sensei currently holds a rank of shodan in Aikido.

Craig Bina Sensei (Assistant Instructor/Faculty Advisor)

Mr. Craig Bina Sensei, began his Aikido training under the direction of Shihan Fumio Toyoda in 1980, and has been training in Aikido, both here and abroad for 25 years.

Mr. Bina brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the practice and teaching of the Art of Aikido having studied with a variety of renowned instructors: Shihan Tada Hiroshi, in Tokyo, Japan; Shihan Saotome Mitsugi, in Washington, D.C.; and Shihan Maruyama Shuji in Princeton, New Jersey.

Mr. Bina has been a long time member of the Northwestern University Aikido Club, Zanshinkan, since 1980. He continues his training with Mazza Sensei today. Not only does he serve in the capacity as Assistant Instructor (Fukushidoin), but he is also the Club’s Faculty Advisor.

A member of Northwestern University Faculty, Bina Sensei is the W.V. Jones Professor of Geological Sciences, and a former Associate Dean of the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. He continues to be an invaluable source to the Club and its members by providing a traditional expertise to the Aikido experience.

A frequent visitor to Japan, he has held several research positions studying geophysics at Tokyo University and, most recently, at Ehime University. He also hikes in the mountains and visits remote temples to gain a deeper understanding into the Way of Budo.

Bina Sensei currently holds a rank of nidan in Aikido.

Tenzan Gensho Rokoji (Fumio Toyoda Shihan, 1947-2001)

Fumio Toyoda, (1947-11-08 - 2001-07-04) was a Japanese aikido teacher and lay Zen master who taught extensively in the United States and Europe.

Raised in Tochigi prefecture in Japan, Toyoda began training at age 10 with his first teacher Koichi Tohei, whose family land neighbored that of the Toyoda family. Toyoda was awarded the rank of shodan at age 17, during a test administered by the late Morihiro Saito. At age 17, he also began training in the misogi methods taught at the Ichikukai Dojo in Tokyo. Toyoda would go on to live for three years at Ichikukai as a resident student, or jyoju. It was here that he began studying Zen as well.

Toyoda later enrolled as uchideshi at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo, and lived there for over two years. In 1974, when Koichi Tohei split off from the Aikikai Foundation to eventually form his Ki no Kenkyukai (Ki Society), Toyoda followed. In that same year - now 27 years old and holding the rank of godan - he was sent by Tohei to Chicago, USA. Tohei would eventually promote him to the rank of rokudan. Disagreements between the two, however, led to Toyoda's departure from Tohei's organization. In 1984 Toyoda founded his own Chicago-based organization, the Aikido Association of America. Now independent and traveling extensively to lead seminars, a network of European students would also grow to form a sister organization, Aikido Association International. AAA/AAI would eventually re-affiliate with Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1994.

In 1997, Toyoda was given inka shomei, the certification of completion of his training in Rinzai Zen, by the late Tenshin Tanouye Roshi of Chozen-ji temple in Honolulu, Hawaii; the dharma name awarded was "Tenzan Gensei". Toyoda was active promoting Zen training in his network of Aikido dojo. For many years in Chicago he headed a betsuin (branch temple) of Chozen-ji, as well as International Zen Dojo Sogenkai, a lay Zen organization he founded to promulgate the teachings of the late Zen master, swordsman and calligrapher Omori Sogen.

On July 4th, 2001 Toyoda succumbed to a bacterial infection, dying suddenly at the age of 53. His posthumous Buddhist name is "Tenzan Gensho Rokoji".

AAA and AAI continue to be active today, as affiliates of Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan under the guidance of Yasuo Kobayashi. Several other martial art organizations and schools, founded by Toyoda's senior students after his death, are also active. The Zen organizations Toyoda helped build eventually coalesced to form Daiyuzenji, a Rinzai Zen temple still active in Chicago.

2007-2009 Officers

• President: Rafael Bras
• Vice President: Jared Lewis
• Treasurer: Will Light
• Secretary: Duong Nguyen
• Webmaster: Jonathon Koeing