Instructors

Chief Instructor John Ekey Sensei 3rd Dan

Sensei Ekey started training in 1988 with Sensei Mark Ruppert of the St. Louis Ki Society. One year later in 1989 he moved to Japan to train at the Ki Society Headquarters in Tokyo. He returned to St. Louis in 1990 and in 1993 began cross training with Sensei Eric Henkels of Aikido Schools of Ueshiba after attending a seminar with Hiroshi Ikeda Sensei at the Chicago Aikikai. After graduating from college in 1994 he moved to Boulder Colorado to train with Ikeda Sensei on a regular basis at the Boulder Aikikai. For eleven years he continued to train at Boulder Aikikai until 2005 when he returned to St. Louis and has lead the St. Louis Aikikai ever since.

Senior Insructor Michael Grossman Sensei, 5th dan

Grossman Sensei began training in aikido in 1972 with Hagihara Sensei in New York. The large part of his training took place in Japan between 1983-1989 and 1997-2004. He has also trained around the world, particularly in the Madison ASU dojo, and in Hawaii under Yoshioka Shihan. Grossman Sensei continues to lend us his considerable experience in leading classes in Chesterfield.