INSTRUCTORS
Sensei Alejandro Domínguez. 3TH dan (SANdan) Black Belt, Fuku ShidoiN.
CHIEF INSTRUCTOR AND GENERAL DIRECTOR OF SHUGYO SHIN DOJO AIKIKAI.
Born on the 26th of December 1974, in Miami Florida, USA. From Dominican-Panamanian parents, his passion for martial arts began at an early age. When he turns 15 he starts with his karate practice in Panamá. A few years later he gets the opportunity to visit the Dominican Republic and then establish there, continues in the search for that martial way in which he began with enthusiasm and dedication. In 1992 he’s accepted in the Bella Vista Dojo, which represents the style of Miyama Ryu Ju-Jutsu in the country. Then, in 1993 he returns to Panamá with the compromise of ending his high school studies, at the same time practicing boxing for six months as a complementary activity.
In 1995, alter obtaining his high school degree in physics and math sciences, he returns to the Dominican Republic and enroll in the Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU), where he got his degree in graphical design and publicity. Here is where he decides to take Taekwondo as an elective class.
He began his AIKIDO studies in 1995 where he was part of a non-certified by Hombu Dojo (Aikido World Headquarters) school. He remained in this school for a period of nine years, earning the rank of 2nd degree black belt at the time where his practice skills and popularity among his colleagues and students grew bigger he got the opportunity of becoming director of various dojos, like: Club Naco Dojo, 27 de Febrero Dojo, and become part of the technical directive and like test judge for tests in the school. Is in the month of September 2003 when alter lots of work, dedication to his martial career , besides great enthusiasm, when one of his greatest dreams comes true, and this happens when he funds Shugyo Shin Dojo Aikikai which is considered like one of the most complete martial education centres dedicated to the teaching of Aikido in the Dominican Republic.
Thanks to the participation in internacional seminars in which he took advantage to the maximum of the teachings of the great teachers of the highest level, his technique was being refined more and more every time and grew stronger too.
The skill of the students grew considerably since among the Shihans with whom he spent time a shared with were: Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, Tamura Sensei, Yamada sensei, Kanai sensei, Chiba sensei, Sugano sensei, Kurita sensei, Kawahara sensei, Shibata sensei, Hayato Osawa sensei, Donovan sensei, Peter Bernath sensei and Shidoins of great prestige and preparation like: Ángel Álvarez sensei. Once convinced that it was necessary come back to the source itself and align himself with the current of the founder of Aikido, Sensei Dominguez decides to affiliate his school to the Aikikai International Federation, in this case under the direction of sensei Phillip Berrios (Shidoin) who actually resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with whom a few years earlier kept a great friendship, besides all the practices that they had together for some time. Shugyo Shin Dojo Aikikai is officially affiliated to the Federación Latino Americana de Aikido (F.L.A) since the month of February of 2004.
In November of 2004 takes his 1st degree black belt (Shodan) test that was approved in a convincing manner during the celebration o fan international seminar directed by Shihan Donovan Waite. This time he manages to be worldly certified and recognized by the central headquarter Hombu Dojo Japan.
For the month of April of 2006 he was granted the opportunity to remain for a whole month as visiting uchi deshi at the New York Aikikai Dojo under the direct supervision of our teacher Yoshimitsu Yamada 8th dan Shihan.
At the end of his uchi deshi period, he tries out for the Nidan (2nd dan) test, which he approves. This test was directed and supervised by Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan himself, who awards him with the acquired rank and so one more time Sensei Domínguez is recognized by Hombu Dojo in Japan.
For the month of april 2008, sensei Yamada promote sensei Alejandro Domínguez to 3th Dan ( Sandan) for contributions to tremendous growth and expansion of Aikido art in Dominican Republic.
In addition to the above mentioned, Sensei Domínguez is actually the self defense instructor of the Elite Command of the Scorpions of the Dominican Air Force for more than 4 years. Besides, imparted classes to the S.W.A.T. (dominican) for a period of two months in a basic course, and gave instruction for over a year to the Rapid Action Group (R.A.G.).
Sensei Domínguez has the third level of Reiki Therapy, an oriental healing art by passing vital universal energy through the imposition of the hands.
Poem: "¿Quien soy?"
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Sensei Philip Berrios.
Black Belt, 4th dan (Yodan), Shidoin. Technical Director of the Aikido Center of Puerto Rico, in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Technical Director of the Shugyo Shin Dojo Aikikai.
Born in the city of New York, but of Puerto Rican origin, he began to practice martial arts since the early age of 12, discovering then they would be his true passion.
Puerto Rico served as scenario so that Sensei Philip Berrios could take his first steps into the search of the martial knowledge initiating with Judo, followed by Kung Fu and Karate.
When he was 19 years old, he suspended those activities for a period of 11 years due to his work commitment and it would no be until the 30 year later that Sensei Philip Berrios decide to retake the martial arts, but this time in the style of Aikido under the Aikikai Federation.
His teacher, Yoshimitsu Yamada, who enjoys of an eighth Dan and is also the president of the USA and Latin America Federation, took him as his apprentice in 1987 until the actual date.
During these last 17 years the Sensei Philip Berrios, by request of his teacher, has impelled the art of Aikido in islands like: Jamaica, Santa Cruz, Saint Thomas and the Dominican Republic having Puerto Rico as base of his operations and the Center of Aikido of Puerto Rico as his dojo, where people of different social scopes receive training every year, among them: kids, students, professionals, federal agents, among others. _
Sensei Philip Berrios, was the first person to bring Aikido to Santo Domingo for the first time, under the parasol of Hombu Dojo in Japan (Aikikai Federation), place where these martial art was originated (in 1942 by the great master Morehei Ueshiba).
Every two years he travels to Japan not only to increase his knowledge but to maintain the purity of the Aikido through the direct bonding with the Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, grandson of the founder and at the moment in charge of the Hombu Dojo, where in addition of the daily practice of the Japanese, aikidokas from around the world go and practice there too.
Sensei Berrios is representing the FLA (Latin American Federation of Aikido) in Puerto Rico and The Dominican Republic. He participates actively in seminaries in countries like Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Aruba, Peru, Argentina, Spain and the United States of America which mainly imparted by his sensei Yoshimitsu Yamada (who was direct student of Morehei Ueshiba). Sensei Philip Berrios serves as translator in the events, in addition to be a student.
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Sensei María Hernández.
Instructor. Black Belt ( Nidan)
Born in september 22. 1981, Santo Domingo city. Civil engineer graduated from INTEC university in 2004.
Practicing Aikido since november 1997, at this time, directed by Philip Berrios sensei and Leonardo Escarfulleri sempai. Student of sensei Philip Berrios (4th Dan, Shidoin), was founder member of Santo Domingo Aikikai.
Maria Hernández sensei actually is member of Shugyo Shin Dojo Aikikai, working as instructor.
She participated in a international seminars and meetings organized by Federación Latinoamericana de Aikido (FLA).
“A person who take conscience of the true and resigned himself , never needs to unsheathe a sword.”
O-Sensei
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Sensei GUSTAVO ARIAS
Instructor
BLACK BELT (SHOdan)
Born in may 20 1979, in Santo Domingo city, Dominican Republic. Begining practice martial arts in 1989, learning judo at Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo ( UASD). Begining Aikido studies at year 2000 in a schol certified by Hombu Dojo, obtainning the yellow belt after two years of practices in that school.
After that, starting to learn Aikido by Alejandro Domínguez sensei in 2002, and in 2003 was founder member of Shugyo Shin Dojo Aikikai, under the direction of Alejandro Domínguez sensei, the school is official member of F.L.A. (Federación Latino Americana de Aikido).
Gustavo Arias sensei obtained the Shodan (First Dan) certified by Aikikai Hombu Dojo Japón since 2008. The test was supervised and directed by Yoshimitsu Yamada Shihan.
Sensei Arias have a Business Managment degree from Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo.
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