Calgary Aikikai
On the Mat

Michael Friedl is a 7th degree black belt in Aikido. He has also studied Shorei/Kempo Karate and Tai Chi. His Aikido training began in 1972 under Clyde Takeguchi Sensei in Madison, Wisconsin. From 1975-1977, he was a live-in student (also known as a uchi deshi) for Takeguchi Sensei in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1978 Friedl Sensei established a Dojo in Burlington, Vermont. He relocated to Ashland, Oregon in 1979 then started a small Aikido club there. Freidl Sensei became a direct student of Frank Doran Shihan in 1979 and has been a student of Doran Sensei since that time.

From 1981-1983, Friedl Sensei was uchi deshi for Saito Sensei in Iwama, Japan. There he studied the Iwama style of weapons. He returned to Ashland in 1986 and started a Dojo at the Ashland YMCA in 1987. In July of 1994, Aikido of Ashland opened it’s doors to Dojo members. It is one of the dojos in Division 2 of the California Aikido Association (CAA).

Friedl Sensei is a Shihan and Division Head for Division Two, one of three Division Heads, of the CAA. The CAA has a direct link to Hombu Dojo, the Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan and the Ueshiba Family.