Aikido Sean Flynn serves on a voluntary basis as an Aikido Instructor at Vassar College as part of Vassar's Health and Fitness Program.  He is the author of Understanding Shodokan Aikido, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Japan Aikido Association, USA. Sports Aikido was developed by Professor Kenji Tomiki of Waseda University, Tokyo.  Professor Tomiki was a direct student of the founder of Judo, Jigoro Kano, as well as the founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba, and rose to the rank of 8th degree black belt in both arts.   He was also the first student to whom Ueshiba awarded an 8th degree black belt. Influenced by the educational and sporting philosophies of Judo, Tomiki developed a systematic curriculum for teaching Aikido as well as a safe sparring method whereby students could, for the first time, practice the very dangerous joint locking and throwing techniques of Aikido at full speed against fully resisting opponents. Sean began his study of Aikido in 1992 at the University of Southern California under 6th degree black belt and International Law Professor Robert Dziubla, the only non-Japanese to ever win the All-Japan Collegiate Aikido Championship.  He has subsequently studied extensively in Japan under top instructors including Fumiaki Shishida, Tetsuro Nariyama, and Kenshi Uno. Please visit the Vassar College Aikido Club.