Shobukan Dojo
Branch: New Jersey
Branch Chief: Ted Howell
Representative Instructor
AMAI - Technical Advisor
John Goss (Aikido Korindo) and Kondo Katsuyuki (Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujutsu)
Ted (Taikei) Howell has been a martial arts practitioner for over 40 years and is currently the Technical Advisor to the Aiki Martial Arts Institute. He has studied aikido under the Aikido Association of America, United States Aikido Federation, Aikido of Hawaii International, and the Aiki Martial Arts Institute. Over the course of his study, Ted has had the good fortune to also train with exponents of Yoshinkan Aikido, Iwama-ryu Aikido, Shinshin Toitsu Aikido, Nihon Goshin Aikido, Tenshin Aikido, Yoseikan Budo, and Daito-ryu Kodokai. He is a martial arts enthusiast and has a background that includes the study of Hakko-ryu Jujutsu, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu, Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu, Inosanto Filipino Kali, karate (AAKF), and scholastic wrestling. Howell Sensei is the author of “Mainline Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Revisited” and “Aikido Politics and the Growth of Korindo in America (published in the Aikido Journal).
Credentials:
- Shihan (Master Instructor) Mikata-ha Korindo Aikido, 2022
- Shihandai (Rep. Instructor) Mikata-ha Korindo Aikido, 2021
- Shidoin (Instructor) Mikata-ha Korindo Aikido, 2006
- 6th dan Aikido Korindo (John Goss, 2021)
- 4th dan Aikido Aikikai (Aikido World Headquarters, Japan, 2002)
- 3rd dan Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujutsu (Daito-ryu World Headquarters, Japan, 2025)
- 1st dan Aikido (Aikido Association of America, 1991)
Ted is a retired Lieutenant from the Mount Laurel Police Department, New Jersey. During his career, he held the following positions: Operations Division Commander, Office of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs) Commander, Training Supervisor and Senior Supervising Firearms Instructor. Ted was a law enforcement instructor of defensive tactics, impact weapons, firearms, and active shooter scenario-based training. While a police officer, he was exposed to both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (under Professor Brian McPherson, Team Renzo Gracie) and Israeli Krav Maga (under David Kahn, USA Chief Instructor).
Brief Biography
Ted began studying martial arts in 1983 and was first introduced to the art of aikido in 1985. While in high school, Ted studied Hakko-ryu Jujutsu, karate (AAKF), and scholastic wrestling. Upon attending Stockton University, he studied aikido under the direction of Eugene Waddell Sensei (5th dan Shidoin, Aikikai), Peter Tamagni Sensei (Chief Instructor Vineland Aikikai), and Shelby Broughton Sensei (Stockton Aikido Club). He later went on to study aikido under Toyoda Fumio Sensei (6th dan Shihan Shinshin Toitsu Aikido / President of Aikido Association of America) and John Goss Sensei (7th dan Shihan Mikata Korindo Aikido / Chief Instructor of the Aiki Martial Arts Institute).
In 1997 Ted began studying Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu under Kondo Katsuyuki Sensei (Menkyo Kaiden, Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Somucho) and has since trained under Kondo Sensei in both the United States and Japan. He is recognized as one of the first jujutsu practitioners to be awarded black belt ranking in (Mainline) Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu outside of Japan (2002) and is currently the leader of the Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu Study Group at the Aiki Martial Arts Institute. Ted was an assistant instructor of Daito-ryu at Budo Philadelphia, under Derek Steel (3rd dan Shibucho) and was authorized by Kondo Katsuyuki Sensei to teach Daito-ryu at the Shobukan Dojo in 2004.
Ted is currently a member of the Ryuzukan Dojo (Maryland) under the direction of Brian Wagner (4th dan Shibucho) and continues his study of Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu under the guidance of both Kondo Katsuyuki Sensei (Daito-ryu Somucho) and Kondo Masayuki Sensei (Daito-ryu Hombucho).
Mentors:
- Hasegawa Sumie (Menkyo Kaiden, Kyoju Dairi, Daito-ryu Hombucho-Hosa)
- Keith Meido Moore (7th dan Shihan Aikikai / 5th dan Shihandai AAA)
- Herbert Kondo (6th dan Aikikai / Aikido of Hawaii International)
- Stanley Pranin (5th dan Aikikai / Aikido Journal Editor-in-Chief)
- Derek Steel (3rd dan Shibucho Daito-ryu Aikijujutsu / Menkyo Shinto Muso-ryu Jo)
- Damian DiLuigi (Moy Yat Ving Tsun Kung Fu / Inosanto Filipino Martial Arts)
Influential Teachers:
Aikido Association of America
- Glen Matsuda (6th dan Aikikai / 5th dan Shihandai AAA)
- Alex Rusinko (4th dan Shidoin AAA)
Aikido of Hawaii International
- Robert Kubo (8th dan Shihan Aikikai / President of AHI)
- Thomas Kaulukukui, Jr. (7th dan Aikikai / AHI)
- Donald Shimazu (6th dan Aikikai / AHI)
Aikikai - Iwama-ryu
- Vincent Salvatore (6th dan Aikikai - Iwama-ryu)
- Donald Lyon (4th dan Aikikai - Iwama-ryu)
United States Aikido Federation
- Yamada Yoshimitsu (8th dan Shihan Aikikai / President of USAF)
- Henry Smith (6th dan Shihan Aikikai / Aikikai of Philadelphia)
World Aikido Aikikai Incorporated
- Okimura Zenko N. (7th dan Shihan Aikikai / President of WAAI)
Daito-ryu Aiki-Jujutsu (Mainline)
- Kondo Masayuki (Menkyo Kaiden, Daito-ryu Hombucho)
- Usuyama Hideto (Kyoju Dairi, Daito-ryu Fuku-Hombucho)
- Amano Shizuo (6th dan, Hiden Mokuroku)
- Stefan Kurilla (5th dan Shihan, Aiki No Jutsu)
- Yokohama Youya (5th dan, Hiden Mokuroku)
- Stas Kopin (5th dan, Hiden Mokuroku)
- Marc Trudel (4th dan, Hiden Mokuroku)
- Scott Vogeley (4th dan Shibucho)
- Marc Sumi (3rd dan Shibucho)
Terminology:
Hiden Mokuroku: First traditional scroll in Daito-ryu
Aiki No Jutsu: Second traditional scroll in Daito-ryu
Menkyo Kaiden: License of full transmission; highest level
Kyoju Dairi: Representative Instructor in Daito-ryu
Somucho: General Affairs Director
Hombucho: Headquarters Director
Hombucho-Hosa: Assistant to the Headquarters Director
Fuku-Hombucho: Vice Headquarters Director
Shibucho: Branch Manager
Note: Ted Howell is the Director / Chief Instructor of the Shobukan Dojo located in New Jersey. The school was originally opened under the name Pinelands Aikido and was an affiliate dojo of the Aikido Association of America (NJ-06). The name “Shobukan” (Victorious Warrior Hall) was bestowed by Kondo Katsuyuki Sensei in 2003. The school was open to the public from 1992 to 2006. Currently, Howell Sensei teaches privately in New Jersey and oversees the instruction of Korindo Aikido in the United States and Mexico.