Korindo Aikido Tijuana
Branch: Tijuana, Mexico
Branch Chief: Ruben Lopez Curiel
Ruben Lopez Curiel Sensei has been a martial arts practitioner for over 35 years. He began his study of traditional Japanese karate at the age of 13 and has studied Wado-ryu, Shito-ryu and Shotokan.
In 1999, Ruben began his study of Korindo Aikido in Tijuana Mexico, directly under Akitaka Sasaki Haruyama Sensei. In 2008, he was awarded Nidan in Korindo Aikido and appointed to the position of assistant instructor, aiding Sasaki Sensei with daily administrative duties and instruction. As the senior student of Akitaka Sasaki Haruyama Sensei, Ruben Lopez Curiel has continued to teach Sasaki Sensei’s Korindo Aikido in Tijuana Mexico, following the death of his teacher in 2016.
In 2021, Ruben began his study of Mikata Korindo Aikido under John Goss Sensei and has been authorized to head the first official MIKATA KORINDO AIKIDO STUDY GROUP outside of the United States.
Ruben Lopez Curiel Sensei (2023)
Ruben Lopez Curiel Sensei holds the following:
- 2nd dan Korindo Aikido (Sasaki Akitaka Haruyama Sensei)
- 2nd dan Mikata Korindo Aikido (John Goss 2024)
Akitaka Sasaki Haruyama Sensei (1935-2016):
Sasaki Sensei (4th dan Nihon Korinkai Aikido) was a direct student of Minoru Hirai (Founder of Korindo Aikido) from 1951 to 1961 (dates are approximate). He immigrated to Tijuana, Mexico in 1962 and is recognized as the first pioneer of Aikido in Mexico, as well as the first student of Minoru Hirai Sensei to establish a Korindo Aikido Dojo outside of Japan. In addition to Korindo Aikido, Sasaki Sensei was known to have studied Judo, Yabusame, and Karate prior to immigrating to Mexico.
