Andrew M. Sato Shihan
Founder & Chief Instructor

Andrew Sato Shihan, 7th dan, is the Founder and Chief Instructor of the Aikido World Alliance. Sato Shihan and several dedicated dojo and students started the organization in 2005. Under his leadership, the AWA has grown to more than 50 dojo worldwide, and is one of only a few US-based aikido associations directly affiliated with the Aikikai Foundation, Aikido World Headquarters, in Tokyo, Japan.

As Chief Instructor of the AWA, Sato Shihan travels the world regularly giving seminars. He also regularly teaches at Kiku Matsu Dojo, Chicago, which he started in 2005. It is now under the direction of Laura DeGraff Sensei, 6th dan.

Sato Shihan began his study of aikido with the late Fumio Toyoda Shihan (1947-2001) in his home city of Chicago in 1977. Sato Shihan still calls Chicago home, and is married with two grown children.