As the 20th anniversary of Kanai Sensei’s passing on March 28, 2004 approaches, we would like to remember him by sharing stories from a few of his former students. Their memories, though just a sample of the thousands of people who were touched by his gifts, are an important part of his legacy. His influence on the founders of Aikido Tekkojuku, all of whom were his students, has been profound and enduring.
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Sumio Hirai was Kanai Sensei’s friend from junior high school
Dear Mitsunari Kanai kun, I met you for the first time at Rokugo Junior High School in Ohta. We went to different highschools, but we kept in touch with each other after we graduated. You invited me to visit Hombu […] Read More
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Sharon Mann was Kanai Sensei’s student 1968-1976
In my early days at New England Aikikai, trips back to Japan for practice at Honbu Dojowere fairly regularly scheduled. Sensei’s Kanai and Yamada would host these sojourns,most likely as a way to finance their own travel home as there […] Read More
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Gilda Bruckman was Kanai Sensei’s student 1972-2004
I first met Kanai Sensei in April 1972 when I joined New England Aikikai in Central Square, Cambridge. For the next 32 years I was his student, and he was my only teacher. He had a wealth of talents and […] Read More
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Kei Izawa was Kanai Sensei’s student 1976-1978
My time with Kanai Sensei was between 1976 to 1978, and it was a time when he was finally gaining some confidence in his life in the US. But he still was shy in imposing Japanese Dojo etiquette to the […] Read More
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Yasu Itoh Sensei was Kanai Sensei’s student 1978-2004
I had been practicing Aikido for four years at Musashi University’s Aikido club in Tokyo. Ibecame a captain of the club and received the 2nd Dan upon my graduation in 1976. I imagined that I also graduated from Aikido and […] Read More
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George Mokray was Kanai Sensei’s student 1982-2004
Kanai Sensei was a powerful presence. Not tall but broad across the chest and with well-muscled forearms that, I later learned, were soft. All that iaido. He paid special attention to beginners, teaching basics classes every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon. He […] Read More
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Mike Huben was Kanai Sensei’s student 1983-2004
My first experience of Kanai Sensei was in my first day of classes. During kokyu ho, he came by and seated himself to practice with me. He grasped my wrists and I tried to move him, and it was hopeless. […] Read More
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Lee Pistone was Kanai Sensei’s student 1996-2004
The most surprising thing I discovered about Kanai Sensei was his compassion. It was not what I expected from a man of his stature in martial arts. The best example I can give is…. When I was away from classes due […] Read More