George Ledyard

Our Chief Instructor George Ledyard Shihan began his Aikido studies in 1977 under the direct instruction of Mitsugi Saotome and has continued this association ever since. Ledyard Sensei currently holds the rank of 7th Dan in Aikido and Shodan in Daito Ryu Aikijujutsu (under Howard Popkin and Joe Brogna Senseis). He counts Hiroshi Ikeda, William Gleason, Howard Popkin and Joe Brogna (Daito Ryu Ginjukai), Mary Heiny, Tom Read, Endo Seichiro, and Dan Harden as strong influences on his Aikido.

Ledyard Sensei was made a member of the Ueshiba Juku by Saotome Shihan. This connotes a direct line of “transmission” from the Aikido Founder, Morihei Ueshiba, through Saotome Shihan to his personally trained students.

He is the Founder of Defensive Tactics Options™, a system of police and security training which specializes in less-than-lethal force alternatives and Options for Protective Control™, an ultra low-level force system for physical intervention with juveniles and emotionally disturbed subjects.

As part of the 2015 Kagami Biraki promotions. Ledyard Sensei received his 7th Dan from Mitsugi Saotome Shihan.