Disagreements between the two, however, led to Toyoda’s departure from Tohei’s organization. In 1984, with the assistance of Jon Takagi, Toyoda founded his own Chicago-based organization, the Aikido Association of America. Now independent, Toyoda traveled extensively leading seminars. His network of European students formed a sister organization, the Aikido Association International (AAI). AAA/AAI would eventually re-affiliate with Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1994.
In 1997, Toyoda was given inka shomei, the certification of completion of his training in Rinzai Zen, by the late Tenshin Tanouye Roshi of Chozen-ji temple in Honolulu, Hawaii; the dharma name awarded was “Tenzan Gensei”. Toyoda was active promoting Zen training in his network of aikido dojo. For many years in Chicago he headed a betsuin (branch temple) of Chozen-ji, as well as International Zen Dojo Sogenkai, a lay Zen organization he founded to promulgate the teachings of the late Zen master, swordsman and calligrapher Omori Sogen. He also founded the Japanese Culture Center (located in one of Chicago’s central neighborhoods), where students learn an array of martial arts, including Aikido, Kendo, Shuri-Ryu karate, as well as take classes in Zen and meditation / internal training.
On July 4, 2001 Toyoda succumbed to a bacterial infection, dying suddenly at the age of 53.[citation needed] His posthumous Buddhist name is “Tenzan Gensho Rokoji”.
AAA and AAI continue to be active today, as affiliates of Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Japan under the guidance of Yasuo Kobayashi. Several other martial art organizations and schools, founded by Toyoda’s senior students after his death, are also active. The Zen organizations Toyoda helped build eventually coalesced to form Daiyuzenji, a Rinzai Zen temple still active in Chicago.
Fumio Toyoda Shihan is succeeded by his son Stephen Toyoda, who is the current president of the Aikido Association of America and Aikido Association International.
The end.
Source: Facebook/Aikido
