Tsuneo Ando


Tsuneo Ando is an 8th dan Yoshinkan Aikido teacher. He spent 14 years as uchi deshi to Gozo Shioda, the founder of Yoshinkan Aikido. He is said to most closely resemble Shioda in terms of size; speed and style. He is highly sought after as a teacher both in Japan and all around the world for his technique and for the warmth of his personality.
Tsuneo Ando was born in 1956 in Nihama City, Ehime Prefecture on the island of Shikoku. He attended Tokushima University where he studied engineering. Ando joined the Tokushima University Aikido Club where he first became captivated by aikido. During his time at Tokushima University, he reached the rank of 2nd dan in aikikai. After graduating from university Ando was briefly employed by a chemical company. However he quickly decided that the life of a Japanese salary-man was not for him. He had already been greatly impressed by Shioda's technique when he attended a Yoshinkan Aikido training camp and so, in 1981, he joined the Yoshinkai as uchi deshi. He was awarded the title of shihan in 1993 and he currently holds the rank of 8th dan in Yoshinkan Aikido. He also holds the title of syuseki shihan at the Yoshinkan Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo.

Publications

Ando has produced several DVDs for aikido training.
He has also published two books Chushin Ryoku no Jidai and Aikido no Kai. Chushin Ryoku no Jidai is available in Japanese and in German. Aikido no Kai is currently only available in Japanese.

Personal life

Ando lives in Chiba Prefecture with his wife, South African Stephanie Ando, and their two sons. He has two children from his first marriage to Naomi Ando, also a student of Gozo Shioda, who died in 1997.