DYNAMIC AIKIDO
IN YOKOHAMA
Our teachers are an international team of experts with decades of experience in Aikido, under the greatest masters of the art.
Official Aikikai Dojo
Yokohama AikiDojo is officially recognized by the Aikido World Headquarters.
Strong Credentials
All of our instructors hold credentials from the Aikikai Foundation.
International Team
Safe Practice
Several of our teachers and staff are trained in first aid and sports injury treatment.
Yokohama AikiDojo History
Yokohama AikiDojo was founded by Guillaume Erard in October 2020 in an effort to bring Aikido practice to the expat community in Yokohama's Yamate area.
Since its inception, Yokohama AikiDojo has welcomed foreign and Japanese individuals, as well as many children of mixed heritage, and it has provided its member with a window to Japanese culture through the practice of budo.
Yokohama AikiDojo iss officially recognized by the Aikido World Headquarters (Aikikai Public Interest Foundation). The dojo regularly takes part in all major international and national events, including the International Aikido Federation Congresses, and the All Japan Aikido Demonstration.
CHIEF INSTRUCTOR
Guillaume ERARD
Shihan - 6th dan
Kanagawa Prefecture Aikido Federation Board Member
Guillaume began practicing budo in France at the age of six. Inspired by his mentor, Christian Tissier Shihan, he moved to Japan to train intensively at the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, learning from the top masters.
Ten years later, he founded his own dojo in Yokohama. He was promoted soon after to the rank of 6th dan by the head of Aikido worldwide, Ueshiba Moriteru Doshu. Guillaume is also a 5th dan instructor in Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu, the art that the founder of Aikido learned from the great Master Takeda.
Guillaume is a prolific author for martial arts magazines and books both in Japan and internationally. He served for several years as the Director of Information for the International Aikido Federation and regularly travels to teach seminars and give lectures on Aikido. Passionate about science and education, he holds an MSc in Education Sciences and a PhD in Molecular Biology.
INSTRUCTORS
Mihály DOBRÓKA
Shidoin - 5th dan
Mihály started practicing Aikido in Hungary, in 2002. He moved to Japan in 2011 to continue his studies and to train. He was the first non-japanese to become the captain of the Hirosaki University Aikido Club, where he organized an anniversary event under the direction of Aikido Doshu Ueshiba Moriteru. Since 2015, he has been training daily at Aikido Hombu Dojo and received the 5th dan from Doshu. He regularly gives Aikido seminars in Asia and Europe. Mihály holds a PhD in Physics from Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Allan FONTAINE
Fukushidoin - 2nd dan
Allan started practicing Aikido as a child on the French island of La Reunion, off the coast of Madagascar, under the supervision of his father. Inspired by the teachings of Philippe Gouttard Shihan, he continued his training in mainland France, regularly attending his seminars. During this time, he joined the dojo of Franck Noel Shihan, where he trained daily under his guidance. After completing his studies in 2024, he moved to Japan to further his apprenticeship in Aikido by training daily at the Hombu Dojo, where he received the 2nd dan from Doshu.
Instructors Certification System
Yokohama AikiDojo instructors are certified based on rigorous standards of technical proficiency, teaching ability, first aid training, and interpersonal communication skills. The certification system comprises two levels: fukushidoin (assistant instructor) and shidoin (instructor).
Shidoin lead classes and bear primary responsibility for instruction, while fukushidoin provide in-class assistance and substitute for instructors when needed. All certified instructors undergo regular professional development and evaluation to maintain the dojo's educational standards. This structured approach ensures that Yokohama AikiDojo consistently delivers high-quality instruction grounded in authentic Aikido principles.
ASSISTANTS & STAFF
David FRYKHOLM
Fukushidoin 3rd dan
David started to practice Aikido in Sweden at the age of 12 in 1998 under the guidance of a friend of the family who had a dojo close by. He took his Shodan test when he was 18 in Sweden. After traveling to various countries around Europe to attend seminars, he first went to Japan for three months in 2008. From January 2009 he settled down permanently in Japan, first studying Japanese and now working in the Tokyo area. David has been practicing under the direction of a number of prominent instructors, mostly at the Aikido Hombu Dojo, where he was promoted to 3rd dan in 2012. After taking a break during the 2020 pandemic, he is now resumed practice at Yokohama Dojo with his family.
Megumi FUKUDA
Dojo Secretary / Nurse
Megumi started practicing Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu under Kobayashi Kiyohiro Shihan (Takumakai) in 2013, and in Aikido at Yokohama AikiDojo in 2020. She is a certified nurse with extensive experience in hospitals and clinics in the Kanto area. She has a long experience in attending to the medical needs of school and university students in Japan and abroad. She holds a certification in the treatment of sports injury from the Japanese Society of Sports Rescue Nursing, and she is also a certified first aid instructor from the American Heart Association.
INSTRUCTORS AT LARGE
Odilon REGNARD
Shidoin 5th dan
Odilon is a professional Aikido instructor. Since starting Aikido in 1996, he has trained under numerous masters from different schools. He became a certified instructor in 2004. For over a decade, Odilon has traveled to Japan annually to train at the Hombu Dojo and Yokohama AikiDojo. He holds the title of shidoin at Yokohama AikiDojo and teaches select classes during his visits. In recognition of this close relationship with Japan, he was recommended for the 5th dan by Guillaume Erard Shihan and received his diploma signed by the Doshu following the Kagamibiraki 2026. He is currently based in Germany, where he directs AikiDojo Emmendingen, a member of Aikido Föderation Deutschland.
Guillaume D'ANDREA
Fukushidoin 3rd dan FFAB
Guillaume d’Andréa discovered Aikido in 2007 at the age of 27. Passionate from the start, he quickly became deeply involved, even traveling to Japan starting in 2010. Now a 3rd dan with the French Aikido and Budo Federation (FFAAA), he founded the Fresnes-en-Woëvre club in 2019 after 12 years at the Verdun club. His encounter in Japan with Guillaume Erard Shihan profoundly reshaped his practice and he now follows regularly his teaching, hosts Erard Shihan in Lorraine, and trains at both the Hombu Dojo and the Yokohama AikiDojo. He also studies Daito-ryu Aiki-jujutsu at the Shikoku Hombu Dojo, where he holds a 1st dan.
SENIOR MEMBERS
Hiroyuki MINATO
2nd dan
Hiroyuki started practicing Aikido at the Hokkaido University Aikikai Aikido Club. After that, he got the opportunity to train in numerous dojo, including University of Tsukuba Aikido Club, the Midwest Aikido Center in Chicago (USA), and the Aikikai Foundation Hombu Dojo. In 1997, he was granted the second dan by Fujihira Akira Shihan in Chicago. Although there were periods when he had to pause his practice to raise his children, the profound impact and inspiration that he received from the techniques of the late Fujita Masatake Shihan have stayed with him, driving him to continue practicing Aikido. In the summer of 2024, he was drawn to the logical and powerful Aikido of Erard Shihan and joined Yokohama AikiDojo.
Jun ATSUMI
2nd dan
Jun started Aikido in 1984 at age 8 at the Aikido Kodokan in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, under Tanaka Koremitsu Sensei. He was promoted to the 1st dan while in high school and to the 2nd dan while in college. He has experience teaching internationally, notably while he was at the Kodokan branch dojo located in North Carolina, USA. After graduating, Jun had to quit Aikido, but by chance, he heard about Yokohama Aikido Dojo and decided to resume his training for the first time in 25 years. He is passionate about start-up business and about supporting foreign companies to invest in and expand into Japan thanks to his extensive e-commerce expertise.
Ryutaro SHIMOTORI
2nd dan
Ryutaro started Aikido while he was a student at Hosei University Aikido Club under the leadership of Sekine Akihiro Sensei. He quickly started to attend all classes held in the dojo, and he was subsequently promoted to the first dan in 2015. He continued training until his graduation and joined Yokohama AikiDojo in 2024, where he succesfully took his nidan test under the supervision of Erard Shihan in 2025. Ryutaro also regularly attends classes at the Hombu Dojo.
YUDANSHA
Black belt practitioners are always present on the tatami to help guide our students through their progression.
- Rokudan: 1
- Godan: 2
- Yondan: 2
- Sandan: 1
- Nidan: 4
- Shodan: 1
Technical lineage
Since its inception, Yokohama AikiDojo has benefitted from the support of Osawa Hayato Shihan (8th dan) and Christian Tissier Shihan (8th dan). All of our titular instructors have trained for many years under the direction of Doshu and the senior instructors at the World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo, regularly serving as uke during classes and demonstrations.
Grades
The kyu and dan grades examinations are conducted within our dojo, under the direction of our Chief instructor. The certificates are issued by the Aikikai Foundation and are signed by Doshu. They are recognized all over the world.
World Martial Arts Masterships
Our instructors are regular contributors of the activities of the International Aikido Federation. They participated in the World Martial Arts Masterships as part of the team of experts representing Aikido.
The event, which was presided by former United Nations General Secretray Ban Ki-Moon, gathered 3,119 martial artists from 106 countries under the motto: "Beyond the Times, Bridge the World". The opening ceremony welcomed 15,000 attendees.
Official Merchandise
You can support Yokohama AikiDojo by purchasing our official merchandise!
