About Erik Sasha Calderon

I began training in the Martial Arts at the age of 5, starting with judo and karate.

While attending Boston University, I became a member of Brookline Village Aikido under William Gleason, training there for 1 year before deciding to pursue Aikido in more depth by moving to Tokyo, Japan, under a Study Abroad program between Boston University, Miami university and Sophia University.  

In 1991 I transfered and completed my senior year in Tokyo. My first month in Japan I trained at the the Sophia University Aikikai club under Wakabayashi Shihan.

I then signed up at the Aikikai World Headquarters learning Aikido from Kisshomaru Ueshiba, Moriteru Ueshiba, Hiroshi Tada 9th dan, Seijuro Masuda 8th dan, Masando Sasaki 8th dan, Nobuyuki Watanabe 8th dan, Seishiro Endo 8th dan, Masatoshi Yasuno 7th dan, Shoji Seki 7th dan, Tsuruzo Miyamoto 7th dan, Yoshiaki Yokota 7th dan, Hayato Osawa 7th dan, Yukimitsu Kobayashi 6th dan, and Shigeru Sugawara 6th dan.

In October of 1991, I was introduced to Hiroshi Kato, 8th dan, by a member of the Sophia Aikikai club. I was extremely impressed with Mr. Kato''s level and depth of knowledge as well as philosophy of Aikido. At this point I decided to continue my training and dedicate my time to the the study of Mr. Kato aikido techniques.

In December of 1997 I moved back to Houston. In January I began teaching at the park and at the "Q" fitness club. On July 1, 1998 I signed a lease at 3215 Fondren and founded the dojo, ShinKiKan.

My programs focus is on the martial arts that I have learned throughout my life with a primary focus on the martial art of Aikido.