tenshinkai

          tENSHINKAI AIKIDO HISTORY


           1958 - Sensei Dang Thong Tri brought Aikido from France to introduce it to Vietnam.

           1960 - Sensei Mutsuro Nakazono came to Vietnam to help Sensei Dang Thong Tri
               to train a carde of instructors.

           1964 - Sensei Dang Thong Tri resettled in the United States, relinquishing the Vietnam
                Aikido and Judo Association to Sensei Dang Thong Phong.

           1964 - Sensei Dang thong Phong traveled to Hombu Dojo in Japan for additional
                training, obtaining his 3rd degree black belt in Aikido there.

           1968 - O'Sensei Morihei Ueshiba and Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba issued credentials
                to Sensei Phong, officially sanctioning him to spread Aikido all over the  Vietnamese
                territory in the Spirit of Love and Peace.

           1968 - Sensei Dang Thong Phong founded the Aikido Tenshinkai Federation, holding
                the position of President until today.

          1970 - Aikido was officially introduced to the school system and the Armed Forces of
                South Vietnam.

          1975 - Before the fall of South Vietnam in April 1975, Aikido members in Vietnam
               numbered over 10,000.

          1986 - Sensei Dang thong Phong moved to the United States.

        1988 - Tenshinkai Aikido Federation was re-born under the name of International
              Tenshinkai Federation headquartered in Westminster, Orange County, California, USA.

          1991 - Aikido World Headquarters recognized International Tenshinkai Aikido Federation
               as an official organization within the Aikikai system, sanctioned to operate in the
               United States.

          1994 - Aikido Tenshinkai Association in Vietnam was re-instated by Aikido World
               Headquarters.

          1995 - Aikido Tenshinkai European branch was established.

          1997 - At the ceremony celebrating the 29th anniversary of the founding of International
               Tenshinkai Aikido Federation on February 20, 1997, in Westminster, California.

                    Shihan Masatake Fujita, on behalf of Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, presented Sensei
               Dang Thong Phong with the Certificate of 6th degree Aikikai Black Belt.

                 International Tenshinkai Aikido Federation presently has branches in the United States,
                 Vietnam, France and Canada.

Austin Aikido TENSHINKAI Dojo, TX. USA . ( 1995 )