Aikido is an original, non-competitive martial art from Japan that was created by Ueshiba Morihei (1883-1969). It is a partner-based martial art in which partners alternate roles, with realistic situations, applying multiple forms of attack and the receiving end, diffusing those attacks by locks, throws and immobilization
Evolene started Aikido in September 2000 when she was 10 years old. She was fascinated by the Aikido philosophy of bringing peace within the world and the idea that Aikido was a martial art that didn't require to be physically strong or big.
She immediately devoted herself to the art and wouldn't miss a class, trying to attend seminars as much as she could and learn from many different Senseis around Southern France.
She was a student of Mariano Aristin Sensei, 7th Dan, and later trained under Franck Noël Sensei, 7th Dan, while she was studying in Toulouse to get her bachelor's and later her masters in fundamental Physics.
Evolene developed interest for teaching while attending school for a master's in elementary school education and went on to test for her state license to be an Aikido instructor (BE1) in 2010.
In 2012, she decided to move to Colorado to train under Ikeda Sensei after attending several week long seminars with him in France.
She has been training at Boulder Aikikai while working on her master's in fundamental Physics and then PhD in optical engineering at CU Boulder until 2020. She is extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to train under Ikeda Sensei and Tres Hofmeister Sensei - who taught her advanced Aiki-Jo and Aiki-Ken from Saotome Sensei's lineage. Ikeda Sensei promoted her to yondan in 2018.
Evolene is particularly focussed on creating training opportunities for young people and helping them sustain their practice while attending school and starting their professional career. In 2019, she worked on a project called Aikido for tomorrow (hyperlink to Aikido journal article https://aikidojournal.com/2020/04/08/aikido-for-tomorrow/) that aimed at bringing the generation of young adults together and encourage everyone to lead Aikido classes in a seminar format.
Additionally, Evolene is interested in alternative healing practices and has been a Reiki master since 2013. She loves the outdoors and spends the rest of her free time running. She picked up ultra running as a side effect of 2020 and enjoys running 100 miles races.
About Kei Izawa Sensei
Aikikai Tanshinjuku was founded in February of 2000 by Kei Izawa sensei, 7th dan. Izawa Sensei, chief instructor of Aikikai Tanshinjuku, began his practice of Aikido in Tokyo, Japan, at Aikikai Hombu Dojo in 1969, under the later Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba, a week after O Sensei passed away.
In 1976, Izawa Sensei moved to Cambridge, Massachusetts where he studied under Mitsunari Kanai Shihan, 8th Dan of New England Aikikai. Izawa Sensei has also practiced under numerous instructors at Hombu Dojo such as Osawa Sensei (senior), and the third Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba.
Izawa sensei has taught at New England Aikikai, as well as in the United Kingdom and Germany. Since 1995, Izawa sensei has been a member of the Aikido Council in Tokyo, Japan.
Izawa Sensei is the translator of the biography of O Sensei “A Life in Aikido,” written by second Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba and published by Kodansh International. Izawa sensei was most recently Chairman of the International Aikido Federation (IAF), a position he held since 2008.
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