West Michigan Aikido

John Gardner Sensei has studied Aikido for more than thirty years.His original studies were with Takashi Kushida Sensei. Kushida Sensei was an uchideshi of Gozo Shioda Shihan. Kushida Sensei moved to the United States In 1973.

In 1985 T.S. Okuyama Sensei moved to Ann Arbor Michigan and founded the Great Lakes Aikikai. Gardner Sensei was one of the founding members. During his 13 years at G.L.A. he taught classes weekly and filled in when Okuyama Sensei was away.

In 2001 Okuyama Sensei relocated to Albuquerke New Mexico, at which time Rodger Park Sensei Became the Chief Instructor of the G.L.A. The dojo is now called Huron Valley Aikido.

Gardner Sensei currently holds the rank of Sandan with Birankai North America.

Gardner Sensei graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1987 with a bachoelors degree in nursing. He worked as a nurse at the University of Michigan Medical Center from 1988 until 2001. Gardner Sensei worked in the Adult Acute Dialysis program until 1995. In 1995 he was asked to help start the Pediatric Dialysis program at the universities C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital.

In 2000 Gardner Sensei was recruited By DeVos Childrens hospital to help start the Pediatric Nephrology, Dialysis and transplantation program. This sub-specialty was not in exinstance in western michigan. Since the program has started, they have performed 19 kidney transplants and have seen approximately 6,000 children in the clinic yearly.