Our Instructors

Porter Sensei holds the rank of sandan (3rd degree black belt). He has been training Aikido since 1996 and student teaching under Christenham Sensei (Sarpy Aikido) since 2001. He started Aikido Omaha, LLC in 2007 with encouragement from his instructors.  He is actively involved in the other Aikido of Hawai'i International dojos in the Greater Omaha area.

Christenham Sensei, Head Instructor of Sarpy Aikido Club. 

Head Instructor of Sarpy Aikido Club.  Christenham Sensei was born in 1946 in Ventura, California. Christenham Sensei retired from the Army Corps of Engineers and is actively working for an engineering firm in Omaha. He started learning Aikido in 1970 under Kubo Shihan in Hawai’i and thereafter, he became the assistant instructor to Shimazu Sensei in Hawai’i for 7 years. Christenham Sensei taught Aikido for few years in Hawai’i-kai in Hawai’i before he moved to Omaha. In 1990, Christenham Sensei started teaching his sons and a few other students Aikido in Omaha at his home. In January of 1991, Sarpy Aikido Club opened in its present location at La Vista Recreation Center near Omaha, Nebraska. It was the first Aikido club to be opened in the Omaha area. Christenham Sensei is still actively the chief instructor of the dojo.  He currently holds the rank of 6th Dan.

Christenham Sensei also was a Golden Gloves boxer and has an extensive background in Kung Fu.

Kubo Shihan, Head Instructor of Aikido of Hawai'i International

Kubo Shihan was born 1935 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He graduated with a degree in secondary education from the University of Hawai’i and taught in Hawai’i public schools for 30 years until his retirement in 1990. Kubo Shihan is presently the Chief Instructor of Aikido of Hawai’i International. He supervises dojos in Hawai’i; Omaha, Nebraska; Volousia County, Florida; and San Diego, California.

Kubo Shihan began his martial arts training in judo at the age of 12 under the strict supervision of Yukiso Yamamoto Sensei who later became Kubo Sensei's Aikido instructor. He also holds rank in Iaido.

Other instructors who had profound influence on Kubo Sensei's present style of Aikido and philosophy include O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba, 2nd Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba Sensei, current Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba, Koichi Tohei Sensei, Shoji Nishio Sensei, Morihiro Saito Sensei, and Yasuo Kobayashi Sensei.

In 1963, Kailua Aikido Club was established by Kubo Sensei at the Windward YMCA. Kailua Aikido Club has been in existence for over 40 years and Kubo Sensei still actively instructs at this location. His dojo is sometimes affectionately referred to as "Kubo Sensei's Inaka Dojo". As of January 2003, Kailua Aikido Club has a new home located at Kokokahi YWCA in Kaneohe.  He currently holds the rank of 7th Dan.