STEVE PIMSLER | 7TH DAN SHIHAN
Chief Instructor • New York Aikikai

Steve joined the New York Aikikai in 1974 and has been there since. He began teaching at the dojo in 1978. He was soto deshi to Yoshimitsu Yamada Sensei and travelled with him as otomo throughout the United States and Europe. As deshi, he had the good fortune to host the visits of Kisshomaru Ueshiba Doshu, Moriteru Ueshiba Doshu, Osawa Sensei, Saito Sensei and Arakawa Sensei of Hombu Dojo. He was the first treasurer of the United States Aikido Federation. In 2003 he became manager of the New York Aikikai and President of the Board of Directors. He has conducted seminars in the United States, Australia and South America and serves on the Technical Committee of the United States Aikido Federation. He assumed the role of Chief Instructor in January 2023, as requested by Yamada Sensei. Steve met his wife, Cheryl, at the New York Aikikai and they have been married for 42 years.

SENIOR INSTRUCTORS
Michael Abrams 7th Dan Shihan
Harvey Konigsberg 7th Dan Shihan | Woodstock Aikido
Hal Lehrman 7th Dan Shihan | Aikido of Park Slope
Paul Zimet 7th Dan Shihan
Debra Crampton 6th Dan
Sharon Dominguez 6th Dan
Junya Nakatsugawa 6th Dan
John Ottavino 6th Dan
Eran Vardi 6th Dan Shihan | Aikido of Ramapo Valley
Robert Workoff 6th Dan Shihan
Ken Yamazaki 6th Dan | New York Eastside Aikikai
Jerry Zimmerman 6th Dan  Shihan | Aikido North Jersey
Javier Dominguez 5th Dan
Brian DuPont 5th Dan
Joan Ellis 5th Dan
Indra Gandy 5th Dan
Kevin Kanesaka 5th Dan
Pascal Kim 5th Dan
Ernie Lemon 5th Dan
Eddie Leung 5th Dan
Kim Johnston 4th Dan | New York Eastside Aikikai
Michael Parrella 4th Dan
Sherwin H-Retemeyer 4th Dan
Vidhya Rjoanavongse 4th Dan
Roberto Velez 4th Dan
Paul Alexander 3rd Dan
Crystal Marcus-Kanesaka 3rd Dan
Aleksandra Michalska 3rd Dan
Jeffrey Chi 2nd Dan
Spencer Sweeney 2nd Dan