Aikido West

Frank Doran, the Founder of Aikido West, has a long and varied background in the martial arts that began with his enrollment in a judo dojo in 1955. He was chief instructor of Aikido West from its founding in 1974 until his retirement in 2024 at the age of 91.

A former United States Marine hand-to-hand combat instructor and police defensive tactics instructor, he has studied a variety of martial arts. 

In 1959 he began formal Aikido training, and has since trained under many of Japan's shihan (master teachers). Aikido is his primary discipline and way of life.

An internationally known and respected teacher, Doran Sensei was a frequent guest instructor at training seminars throughout the United States and abroad. He has taught at four colleges and universities including Stanford University where he taught daily for 26 years.

Stressing that Aikido is budo – a way of life that seeks to polish the self through a blend of rigorous physical training and spiritual discipline – his classes emphasize a balance between effective technique and the ethical and philosophical aspects of Aikido. 

His current rank of 8th dan was awarded in January 2018 by Aikido Doshu Moriteru Ueshiba (grandson of the founder of Aikido) at the Hombu Dojo, World Aikido Headquarters, Tokyo.

Although he has retired from teaching, he remains a guiding presence in our dojo and a source of inspiration to all the students and instructors at Aikido West.

Here is an article written by Doran Sensei about his experiences in the Marine Corps and their relationship to Aikido training.

Here is an article about Doran Sensei from ai-ki-do.org

Here is a video of Doran Sensei from 2007.